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APRESENTAÇÃO

Este material é direcionado a pilotos que procuram orientações a respeito do Exame de Proficiência
Linguística em Inglês da ANAC.

Desde o dia 05 de março de 2009, todos os pilotos que necessitam realizar voos fora do espaço aéreo
sob controle brasileiro devem apresentar em seus Certificados de Habilitação Técnica a averbação de
proficiência linguística em Inglês (serão autorizados a compor a tripulação técnica os pilotos que
comprovarem proficiência linguística nível 4 ou5).

O Exame foi criado pela OACI (Organização de Aviação Civil Internacional) com o intuito de aumentar
a segurança nas comunicações radiotelefônicas entre pilotos e controladores de voo.

Sendo o Brasil um dos países-membros da OACI, cabe a ANAC (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil) a
responsabilidade de certificar pilotos de aviões e helicópteros. Para que tais pilotos comprovem
proficiência linguística, deverão demonstrar habilidade de falar e entender a linguagem utilizada em
comunicações radiotelefônicas, através da realização de um teste de Inglês, o Santos Dumont English
Assessment, que é uma entrevista oral composta por quatro partes.

O intuito deste material, ainda que embasado em regulamentos oficiais, é aprimorar os


conhecimentos técnicos necessários, não tendo como objetivo substituir regulamentos vigentes ou
manuais de operação.

O conteúdo inclui a linguagem necessária para uma comunicação efetiva em situações anormais,
pontos gramaticais importantes e vocabulário técnico.

Espero contribuir com os leitores, auxiliando no processo de aprendizagem do inglês aeronáutico.

Aline Chelfo

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SANTOS DUMONT ENGLISH ASSESSMENT


O Exame de Proficiência Linguística é uma entrevista oral composta por quatro partes:

Parte 1: Aviation Topics- Personal & Aviation Related Questions

Na primeira parte, “Aviation Topics’, os candidatos devem responder questões gerais relativas
a sua experiência profissional e a atividades cotidianas no desempenho de suas funções. O
objetivo de tais questões é fazer os candidatos se sentirem confortáveis durante a entrevista e
assim criar uma atmosfera favorável para que possam demonstrar seu conhecimento do
idioma. Entretanto, essas respostas também são avaliadas, devendo ser informativas e tendo
duração aproximada de 1 (um) minuto cada.

Parte 2: Interacting as a Pilot - Audio


Na segunda parte do teste, “Interacting as a Pilot”, o candidato vai interagir com o controle de
tráfego aéreo desempenhando o papel do piloto .
Três diferentes comunicações radiotelefônicas são apresentadas por meio de dois áudios em
cada uma delas. O candidato pode ouvir até duas vezes cada gravação. Caso sinta essa
necessidade, é importante que o candidato solicite essa repetição, interagindo como um piloto
– ele não será penalizado por isso. Dentro de cada situação, que pode ser previsível ou
inesperada, o candidato deve agir como num role-play – isto é, entrar no papel de piloto e
interagir com o controlador de forma apropriada, confirmando ou esclarecendo mal
entendidos como se estivesse numa situação real. Da mesma forma que o faria se estivesse
numa cabine, candidato deve fazer anotações enquanto escuta os áudios. Todas as
informações são importantes. Ao final de cada situação da parte 2, após interagir com o
controlador, o candidato reportará ao examinador todas as informações compreendidas do
último áudio. O objetivo da parte dois é avaliar a capacidade de compreensão e interação
apropriadas do candidato.

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Parte 3: Unexpected Situations – Audio

Na terceira parte do exame, “Unexpected Situations”, o candidato escuta três situações de


emergência diferentes, apresentadas por meio de gravações de diálogos radiotelefônicos entre
piloto e controlador. Nesta parte do teste também é permitido fazer anotações.
Cada interação é tocada automaticamente duas vezes, havendo uma pausa de 5 segundos
entre elas. Em seguida, o candidato deve reportar todas as informações que conseguiu
compreender, reportadas pelo piloto e pelo controlador, bem como responder a uma questão
proposta pelo examinador. No final da Parte 3, o candidato deve comparar as emergências que
escutou com relação ao grau de severidade, soluções possíveis e formas de prevenção. O
objetivo desta parte é não apenas avaliar a capacidade do candidato de identificar e
compreender situações reais de emergência ou complicações situacionais através de gravações
(canal não-visual), como também de interagir com o examinador ao relatar o que ouviu (face-a-
face), fazendo a transição da fraseologia padronizada para o inglês geral. Além disso, as
perguntas propostas pelo examinador na parte 3 dão ao candidato a oportunidade de expandir
mais suas respostas e de demonstrar melhor sua proficiência no idioma.

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Parte 4: Picture Description and Discussion

Na quarta parte do exame, “Picture Description”, o candidato deve descrever uma foto ou
figura e, então, responder às questões propostas pelo examinador, inferindo, avaliando,
levantando hipóteses e comparando as consequências ocorridas em eventos passados, atuais e
passíveis de ocorrer no futuro. Em todas as versões é apresentada uma afirmação (statement)
relacionada com aviação, e o candidato deve expressar se concorda ou não com ela,
justificando sua opinião com argumentos e exemplos. O objetivo desta parte é avaliar o
desempenho do candidato ao sustentar conversas, expressando e justificando opiniões sobre
um tópico relacionado a aviação. A habilidade em desenvolver, satisfatoriamente, diálogos de
alto nível relacionados ao seu trabalho, utilizando o inglês geral, é o ponto crucial. fotos ou
figuras. Examinador e candidato devem discutir sobre a situação em si, inferindo, avaliando,
usando argumentos e comparando as consequências ocorridas em eventos passados, atuais e
passíveis de ocorrer no futuro. O objetivo desta parte é avaliar o desempenho do candidato ao
relatar suas opiniões e explicações. A habilidade do candidato em desenvolver
satisfatoriamente diálogos de alto grau de complexidade no trabalho é o ponto crucial desta
parte.
A interação entre o mesmo e o examinador é gravada para posterior avaliação da produção
oral.

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CONTENTS

UNITS OPERATIONAL LANGUAGE AVIATION


TOPICS FUNCTIONS VOCABULARY
• Airport Layout -Personal Pronouns -ICAO Alphabet
01 – AIRPORT • Miscommunication -Simple Verb Tenses -Air infrastructure
OPERATIONS • Runway Incursion -Questions -Numbers
Page 09 • Equipment And Staff -Possessives -Signs & Markings

• Onboard Situations -Determiners -Embarking


02 – EN ROUTE • Navigation -Auxiliary Verbs -Abbreviations
EVENTS • Technology -Continuous Tenses -Visual Features
Page 12 • Special Flights -Reported Speech -Flight instruments

• Startup and Pushback - Adjectives & adverbs - Ground Equipment


03 – GROUND • Ground Collisions - Synonyms - Navaids
MOVEMENTS • Delays - Cause and Effect - Aerodrome layout
Page 15 • Cargo - Easily confused words - Collisions and
issues
• METAR; TAF; ATIS - Conditions - Weather reports
04 – • Adverse Conditions - Word Endings - Wind & turbulence
METEOROLOGY • De-icing Procedures - Have Something Done - Weather Words
Page 18 • Volcanic Ash - Clarifying & - Abnormalities
Rephrasing
• Emergencies - Paraphrasing - Emergencies
05 – MEDICAL • Medlink - Dealing with lack of - Symptoms of stress
ISSUES • Pilot Incapacitation language - Pilot’s health
Page 21 • Food Poisoning - Expressing needs - Passengers
- Still, yet and already Behavior
• Fire on board - Quantifiers - Alerts
06 – FIRE & FUEL • Engine malfunction - Stress and Intonation - Types of fire
Page 24 • Fuel starvation - Speeches - Firefighting
• Dangerous Goods - Asking for help - Fuel system

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An airport is a facility where passengers connect from


ground transportation to air transportation. It is a
location where aircraft such airplanes and helicopters
takeoff and land. Aircraft may also be stored or
maintained at an airport. It must have runway, taxiways,
hangars and terminal buildings.

An airfield is an area where an aircraft can land and


takeoff, which may or may not be equipped with any
navigational aids or markings. Many grass strips are also
designated as airfields.

An aerodrome is a defined area on land or water


(including any buildings, installations and equipment)
intended to be used either wholly or in part for the
arrival, departure and surface movement of aircraft.

I. QUESTIONS
1) According to the text, what is the difference between airport, airfield and aerodromes?

2) What was the most incredible place you have ever landed at?

3) How do you think airports will be in the future?

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4) What’s your opinion about Brazilian infrastructure?

II. VOCABULARY

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III. GRAMMAR in the Air 

-
-
-
- Fill the blanks with the correct subject pronouns:
1) _____ is the Captain of the flight. (George)
2) _____ landed on runway 17 right. (An A380)
3) _____ have 2 more flights today right after lunch. (Me)
4) _____ work for the same airline company. (Kevin and I)
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5) _____ flies airplanes and helicopters. (Anna)


6) _____ need to fill a report of your accident.
7) _____ must check the weather forecast before every flight. (You and Joseph)
8) _____ live on the same apartment and (Chris and Steve)

MISCOMMUNICATION
Miscommunication in aviation remains a serious threat to safety. Factors such as pilots workload,
quality of audio signal, accent of pilot or controller, English language proficiency of operator, and
failure to use standard phraseology are all thought to contribute to communication errors.
It had contributed to the deaths of more than 2000 people who have been killed in plane crashes
since the mid-1970s.

Given that radio communication is the main means of communication between air traffic controllers
and pilots, effective communication "is crucial for aviation
safety".

The study of aviation communication is related to our


understanding of English, and differences between native
English speakers and speakers of English as a second
language in high risk situations. Effective communication is
paramount in ensuring the success of the global aviation
industry.

An investigation of a runway collision between two Boeing


747s in the Canary Islands in 1977 revealed the Dutch-
speaking pilot's lack of English proficiency may have
contributed to the accident.

The aftermath of the collision between KLM and


Pan Am 747s in the Canary Islands in 1977.

The accident, involving a Pan Am jumbo and a KLM plane, claimed the lives of 583 people — making
it the deadliest accident in aviation history.

A transcript of cockpit communication leading to the 1990 crash of Avianca flight 52 in New York
revealed the pilot did not declare an emergency situation when he reported being low on fuel.

The plane crew reported "running out of fuel" instead of signaling an emergency situation with the
words "Mayday" or "Pan Pan", another international distress signal.

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IV. QUESTIONS
1) According to the text, what is miscommunication?

2) What is crucial for aviation safety?

3) What was the reason of the accident involving PanAm and KLM?

4) How can pilots avoid miscommunication?

V. VOCABULARY

A - ALFA AL fah N - NOVEMBER no VEM ber

B - BRAVO BRAH voh O - OSCAR OSS car

C - CHARLIE CHAR lee OR SHAR lee P - PAPA pah PAH

D - DELTA DELL tah Q - QUEBEC keh BECK

E - ECHO ECK oh R - ROMEO ROW me oh

F - FOXTROT FOKS trot S - SIERRA see AIR rah

G - GOLF golf T - TANGO TANG go

H - HOTEL hoh TEL U - UNIFORM YOU nee form OR OO nee form

I - INDIA IN dee ah V - VICTOR VIK tah

J - JULIET JEW lee ETT W - WHISKEY WISS key

K - KILO KEY loh X - X-RAY ECKS ray

L - LIMA LEE mah Y - YANKEE YANG key

M - MIKE mike Z - ZULU ZOO loo

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VI. GRAMMAR in the AIR 

- Chose the correct form of the verb to be - am/is/are.

1. It ____cold today.

2. I ____on duty now.

3. They _____ flight engineers .

4. There ____ a pen on the desk.

5. My name ____ Sully.

6. We ____ from Ukraine.

7. That taxiway ____ to the right.

8. She ____ an English teacher.

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- Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verb.

Examples:
a) I (be) am a pilot of Phenom100.
b) Joseph (fly) flies Bell 429. He (not fly) doesn’t fly airplanes.
c) Does she have an FAA license? Yes, she does. / No, she doesn’t.
d) In Congonhas an airplane (take off) takes off and (land) lands every 3 minutes.
e) A Boeing 757 (have) has an override function. It (not have) doesn’t have ultimate control.

1) I (be) _______ sixteen years old.

2) Tommy (live) ________ at 107 Pine Lane.

3) My company (have) ________ more than 100 aircraft.

4) They (eat)_______ lunch at 12:00.

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5) You (need) _________ to go around when you are not stabilized.

6) I (love) __________ cold weather.

7) He (go)___________ to the airport early in the morning.

8) We (want)___________ to depart before midnight.

9) Mr. Anderson (teach)__________ meteorology at ACA Flight School.

10) They (study)___________ before they go to the flight simulator training.

11) I (want) ___________ to turn left on the left exit.

12) All air traffic controllers (have) __________ a license to work.

13) We (undergo)__________ medical exam once a year.

14) It (snow)___________ here in December.

15) When the ground staff (wash) _________ the helicopter they (let) _______ it dry by itself.

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RUNWAY INCURSION

A Runway Incursion is defined as “Any occurrence at an aerodrome involving the incorrect presence
of an aircraft vehicle or person on the protected area of a surface designated for the landing and take
off of aircraft”. (ICAO Doc 4444 - PANS-ATM)

It should be noted that this 'incorrect


presence' may be a consequence of a failure of
a pilot to comply with a valid ATC clearance or
their compliance with an inappropriate ATC
clearance.

Effects

An increased risk of serious collision for aircraft on the ground. When collisions occur off the runway,
the aircraft and/or vehicles involved are usually travelling relatively slowly: in contrast, when a
collision occurs on the runway, at least one of the aircraft involved will often be travelling at
considerable speed which increases the risk of significant aircraft damage and the severity of the
consequences therefrom, including serious or fatal injury.

Most Common Types

▪ Aircraft runway entry contrary to ATC


clearance
▪ Aircraft runway crossing after landing
contrary to ATC clearance
▪ Towed aircraft runway crossing contrary to
ATC clearance

VII. VOCABULARY (Contributory Factors)

MULTIPLE SIMULTANEOU LINE-UPS WEATHER CONDITIONAL CLEARANCES

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AERODROME DESIGN SIMULTANEOUS USE OF INTERSECTING RUNWAYS

CONDITIONAL CLEARANCES ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETENCE PHRASEOLOGY

I. __________________________.

Low visibility may increase the chance of flight crew becoming disorientated and unsure of
their position whilst taxying. Low visibility is also likely to restrict a controller’s ability to
identify and follow aircraft visually so that cross-checking a reported aircraft position with
its actual location may become impossible unless Surface Movement Radar is available.

II. _________________________

If, as a consequence of aerodrome design, aircraft have to cross active runways to move
between their take off or landing runway and their parking position, the likelihood of
runway incursions is increased. This risk may be reduced if the LRST identifies the Runway
Hotspots thereby created and effective risk mitigation is developed and applied.
Operation with intersecting active runways is also likely to require careful consideration to
ensure that the inherently increased risk of conflict is adequately managed.

III. ___________________________________

Use of Multiple Line-ups for a series of aircraft departures from the same runway from
different entry positions may increase the potential for runway collision.

IV. ________________________________

If conditional clearances are used, the risk consequent upon any error in their issue or
actioning may be increased because of errors in aircraft identification by adjacent aircraft.
The chances of such errors are increased if aircraft livery does not readily correspond to
the RTF call sign being used; this is sometimes the result of airline alliance livery policies or
the ad hoc operational substitution of leased-in aircraft.

V. _______________________________.

Unless ATM SOPs are carefully formulated and rigorously applied, use of intersecting
runways can significantly raise the risk of both runway incursions and Loss of
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Separation between aircraft near the ground and aircraft on the ground. At some airports
where intersecting runways are used, especially in the USA, Land and Hold Short
Operations are part of normal procedures. These are considered by some non-US aircraft
operators to introduce an unacceptable level of additional risk; consequently, their flight
crews are instructed to decline offers of such clearances.

VI. ___________________________

Use of Non-Standard Phraseology or non-adherence to Standard Phraseology can lead to


clearance confusion and misunderstanding between flight crew and controllers. In
particular the standard expression "Taxi into position and hold" used in the USA in place of
the ICAO Phrase "Line up and wait" is worthy of note.

VII. ____________________________

Despite the introduction by ICAO of a system of validating competence in Aviation English,


instances of pilots whose native language is not English misunderstanding taxi clearances
still occur.

GROUND EQUIPMENT AND STAFF


1. 2. 3.

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In aviation, groundcrew or ground staff are the support personnel that service aircraft on the ground
– as opposed to aircrew (___), who operate an aircraft while in flight. The term groundcrew is used
by both airlines and military aviation.
4. 5. 6.

Airline ground crew members include : technicians (___), ramp agents/ marshallers (___), customer
service agents (___) and flight dispatchers (___). Ground crew members
are responsible for clearing the runway and gate area of any debris or
garbage, in order to prevent foreign object damage (___) by an object
being sucked into an engine. The crew visually inspects the tarmac (____)
and removes any items found; this is typically called a "FOD walk" and is
done prior to an aircraft's arrival and departure.

7.

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1. How can you define runway incursion?

2. What is a non-standard transmission?

3. What do you think of the Brazilian airport infrastructure?

4. How important is the phraseology?

5. What are companies doing to improve English Proficiency?

6. What’s the most critical phase of the flight?

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AIRPORT SIGNS AND MARKINGS

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- Match the words in the two columns:

a) Outbound destination sign 1) The runway on which your aircraft is


b) Runway boundary sign 2) Holding point markings
c) ILS critical area boundary sign 3) Taxiway you’re on
d) Taxiway ending markings 4) Directions to common taxi routes
e) Taxiway location sign 5) Termination of the taxiway
f) Direction sign for runway exit 6) Visible to pilots exiting the rwy
g) Runway location sign 7) Out of clear of ILS critical area
h) Runway holding position sign 8) Approaching taxiway

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ONBOARD SITUATIONS
During a flight, pilots must pay attention to all phases, including flight plan clearance,
embarking, cargo loading, start-up procedures, taxiing, take-off roll, cruising, landing,
disembarking and parking. A good way to memorize a flight plan clearance is using a mnemonic
process called CRAFT.

CRAFT stands for:

• Clearance limit, the end point of the clearance (usually, but not always, the
destination airport)
• Route, the route that the flight is to follow as part of the clearance (often the route
originally filed, although ATC may change this)
• Altitude, the initial altitude to be maintained by the flight, plus, in many cases, a time at
which cruise altitude clearance may be expected
• Frequency, the frequency to which the pilot(s) should tune upon leaving the departure
airport
• Transponder, the transponder code that must be set for the aircraft prior to departure
and during the flight. T also stands for time, as in void time, if one is issued. A void time is
an expiration time, meaning, the IFR clearance is voided if the aircraft is not airborne by the
void time.
If there is no delay or computer problem, EOBT and ETD are often as planned.

VOCABULARY

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ETD ETA EOBT TRACON APP ACC TWR


GND CLR ATIS NOTAM AFIS POB TCAS

1._______ automatic terminal information service 8.________ clearance delivery


2._______ ground control 9.________ tower control3._______
traffic collision avoidance system 10._______ estimated off-blocks
time4._______ terminal radar approach control 11._______ aerodrome flight info
service5._______ approach control 12._______ notice to airman 6._______
rea control center 13._______ estimated time of
arrival7._______ estimated time of departure 14._______ persons onboard

GRAMMAR in the AIR 

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- Choose A or AN to complete the exercise:


1. ______pilot 1 11. ______ very stormy area

2. ______seat 1 12. ______ airport

3. ______emergency 1 13. ______inbound traffic

4. ______ fire truck 14. ______ extremely large airplane

5. ______ answer 15 . ______ light rain

6. ______ clearance 16. ______ fantastic infrastructure

7. ______routine flight 1 17. ______ unusually situation

8. ______investigation 18. ______ hour ago

9. ______ flight plan 1 19. ______ expensive meal

10. ______ old habit 2 20. ______ hard landing

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NAVIGATION

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 was a scheduled international passenger flight that disappeared on
8 March 2014 while flying from Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia to Beijing - China. The aircraft,
a Boeing 777-200ER operated by Malaysia Airlines last
made voice contact with air traffic control at 01:19 MYT 8
March (17:19 UTC, 7 March) when it was over the South
China Sea, less than an hour after takeoff. The aircraft
disappeared from air traffic controllers' radar screens at
01:22 MYT. The aircraft was carrying 12 Malaysian crew members and 227 passengers from 15
nations. The multinational search effort for the aircraft is the largest and most expensive in
aviation history.
Several pieces of marine debris found on the coast of Africa and on Indian Ocean islands off the
coast of Africa, the first discovered on 29 July 2015 on Réunion, have been confirmed as pieces
of Flight 370. However, the bulk of the aircraft has still not been located, prompting many
theories about its disappearance.
In response to Flight 370's disappearance, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
adopted new standards for aircraft position reporting over open ocean, extended recording
time for cockpit voice recorders, and,
from 2020, will require new aircraft
designs to have a means to recover
the flight recorders, or the information
they contain, before the recorders sink
below water.

QUESTIONS
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[ICAO NA PROA]

1.) According to text, how did controllers notice that Flight 370 had vanished?

2.) What are the possible causes of that disappearance?

3.) How can technology enhance navigation accuracy?

4.) What has ICAO done to prevent situations like that?

GRAMMAR in the Air 


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- Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verb.

1. Last week my copilot and I ___________ (travel) to the USA.


2. Anna ___________ (not copy) the flight plan. She is still talking to the flight dispatcher.
3. I ________ (fly) 22 hours past week. It was a busy week!
4. __________ you ________ (check) oil level? Yes, I did.
5. All pilots and ATC _________ (need) to undergo a severe training to work here.
6. All passengers ______________ (embark) the plane on time.
7. The ground technician _______________ (report) there was a fuel leak.
8. We were expecting to depart at 5 but the weather ___________ (not get) better.

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AVIATION IRREGULAR VERBS

VERB SIMPLE PAST PARTICIPLE


MAKE (A TURN)
GO (AROUND)
TAKE (OFF)
GET (OUT)

LEAVE (THE APRON)


GIVE (WAY)
HAVE (PROBLEMS)
HIT (THE TREES)
PUT (THE MASK)
CUT (THE ENGINE)
BRING (THE PASSENGERS)
CATCH (FIRE)
OVERRIDE (THE RWY)
LOSE (THE ENGINE)
FLY
LOSE (CONTACT)
SEND (A MESSAGE)
COME (TO THE GATE)
FEEL (UNCOMFORTABLE)
DO (A DEVIATION)
SEE (THE MARSHALLER)
FALL (INTO THE OCEAN)

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CREATING AND REORGANIZING SENTENCES

1) Translate the text below to Portuguese:

“Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight 163 departed Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at 21:08 local time en
route to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. About seven minutes into the flight, the cargo
compartment smoke detector system “B” alarm was heard in the flight deck. Fifty-nine
seconds later, the other cargo compartment smoke detector was also heard in the flight
deck.”

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

2) Fill in the blanks using the verbs from the box. Use the Simple Past:

For the next four minutes, the flight crew________ (begin) troubleshooting the alarms
and ___________(attempt) to find the procedure for dual cargo smoke alarms in the
flight manual. The flight engineer __________(leave) the flight deck to check on the
conditions in the passenger cabin. Thirty-six seconds later, the flight
engineer__________(return) to the flight deck and _________ (report) a fire in the
cabin. About 12 minutes into the flight, the captain__________ (initiate) a return to
Riyadh. This_____ (be) about 18 minutes before the airplane__________(come) to a
stop.

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TECHNOLOGY

Drones
Popularly known as drones, but also referred
to as remotely piloted aircraft systems
(RPAS) or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)
they come in a variety of shapes and sizes,
ranging from small handheld types up to
large aircraft, potentially a similar size to
airliners.

They are everywhere. Clearly they are a


safety threat. Commercial airliners and GA (general aviation) pilots have been reporting
increasingly more near misses at significantly less than 500’ with a UAV on short final. Imagine
a full passenger aircraft sucking one into its engine at full power on takeoff over a populated
area.

One of the most recent incidents occurred March 18, when a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt
approaching Los Angeles International Airport reported a drone flew about 200 feet above the
Airbus A380. Police and sheriff’s department helicopters were dispatched to search for the
drone, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Because of incidents like this, regulators have been working feverishly to formulate rules for
how to incorporate commercial drone operations into U.S. airspace and trying to educate
hobbyists about staying out of the way of airliners.

Just like any other aircraft, an unmanned aircraft


must always be flown in a safe manner, both with
respect to other aircraft in the air and also to people
and properties on the ground.

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QUESTIONS
1.) According to text, why are drones a risk to aviation?

2.) What are the possible damages an impact between a drone and a aircraft can cause?

3.) How can technology enhance safety to this situation?

4.) What have regulators done to prevent collisions risks?

VOCABULARY

SHAPE HANDHELD THREAT INCREASINGLY TO DISPATCH


ABOVE REGULATORS FEVERISHLY HOBBYISTS MANNER

-Match the words in the box with the right definitions:

1) The opposite to below ________________ 6) Progressively ________________

2) Marked by an intense emotion ____________ 7) Mode, style or way ____________

3) The form or outline of an object ____________ 8) Terror; menace _______________

4) An official responsible for controls 9) To send off __________________


of public activity __________________________

5) Small and light enough to be operate 10) A person who pursuit hobbies
while you hold it in your hands ______________ _____________________________

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GRAMMAR in the Air 

Present Continuous examples:


- Tom is flying to the USA. He left Brazil last
night and he will get there in the afternoon.
- Two military jets are taxiing to runway 09
left. Give way to those traffics.

Past Continuous examples:

- CFT airlines was giving classes for Russian


pilots in 2015. They completed the course in
2016.
- The drone almost collided with them while
they were flying over Sao Paulo

Future Continuous examples:


- QATAR will be hiring new pilots soon.
They’ve upgraded the fleet.
- Anna is a Captain of an EC155. She will be
landing on an oilrig for the first time
tomorrow.

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EXERCISING!

- Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verb.

1.) I ______________________ (have lunch) right now. I need to depart soon.


2.) _______ this Airbus 330 __________ (fly) here in Dubai? Amazing airplane!
3.) You ________ always ________________ (come) later for the meetings last week.
4.) __________ you _____________ (refuel) the plane? Yeah, I was.
5.) Flight 370 _________________ (depart) right now.
6.) Cabin crew members _________ (not) ______________ (stay) at this hotel.
7.) ATCO ___________________ (call) us. Read back the message.
8.) All flights were cancelled. The weather _____________________ (get) worse.
9.) _______ John _____________ (work) for Avianca? No, he isn’t.
10.) My first solo flight was amazing. The CFI __________________ (talk) to me before I
took of so that I could relax a little.

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SPECIAL FLIGHTS

VIP FLIGHTS
Besides GA (general aviation) and commercial
flights, pilots can be submitted to a very
distinctive task: they are responsible for carrying
VIP passengers such as chiefs of state,
professional athletes, world famous celebrities,
religious leaders and others. The security of a flight like that has a very elevated level of
importance. Closures due to Air Force One flights are inconvenient but necessary sometimes.

AEROBATIC FLIGHTS
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft
altitudes that are not used in normal flights. Most of them
involve rotation of the aircraft about its longitudinal (roll) axis
or lateral (pitch) axis. Other maneuvers, such as a spin, displace
the aircraft about its vertical (yaw) axis. Aerobatic flying
requires a broader set of piloting skills and exposes the aircraft
to greater structural stress than for normal flight.

AIR AMBULANCE
Air medical services are the use of air transportation,
airplane or helicopter, to move patients to and from
healthcare facilities and accident scenes.
Helicopters are used to transport patients between
hospitals and from trauma scenes; fixed-wing aircraft are
used for long-haul transport.

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QUESTIONS
1.) According to text, what are the three different types of special flights?

2.) Should VIP flights be treated differently to other flights? Why? Why not?

3.) Have you ever been to an air show? How was it like?

4.) What kind of special cares should air ambulance personnel take?

VOCABULARY
DISTINCTED CLOSURES MANEUVER BROADER
HEALTHCARE TRAUMA SCENES LONG HAUL

-Match the words in the box with the right definitions:

1.) Preservation of mental and physical care ___________________


2.) Different; not alike; not similar ____________________________
3.) A journey over a long distance ___________________________
4.) A place of an accident that caused injuries __________________
5.) Greater than; bigger; wider ______________________________
6.) A deliberate coordinated movement _______________________
7.) Blockage; occlusion; obstruction; stop _____________________

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GRAMMAR in the Air 

Simple Present Simple Past


I’m ready for takeoff → He said he was ready for takeoff
Present Continuous Past Continuous
I’m taking off now → He said he was taking off then
Simple Past Past Perfect
I took off yesterday → Mike said he had taken off the day
before
Present Perfect Past Perfect
I have aborted takeoff → He said he had aborted t/o
Will Would
I’ll report leaving twy A → Mike said he would report
leaving twy A
Can Could
I can stop taxiing → Mike said he could stop taxiing

EXERCISING!

- Change the sentences to reported speech:


1.) We are initiating descent now. __________________________________________________
2.) I can give you vectors. _________________________________________________________
3.) We flew to Mexico City last week. _______________________________________________
4.) I have already been to an accident. ______________________________________________
5.) We have no flaps or speed brakes. _______________________________________________
6.) I am not the chief purser. ______________________________________________________
7.) We will not allow any flight disturbance __________________________________________

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VOCABULARY
Visual Features
COASTLINE RIVER RANGE HILLS CLIFF
VALLEY FIELDS WOODS JETTY HARBOR FACTORY
DAM QUARRY MAST POWER LINES RAILWAY
SUBSTATION OILRIG CREEK HIGHWAY FARM

1) Powerhouse ________________ 2) Waterway ________________ 3) Road _____________


4) Series of mountains ___________ 5) Pier ____________________ 6) Precipice__________
7) Oil platform _________________ 8) Seashore _________________ 9) Peaks ____________
10) Electric cables _______________11) Railroad ________________ 12) Dale _____________
13) Excavation _________________ 14) Forests __________________ 15) Bay _____________
16) Plantation _________________ 17) Post _____________________ 18) Ranch ___________
19) Industry ___________________ 20) Water barrier _____________ 21) Port ____________

Flight Instruments
____DG – Directional Gyro
____ASI – Air Speed Indicator
____VSI – Vertical Speed Indicator
____ALT – Altimeter
____TC – Turn Coordinator
____AI – Altitude Indicator

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S
TARTUP AND PUSH BACK

To start and push back an aircraft, a ground crew is usually


needed and is typically provided by the airport, and paid for by
the airline.
Several accidents have occurred over the years during
engine start and pushback and so good communication with the
ground crew over the intercom is essential. Once the aircraft’s
red flashing beacon is lit all non-essential ground crew must stay
clear of the aircraft.
If the aircraft is at a gate it will require push back, which
requires a tug. If parked on a stand it is often acceptable to taxi
the aircraft directly from the stand.
ATC may provide a conditional clearance stating that
pushback is approved once an aircraft passing behind has cleared.
This must then be passed onto the ground crew. The engines are
usually started during the pushback. Traditionally engine start has
been a critical element as it has resulted in problems, such as hot
starts and hung starts. With modern engine control systems these
problems are very rare however the crew still pay a lot of
attention to the engine gauges during engine start, and look for
indications of problems.
Once the engines are running and all after start checklists
have been completed a taxi clearance will be obtained.
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GRAMMAR in the Air 


ADJECTIVES describe NOUNS ADVERBS describe VERBS
Safe operation Operating safely
Smooth landing Landing smoothly
Good work Working well
Efficient pilots Piloting efficiently
Responsible actions Acting responsibly
Inadvertent flight Flying inadvertently
Quick stop Stopping quickly
*Many words have both an adjective and adverb form

- Complete the sentences using an adverb or an adjective:

1. He reads the flight manual (quick) ____________________________________


2. B777 is a machine. (pretty)__________________________________________
3. The class is loud today. (terrible)_____________________________________
4. Max is a technician. (good)__________________________________________
5. You can open this box. (easy) ________________________________________
6. It's a day today. (terrible)____________________________________________
7. She flies the helicopter (good) _______________________________________
8. He is a(n) ATCO. (careful)___________________________________________
9. He pilots the chopper(careful)________________________________________
10. The engine sounds(loud)____________________________________________

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GROUND COLLISIONS

A Northwest Airlines DC-9 that had reported hydraulic problems collided with a
Northwest Airbus on the ground, injuring six people.
The DC-9 landing from Columbus, Ohio, lost control of steering as it was taxiing to its
gate and the Airbus was backing away from its gate for takeoff to San Antonio.
The injured included four crew members from the DC-9, including the pilots, and two
ground employees. No passengers were hurt during the incident, but afterward one
passenger complained of shortness of breath and was treated as a precaution.
None of the injuries appeared life threatening.
The escape slide on the Airbus had been deployed.
After the crash, the DC-9 appeared to be partially lodged underneath the Airbus. The
top of the DC-9's cockpit area was sliced by the Airbus' wing, and the fuselage made
contact with the tail section of the Airbus.
National Transportation Safety Board was investigating, and the planes could not be
moved until investigators arrived. The planes were not affecting other air traffic.
The hydraulic system on an aircraft controls mechanics such as steering.

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QUESTIONS

1.)According to the text, why did this collision happen?

2.)Describe the picture. Mention as many details as possible.

3.)How can ground collisions be avoided?

4.) To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement: ground crew must be
responsible to guide all landing traffic until they cut off the engines.

GROUND EQUIPMENT

JET REFUELER WATER TANK AIRSTAIRS TOILET TRUCK CATERING TRUCK


BAGGAGE CONVEYOR VESTIBULE DOOR TOW TRACTOR

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DELAYS and CARGO

Air traffic control is a very complex service that works 24 hours a day and 365 days per year.
Millions of aircraft are guided safely and expeditiously through a World Airspace System to
their destinations. Only in the USA around 2,246,004 passengers fly every day. And all of it
depends on one singular thing: technology. So what if it fails?

According to FAA and EASA, many international


airports have already been disrupted after
problems with a computer server and consequently
some flights were cancelled, others diverted and
the majority delayed.
As a consequence of the backlog, companies have a
huge loss. Technicians have to work under high
pressure to get all servers up to speed again.

In addition to this, there are some other very common problems during embarking and loading,
such as missing passengers, cargo hold issues and even employers on strike. Some companies
have already banned pets from being checked like luggage. Livestock in the hold, besides
causing a significant extra workload to cargo workers can also compromise the integrity of the
airplane. American Airlines decided to do so after a pit bull damaged cables and the hold’s
bulkheads and door when it escaped from its cage.

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QUESTIONS
1.) According to the text, what are the possible causes of a flight delay?

2.) Describe the pictures. Mention as many details as possible.

3.) Can you mention any other contributing factor to delays?

4.) To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement: airline companies are
responsible for the integrity and safety of pets that are transported in the cargo
compartment.

VOCABULARY – FALSE COGNATES


INGLÊS O QUE É? COM O QUE PARECE?
Actually Na verdade Atualmente: currently, nowadays
Beef Carne bovina Bife: steak
College Faculdade Colégio: High school
Costume Fantasia Costume: tradition
Deception Enganação, mentira Decepção: disappointment
Library Biblioteca Livraria: bookstore
Novel Romance como gênero literário Novela: soap opera
Parent Pais Parente: relatives
Prejudice Preconceito Prejudicar: damage
Pretend Fingir Pretender: intend
Push Empurrar Puxar: pull
Support Apoiar, dar apoio Suportar: to bear

Complete the sentences with the words in the box:

ACTUALLY PARENTS PRETEND SUPPORT RELAY PRETEND ULTIMATE


1.) If a pilot has _______________ control, then he/she takes the final decision.
2.) Bird strike is _______________ a serious problem.
3.) When you are tired you don’t need to _______________ to be fine. Tell it to your boss!
4.) My ______________ still live in Brazil. I can visit them very often.
5.) Anac 123, can you hear me? Could you please ____________ the message to the ATC?
6.) When I moved to China my family couldn’t ____________ me. It was really hard for me.
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How can weather affect aircraft?


Wind, more than rain, directly affects how an aircraft flies because the movement of air creates
lift over the wings. Shifts in air pressure, wind speed or direction can impact how much lift is
created with sudden changes being capable of forcing an aircraft to rise or fall suddenly.

What kind of weather can cause problems for aircraft?


Modern commercial jets are able to handle a large range of weather conditions. Thunderstorms
and tall clouds called cumulonimbus are among the most risky weather patterns that pilots
may face. They can stretch as high as 60,000 feet, well above the ceiling altitude of most
commercial aircraft.
Thunderstorms can form quickly, reaching their peak strength within 15 minutes, and usually
occur as air warms up creating rising air currents that become extremely turbulent. After
reaching maturity, a thunderstorm will start shedding the moisture it absorbed, forming rain or
hail and strong downdrafts. While thunderstorms do cause lightning, serious accidents due to
lightning strikes are extremely rare.
An aircraft entering a thunderstorm could experience updrafts or downdrafts exceeding 3,000
feet per minute. Changes in air pressure and temperature inside a thunderstorm can also lead
to icing.

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What technologies are available to track or avoid bad weather?


Satellites, weather balloons and ground radar have been used to both forecast future weather
and update current conditions for decades. Ground-based weather radars transmit a signal,
then detect and analyze the returning echo to assess the size and concentration of water
droplets as well as wind speed.

Because weather patterns can form and dissipate quickly, and weather analysis can be difficult
at longer distances, aircraft are being increasingly equipped with on-board systems
called Airborne Weather Avoidance Radar.
While AWAR is useful for a pilot to get nearby weather information, it is also limited in both the
direction and range at which it can detect wind or rain.
In addition to weather detection and avoidance technology, communications systems are a key
tool for pilots to receive and share information.
Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System, or ACARS, is a data-based system
that avoids the need for information to be relayed by voice. In addition to aircraft data such as
fuel and location, ACARS can be equipped to include weather data.

Can good equipment allow a pilot to fly through


thunderstorms?
On-board AWAR systems are designed to allow pilots
to avoid severe weather, not fly through it. The U.S.
FAA recommends pilots avoid heavy weather by at
least 20 miles.
“Weather recognizable as a thunderstorm should be
considered hazardous, as penetration of any
thunderstorm can lead to an aircraft accident and fatalities to those on board,” the FAA
advises.
“Our primary aim as pilots is to get passengers safely back on the ground and the secondary
aim is to give them the smoothest and most comfortable ride possible,” said Captain Smith. “So
even if the plane can physically fly through these clouds -- not the very center, but around the
edges - we always try to avoid getting anywhere near them just to keep it as smooth as
possible. Pilots also need to check constantly METAR and TAFs.”

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1. GRAMMAR in the Air 

1. First conditional: If I have enough money, I will go to Japan.


*2. Second conditional: If I had enough money, I would go to Japan.
3. Third conditional: If I had had enough money, I would have gone to Japan.

CONDITIONAL CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE


2. If + Past Tense would + inf

USES OF THE CONDITIONAL

1. Second conditional
a. Nature: unreal (impossible) or improbable situations.
b. Time: present; the TENSE is past, but we are talking about the
present, now.
e.g. If I knew her name, I would tell you.
If I were you, I would tell my father.
Compare: If I become president, I will change the social security
system. (Said by a presidential candidate)
If I became president, I would change the social security
system. (Said by a schoolboy: improbable)
If we win this match, we are qualified for the semifinals.
If I won a million pounds, I would stop teaching. (improbable)
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EXERCISING!

1) Complete the sentences below placing WOULD + PAST


TENSE of the indicated verbs:

a) My Captain _____________ (go around) immediately if we ______________


(know) about the wind shear.
b) If you __________ (be) a CFI they ____________ (give) you a job opportunity.
c) A passenger was disturbing the flight yesterday. The chief flight attendant
_____________(put) plastic handcuffs on him if he ____________ (stop).
d) We ___________(maintain) the ETA if the weather ___________(permit).
e) All pilots __________ (pass) the exam if they ______________(study) more.
f) I __________(go) home right away if I __________ (can).
g) Flight AZ4462 ___________ (not/be) late if the passengers from the connection
flight _____________ (be) here already.
h) My boss said he ____________ (can) raise up my salary if I __________ (be)
approved on the Proficiency Test.
i) ATCO __________(clear) us to land if a dog _________ (not/be) on the runway.
j) If a crew member ___________(be) reproved on the medical exam he/she
__________ (have) his/her CMA cancelled.

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VOCABULARY

GALE / GUSTY WIND

FOG

SANDSTORM

HAILSTORM

MICROBURST

LIGHTNING STRIKE

METAR, TAF and ATIS

Pilots must check weather conditions before the flight in order to avoid adverse conditions and
even to change the flight plan route. Airports disruptions might be caused by extreme adverse
conditions. As a consequence of a shallow fog (for example), winter operations can be severely
compromised. Such information is provided by the airport in different ways: Meteorological
Terminal Air Report (METAR), Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) and Automatic Terminal
Information Service (ATIS) are some examples.
Weather is indicated by up to 3 groups comprising symbols and letters from the following:

- = slight + = Heavy BC = Patches BL = Blowing

BR = Mist DR = Low Drifting DS = Dust Storm DU = Widespread Dust

DZ = Drizzle FG = Fog FC = Funnel Cloud (e.g. Tornado) FU = Smoke

FZ = Freezing GR = Hail GS = Small Hail HZ = Haze

IC = Diamond Dust MI = Shallow PL = Ice Pellets PO = Dust Devils

RA = Rain SA = Sand SG = Snow Grains SH = Shower

SN = Snow SQ = Squall SS = Sandstorm TS = Thunderstorm

VA = Volcanic Ash VC = In the vicinity (nearby) UP = Unidentified Precipitation RE = Recent

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Some meteorological events are commonly confused because of their similarity. A dust devil event
is similar to a tornado. Both show thunderstorm and gusty winds causing a rotation mass of air.

GRAMMAR in the Air 


Causes and effect explains why an event happened or what the consequences of such an event
were. A cause and effect paragraph can focus on causes, effects or both. Complete the sentences:

AS A RESULT OF CONSEQUENTLY BECAUSE OF


THEREFORE THE LEADING CAUSE OF SO DUE TO

1.) CFT 0338 needed to go around _______________ strong tail wind on short final.
2.) A spark ignited a fire in the toilet. _________________ flight attendants had to act fast.
3.) Squall line is a group of storms that can be ___________________ of tornadoes.
4.) _________________ volcanic ash encounter engines might stop working.
5.) Patches of standing water were reported by a pilot, ___________ the runway was closed.
6.) Blowing sand acts as an abrasive on aircraft surfaces, _______________ it must be
avoided.
7.) ________________ recent ice pellets (sleet), the runway was slippery.

DE-ICING PROCEDURES

As winter arrives, airports dust off their deicing equipment and


ready for another season of cold, snow, and ice. While a car may be
safely operated partially covered in ice or snow, aircraft must be
completely free of contamination to assure a safe flight. Deicing can
sometimes lead to flight delays, but the alternative is far worse.

What exactly are deicers doing?

Deicers are there to ensure that there’s no frozen contamination, be it frost, ice, or snow on
the critical surfaces of the aircraft. The trucks they use carry about 2000 gallons of deicing fluid
and are equipped with hydraulic lifts, pumps, and heaters that allow deicers to accomplish
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their task of removing any and all frozen material from the aircraft, from the leading edges of
the wings to the top of the tail.
Airframe icing can lead to reduced performance, loss of lift, altered controllability and
ultimately stall and subsequent loss of control of the aircraft. Hazards arising from the
presence of ice on an airframe include: adverse aerodynamic effects; blockage of pitot tubes
and static vents; radio communication problems and surface damage from ice shedding.

What are some things deicers need to be aware of?

To be effective and efficient at deicing requires attention to detail.


The weather and type of contamination are big factors, constantly
changing conditions have a big impact on how deicing operations are
carried out. The aircraft itself also requires close attention at all
times; at many airports, particularly those with special areas
specifically for deicing as opposed to gate deicing, the entire process
is conducted with engines running. Given how close deicers and their vehicles get to the
aircraft (as close as 3-5 feet / 1-2 meters at times), being aware of engines, APUs, as well as
moving control surfaces on the aircraft is very important. Besides deicing, snow ploughs are
used to remove ice from tarmac, runways and taxiways.

QUESTIONS

1.) According to the text, what are deicing procedures for?

2.) Describe the picture. Mention as many details as possible.

3.) Can you mention any hazard of ice accretion ?

4.) To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement: adverse weather
conditions are no longer obstacles to modern aviation.

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GRAMMAR in the Air 


HAD + OBJECT + PAST PARTICIPLE

Causative form: have something done. We use have


something done to mean another person does a service
for us. Take a look at these two sentences:

1. He washed the airplane. (He did it by himself)


2. He had the airplane washed. (Someone else did it for him)

EXERCISING!
- Create sentences below using the CAUSATIVE FORM:

1) I refueled the helicopter with 200 liters.


___________________________________________
2) Captain Vette pushed the A380 back.
______________________________________________
3) Mrs. Smith repaired the avionics of the
Learjet_______________________________________
4) Engines stopped working. We need to fix them.
______________________________________
5) They concluded the pre flight inspection.
___________________________________________
6) We investigated all accidents and incidents.
_________________________________________
7) CFT Airlines released 3 brand new aircraft.
__________________________________________
8) Flight 789 embarked all passengers on time.
_________________________________________

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GRAMMAR in the Air 

Complete the sentence using the correct word ending:

VOLCANIC ASH

During a volcanic eruption, huge (quantity) ____________ of material can be ejected into
the atmosphere, reaching great height and (be) ____________ a threat to aviation for several
months. Volcanic ash can accumulate at higher altitudes in clouds which then drift with the
wind. The ash does not show up on aircraft weather radar or ATC radars because of the small
size of the particles. Ash particles carry electrical charges
and, within a cloud of volcanic ash, this can give rise
to thunder and lightning in the area (immediate)
_____________ overhead the eruption.
At night, St Elmo's Fire, created when (charge)
_____________ ash particles hit the aircraft, may be the first
circumstantial indication to a flight crew that they are (fly)
____________ into dense volcanic ash. Other indications
might be a sulphurous smell and dust within the cabin. All of
those signs must be seen as (power) ______________ threats
to the (safe) ___________ of the flight.
Volcanic ash encounter can result in engine damage and malfunction. The particles are
(predominant) _________________ composed of silicates which melt within the hot section of
an engine. It’s a (consider) ______________ risk to cross an ash cloud.
Another potential hazard is external surface corrosion, a (noise) _____________ action that
happens all over the aircraft skin and also on the windscreens.
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CLARIFYING & CONFIRMING

Clarifying is a positive way of obtaining a clear, accurate,


and complete understanding of what the speaker wants
to communicate.

Confirming is the skill by which listeners use a closed


probe to test if they truly understand the speaker’s
logical and emotional content.

Confirming is the hand that fits in the glove of clarification. Clarification is a means; confirming
is the end.

Example: PILOT: “San Francisco Approach, we are on backup power, ANAC 123.”
ATC: “ANAC 123, confirm you have an instrument blackout.”
PILOT: “NEGATIVE. We have an electrical problem, not an instrument blackout, ANAC
123.”

EXERCISING!

Practice with a partner:

Situation 1 - PILOT: (you needed to abort takeoff roll due to a dog on the runway)
_____________________________________________________________________________
ATC: (ANAC 123, confirm you have stopped takeoff because of an object on the rwy)
_____________________________________________________________________________

Situation 2- PILOT: (you have an indication of an open inspection panel on the aft side)
_____________________________________________________________________________
ATC: (ANAC 123, I understood you had an inspection on the aft side, please confirm)
_____________________________________________________________________________

Situation 3- PILOT: (you are low on fuel and you need an additional refueling before startup)
______________________________________________________________________________
ATC: (ANAC 123, please confirm you need to expedite startup)
______________________________________________________________________________
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Air travel can precipitate or contribute to medical problems in a


number of ways, even in previously healthy travellers. Uncertainty due
to delay compounds any anxiety and may mean that too long is spent
drinking at the bar.
Once in the air the drop in pressure causes 30% gas expansion,
and less oxygen is available. Pain from middle ears is common,
especially on the descent.
As the journey proceeds the dry cabin atmosphere irritates
mucous membranes. Drinking extra fluid helps, but drinking alcohol has
the opposite effect. The intoxicating properties of alcohol are enhanced at altitude and often
contribute to “air rage", as does the smoking ban in nicotine addicts. Time zone changes and
altered meal times can result in insulin dependent diabetics becoming hypoglycemic, though
diabetic meals can be provided.
Passengers on other strict drug regimens, such as for
epilepsy, may also have problems, especially if they have packed
their medication in the hold. Scalds are quite frequent from hot
drinks in a crowded area, and head injuries caused by items
falling from overhead storage bins are quite common.
The most common reasons for diversion in a recent US
study were cardiac incidents (28%), neurological problems
(20%), and food poisoning (20%). Other reports have cited
severe and uncontrollable pain or bleeding, major injury with

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shock, impending birth, and uncontrollable mental disturbance.

QUESTIONS

1) According to the text, what are the most frequent causes of in-flight medical emergencies?

2) How does dry air affect the passenger health? Is it possible to avoid this problem?

3) Which are the most common reasons for diversions?

4) What is the object below and why is it carried on commercial aircraft?

5) What does it contain?

6) Are there any special procedures to use it? Who is allowed to open it?

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√ BANDAGES √ MEDICATION √ EQUIPMENT

-Match the medical conditions with their definitions:

hypoxia heart attack motion sickness premature childbirth


fracture asthma food poisoning epilepsy headache
diabetes allergic reaction high blood pressure inebriation

a) the condition of being drunk; intoxication


b) mental disorder manifested by convulsions and involuntary movements
c) a coronary thrombosis or occlusion that is characterized by chest pain
d) immunological reaction to a substance that causes itching and anaphylactic shock
e) early parturition; a labor before ninth month of pregnancy
f) a chronic lung disorder; airway obstruction; difficult breathing
g) a feeling of illness, especially of needing to vomit; nausea caused by motion
h) a disease in which the body cannot control the level of sugar in the blood
i) a pain you feel inside your head
j) a great measure of the pressure at which the blood flows through the body
k) a deficiency of oxygen reaching the tissues of the body
l) a gastrointestinal disorder caused by bacteria or by chemical residues in food
m) the act or process of breaking; a rupture

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GRAMMAR in the Air 

PARAPHRASING & REPHRASING

When you need to restate a thought or a text using different words, especially to clarify, you
can paraphrase or rephrase a sentence.

Example:
- Every pilot should keep him(her)self in healthy conditions to ensure the safety of flights.
- All pilots need to have a clean bill of health to guarantee the integrity of flights.

EXERCISING!

-Answer the questions paraphrasing or rephrasing the main idea. Follow the example:

Q: How did your family react when you told them you wanted to be a pilot?
A: Well, when I informed my family that I had intentions to become a pilot they reacted really
well. All of them supported me a lot.

1.) Q: How is the annual medical exam for pilots conducted?


A:______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

2.) Q: Have you received training to deal with medical emergencies?


A:______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

3.) Q: Have you ever witnessed a medical emergency in your job?


A:______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

4.) Q: Why aeromedical flights need special attention?


A:______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

5.) Q: How do you keep yourself healthy?


A:______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

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MEDLINK

When a medical situation arises during a flight, crewmembers have ready access to an
emergency department doctor for advice and assistance. Medlink physicians are there to help
crewmembers prevent medical situations from escalating – or cope with them as they occur.
During a medical event, timing and knowledge are crucial. Medical volunteers can assist
the Medlink doctor with gathering vital signs and administering any medications or treatment
recommendations.
Volunteers can rely on the immediate knowledge Medlink doctors have on the medical
equipment available on the aircraft, medications available, and their location within the
medical kit. If no medical volunteer is present, Medlink can confidently provide instruction to
crewmembers.

- Match the words from the text with their meaning or synonyms:

1) WITHIN A) happens; results from; appears


2) GATHERING B) deliver; afford; offer
3) ARISES C) scheduling; timetabling; synchronism
4) PROVIDE D) collecting; assembling
5) ADVICE E) doctors; surgeons; specialists
6) COPE F) trust; to have faith or confidence
7) PHYSICIANS G) inside; into the inner part
8) ESCALATING H) increase; enlarge, intensify
9) RELY ON I) guidance; instruction; assistance
10) TIMING J) manage; handle

- Discuss with a partner about the situations below. Write a list of two symptoms and
actions to be taken to each of the medical problems:

Medical issue Symptoms Actions


HEART ATTACK
PREMATURE LABOR
FRACTURED LEG

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PILOT INCAPACITATION

Pilot Incapacitation is the term used to describe the inability of a pilot, who is part of
the operating crew, to carry out their normal duties because of the onset, during flight, of the
effects of physiological factors.
Death is the most extreme example of incapacitation, usually as a result of a heart
attack, but is not necessarily the most hazardous. Although most recorded deaths of operating
pilots in flight have been found to be due to cardiovascular disease, by far the most common
cause of flight crew incapacitation is gastroenteritis.
Incapacitation may occur as a result of:
▪ The effects of Hypoxia (insufficient oxygen) associated with an absence of normal
pressurization system function at altitudes above 10,000 ft.
▪ Smoke or fumes associated with an in-flight fire or with contamination of the air
conditioning system.
▪ Gastro-intestinal problems such as severe gastroenteritis potentially attributable
to food poisoning, or to food allergy.
▪ Being asleep.
▪ A medical condition such as a heart attack, stroke or seizure, or transient mental
abnormality.
▪ A bird strike or other event causing incapacitating physical injury.
▪ A malicious or hostile act such as assault by an unruly passenger, terrorist action or
small arms fire, or possibly malicious targeting of aircraft with high powered lasers by
persons on the ground.

Clearly, if the single pilot of a small aircraft becomes incapacitated then the safety of the
flight is liable to be severely compromised and loss of control may result. However, for the two
pilot case typical of larger transport aircraft, incapacitation of only one of the pilots is unlikely
to present a significant risk given the attention which pilot training, especially for low minima
precision approaches, is usually required to give to the implications of single pilot
incapacitation.

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QUESTIONS
1) According to the text, what is pilot incapacitation?

2) What can airlines do to prevent those problems?

3) What actions can be taken to avoid food poisoning?

4) What would you do if the other pilot got unconscious during a flight?

5) To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement: pilots must have a clean bill of
health.

GRAMMAR in the Air 

STILL, YET and ALREADY

➔ Used to talk about something that hasn’t finished.


➔ Used in questions, affirmatives and negatives sentences.
Examples: He is still flying in Italy.
Are you still on an emergency?
I still haven’t got my ICAO proficiency.

➔ Used to talk about something that is expected to happen.


➔ Used in questions and negatives sentences.
Examples: Have you written the report yet?
The company hasn’t bought new planes yet.

➔ Used to talk about something that has happened, often earlier than expected.
➔ Usually used in questions and affirmatives sentences.
Examples: The flight attendant already knows the hotel they are going to.
Has CFT 394 already landed?

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EXERCISING!

1. You don't have to do it. I've ___________ done it.

2. I've had no time. I haven't done it _________ .

3. Don't wake him. He's ________ asleep.

4. I've ________ told you what to do. Listen carefully this time.

5. The plane has _________ arrived. It was really early.

6. The landing gear was fixed up six months ago but it _______gets stuck.

7. Are you ________ working for the same company?

8. There's no need to tell ATCO. He _______ knows.

PASSENGER BEHAVIOUR

Disruptive passenger behavior can be defined as aberrant, abnormal, or abusive


behavior on the part of passengers either at airports or onboard commercial flights. It can have
many causes ranging from the stress of travel and the banning of smoking to the side effects of
prescription drugs or even alcohol.
Besides that, airlines have the right to refuse to carry passengers with conditions that
may worsen, or have serious consequences, during the flight. They may require medical
clearance from their medical department/adviser if there is an indication that a passenger
could be suffering from any disease or physical or mental condition that:
• May be considered a potential hazard to the safety of the aircraft;
• Adversely affects the welfare and comfort of the other passengers and/or crew
members;
• Requires medical attention and/or special equipment during the flight;
• May be aggravated by the flight.

- Match the two columns:

1) Disruptive a) Health
2) Aberrant b) Deteriorate
3) Ranging c) Unruly
4) Refuse d) Varying
5) Worsen e) Decline
6) Welfare f) Agonizing
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Fire in the air is one of the most hazardous


situations that a flight crew can be faced with. Without
aggressive intervention by the flight crew, a fire on board
an aircraft can lead to the catastrophic loss of that
aircraft within a very short space of time. Once a fire has
become established, it is unlikely that the crew will be
able to extinguish it. There are different types:
▪ Engine Fire. An engine fire is normally detected
and contained satisfactorily by the aircraft fire
detection and suppression systems. However, in
certain circumstances (e.g. an explosive breakup of the turbine), the nature of the fire is
such that onboard systems may not be able to contain the fire and it may spread to the
wing and/or fuselage. Where an engine fire has been successfully contained, there is
still a risk that the fire may reignite and therefore it is still advisable for the crew to land
the aircraft as soon as possible and allow fire crews to carry out a visual examination of
the engine.
▪ Cabin Fire. A fire within the cabin will usually be detected early and be contained by the
crew using onboard fire fighting equipment. As with an engine fire, it is still advisable to
land the aircraft as soon as possible and carry out a detailed examination of the cause of
the fire and any damage.
▪ Hidden Fire. A hidden fire may be detected by onboard fire detection systems or by the
crew or passengers noticing smoke or fumes, a hot spot on a wall or floor, or by unusual
electrical malfunctions particularly when the systems are unrelated. This is the most
dangerous type of fire for 2 reasons:
1- Hidden fires are difficult to locate and access in order to fight
them. The time delay may allow the fire to take hold and do
considerable damage to the aircraft.
2- A hidden fire may initially be difficult to confirm and the crew may
be slow to initiate an emergency landing. The consequence of such a
delay may be that the fire becomes non-survivable before the aircraft
has an opportunity to land.

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QUESTIONS

1.) According to the text, what are some of the most common types of fire?

2.) What kind of training aircrew should have to deal with fire?

3.) Why is hidden fire the most dangerous one to be extinguished?

4.) To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement: passengers should never
be allowed to smoke onboard.

GRAMMAR in the Air 

-Observe these examples:

a) We don’t have much information about the incident. (Information = uncountable noun)
b) A large number of airplanes are on the taxiway B. (Airplanes = countable noun)
c) Flight attendants didn’t have enough time to serve coffee. Lots of passengers complained.
(Time = uncountable noun) (Passengers = countable noun)

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EXERCISING!

- Choose the correct quantifier to complete the sentences.

1. They have had (lots of / many) workload recently.


2. How (many / much) time do you need to finish the cargo loading?
3. There are (too many / a great deal of) birds on final approach.
4. Have you flown (many / a large quantity of) different aircraft?
5. Although he's very ill, he didn't take (any / some) medicine.
6. (Few /a bit of) people know as much about linguistics as John does.
7. They say (little / a few) knowledge is a dangerous thing.
8. We're having (a lot of / several) difficulty passing our English test.
9. I spend (a majority /most) of my time reading novels.
10. He knows (very few/ a little) English. He knows (enough / any) English to fly.

ENGINE MALFUNCTION

A turbine engine failure occurs when it


unexpectedly stops producing thrust or power
production due to a malfunction other than fuel
exhaustion. Turbine engines in use on today’s
turbine-powered aircraft are reliable. Engines
operate efficiently with regularly scheduled
inspections and maintenance. These units can have
lives ranging in the thousands of hours of
operation. However, engine malfunctions or failures occasionally occur that require an engine
to be shut down in flight. Since multi-engine airplanes are designed to fly with one engine
inoperative and flight crews are trained to fly with one engine inoperative, the in-flight
shutdown of an engine typically does not constitute a serious safety of flight issue. Following an
engine shutdown, a precautionary landing is usually performed with airport fire and rescue
equipment positioned near the runway. Once the airplane lands, fire department personnel
assist with inspecting the airplane to ensure it is safe before it taxis to its parking position. In
the case of an turbo shaft engine failure in a helicopter, it is often possible for the pilot to
enter autorotation, using the unpowered rotor to slow the aircraft's descent and provide a
measure of control, usually allowing for a safe emergency landing even without engine power.
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STRESS AND INTONATION

Stress is the relative emphasis that may be given to certain syllables in a word, or to certain
words in a phrase or sentence.
Intonation is the variation of spoken pitch that is used to indicate and emotions of the speaker,
signaling the differences between statements and questions and also to help regulating
conversational interaction.
unexpectedly malfunction turbine reliable occasionally trained
precautionary

Practice the pronunciation of the words above. Speak them out loud several times.

FUEL STARVATION
Fuel starvation and fuel exhaustion (sometimes referred to as fuel depletion) are problems that
can affect internal combustion engines fuelled by diesel, kerosene, petroleum or any other
combustible liquid or gas. If no fuel is available for an engine to burn, it cannot function. All
modes of transport powered by such engines can be affected by this problem, but the
consequences are most significant when it occurs to aircraft in flight. An important distinction is
the mechanism behind fuel starvation:

1. The aircraft has insufficient fuel for the engines to work, running out of fuel. This is
caused, for example, by negligent flight planning.
2. There is enough fuel on board, but it fails to reach the engines. An example for this is
selecting an empty fuel tank while fuel is still present in another tank.
Fuel leaks can be considered as a third kind of fuel starvation: The airplane starts off with
sufficient fuel, but yet it does not reach the engines.

There are two main ways that an engine can run out of fuel:

• Using all of the fuel. An engine can use all


available fuel due to insufficient fuel being
loaded for the planned journey or the
journey time extended for too long (in the
case of an aircraft, due to in-flight delays
or problems)
• Leaking. In some cases, the fuel tank or
the supply piping to the engine leaks and
fuel is lost. This can cause engines to
starve.

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QUESTIONS

1.) According to the text, what can cause an engine malfunction?

2.) What kind of training should pilots have to deal with one engine inoperative?

3.) How can you define fuel starvation?

4.) To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement: poor flight planning and
fuel miscalculation are the main reasons of fuel exhaustion.

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OBRIGADO E COMPARTILHE COM QUEM VOCÊ SE


IMPORTA !

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