Confusingly related words

There are words in Aviation English which are often confused.

Some of them sound similar, others can be confused because of similar spelling. Pay particular attention to the context in which the word is used. Try to learn its spelling

Listen to the tape and circle the word you hear:

Accept, access, confirm, proceed, injection, congestion, diverging, crush, incur, successive, unable, derive, rise, erase, produce, receipt, expand, impair, expect, access, assign, excessive, explosion, issue, anticipate, subsequent, inhere, enjoin, deploy, delete, win, angle.

 68 Exercise 7

Listen to the tape and choose the word you hear.

1. The RW is closed except for taxiing.

2. You’ll be re-sequenced in the departure flow if you fail to respond to two successive calls of the controller.

3. The lock nuts on the seat assembly came loose and had to be tightened.

4. Lateral deviation is shown by runway indicator on an expanded scale.

5. Caution: cattle are in the vicinity of the airport

6. During approach, the runway indicator will begin to rise at approximately 200 feet above ground level.

7. Should any problems arise report to the controller immediately

8. True airspeed indicator derives inputs from pitot system.

9. Reduced separation. Cleared to land after the preceding aircraft.

10. The computer information has been deleted.

11. The sun’s rays raise the temperature of the surface.

12. There was a shift in frequency between the transmitted and intercepted radio signals.

13. The flight crew must ensure push and engine start at issued time.

14. Severe icing can be encountered in wave cloud.

15. You should conform to hold pattern procedures as depicted on the appropriate charts.

16. Heavy passenger baggage can cause the aircraft excess weight.

17. We encountered a flock of birds and may have had a bird ingestion.

18. Request immediate assistance due to fuel consumption system failure.

19. We are informed about a bomb on board. A chance of explosion can not be excluded.

20. Emergency landing. We are going to deploy escape slide.

Part II. English for everyday communication

Unit 5. Job and Career

 69 Exercise 1.

Well, I find my job exciting but tough because of the huge amount of stress involved. This is understandable as things can go wrong very quickly in the air.

A very important requirement made of air traffic controllers is the ability to stay perfectly quiet in emergencies when they have to act quickly so that they can prevent disasters.

Obviously, air traffic controllers must be highly responsible people, level-headed in a crisis, with ability to make quick, correct decisions. A high standard of physical fitness is essential, with excellent eyesight, as much of the time on duty is spent concentrating on the radar screen.

 70 Exercise 2.

A pilot by passengers’ eyes

When you are in uniform or recognized as a pilot, people are looking at you and making a value judgment. They watch how you walk through the terminal, present yourself. They study your clothes and facial expressions. Your passengers think if you are neat and orderly as an individual, then you are probably neat and orderly as a pilot. They want reassurance. This is a not just the fearful flyer, it is all customers. They have entrusted their lives with you and want to feel that they are in the hands of a professional.

Your passengers' perception of safety also radiates from the aircraft. If the interior or exterior is dirty or the accompaniments are not maintained, they interpret this as: "Well the crew does not watch the small details back here, I wonder if they watch the small details on the flight deck? I wonder how the maintenance issues are performed that I cannot see?"

Flight Warning Computer message to pilots is that the lights are always on and the mike is always open. You are on stage. If you look professional, act appropriately and communicate, the customers will accept you and have a pleasant experience. Go out of your way to make their flight as safe, comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

 71 Exercise 3.