1.9. The walk-around and the preflight check of the flight deck

Exercise 1.9.1 Read and translate the text.

For the next 12 hours, this cosy cockpit will be their office so the pilots take a few minutes to settle in. Jackets are hung up and flightbags stowed within easy reach. There’s now just 55 minutes to departure.

Back in the briefing room, John elected to be the pilot flying for the outbound flight. He will have actual control of the aircraft and make all the decisions. Harry will act as the co-pilot and carry out other duties, such as recording the progress on the flightlog, handling the radio calls and monitoring John’s flying. They will swap roles for the return flight and although John will still be the commander, Harry will fly the aircraft and make decisions under his supervision.

Doing the walk-around normally falls to the handling pilot. However, since they are carrying an extra pilot today, Bob will do the interior inspection, allowing Harry and John to get on with other tasks. Performing the walk-around on a jet this size is not a quick job and Bob takes his time as he gives the engines, the wheels, the wings and fuselage a careful examination. By this point, airline engineers have already inspected the jet several times in fact. Before each departure, engineers perform their own series of inspections as well as the walk-around known as the transit check. They are looking for damage or leaks and examining items such as brake and tyre wear. As well, each aircraft in the fleet gets a daily Ramp 1 check, which is a transit check plus inspections of engine oil levels, tyre pressures, external lighting, cabin emergency equipment and a review of the technical log for any outstanding snags. With so many eyes having already gone over the jet, there is only a small chance Bob will find anything wrong. And on this occasion, he doesn’t. But the walk-around remains an essential part of the preflight routine. It is the last opportunity for the pilot to check his own aircraft to be absolutely sure that all is well.

Harry meanwhile has completed his scan check, a methodical inspection of the flightdeck instrumentation, switches and controls to ensure that all systems are properly configured for engine start. It begins on the overhead panel with the controls for the fuel, electrical and hydraulic systems, pressurization, bleed air and APU (auxiliary power unit), which he confirms is running. He checks the switches for exterior lights, windscreen wipers and anti-icing, engine ignition and the engine fire handles. Next he checks the autopilot controls on the glareshield and works his way down the centre console, where the thrust levers, the handle for the speed brakes/spoilers and flap selector handle are located. Behind these are tuner panels for the VHF (very high frequency) and HF (high frequency) radios, the radar transponder and the controls for the weather radar.

As part of the check, Harry turns on the three units that make up the inertial reference system (IRS) to begin the 10-minute warm-up. Each of these self-contained navigation units uses sophisticated ring-laser gyros and accelerometers to detect the tiniest movement of the aircraft. From that information, the units are able to track the jet’s precise position and provide other information, such as its attitude, vertical speed, true and magnetic heading and the windspeed and direction.

During a flight, the flight management computer system (FMS) searches the navigational database and automatically tunes the best signals from two separate DME (distance measuring equipment) stations to get accurate position fixes. It uses this information to update the triple IRS location. The jet can also navigate accurately out of range of ground-based aids using the IRS alone. All jumbos in the fleet are being equipped with the global positioning system (GPS), which relies on satellite signals for position information. Navigation has come a long way from John’s early days on the 707 when he can remember relying on a sextant and star shots to plot positions. It may surprise some that this form of navigation, unchanged since the days of Captain Cook, was in use as late as 1979 when John did his last ‘nav sector’.

Exercise 1.9.2 Answer the questions.

1. How many minutes are there to departure?

2. Who is elected to be the pilot flying?

3. What is he responsible for?

4. Who will act as the co-pilot?

5. What duties will Harry carry out?

6. Who will be the commander for the return flight?

7. Who will fly the aircraft for the return flight?

8. Who is responsible for the walk-around check?

9. What does the exterior inspection include?

10. Who examines the jet before each departure?

11. What does the engineer inspect before each flight?

12. What does Ramp 1 check mean?

13. Is the review of the technical log required during preflight check?

14. Is the walk-around an essential part of the preflight routine?

15. Who has completed inspection of the flight deck?

16. What has he examined?

17. What does the preflight check of the flight deck begin with?

18. Which switches does he check?

19. Where are the handles for speed brakes located?

20. What goes next for checking after VHF and HF radios?

21. How long does it take to warm up?

22. What helps to detect the tiniest movement of the aircraft?

23. What is the function of the FMS?

24. Can the jet navigate accurately using only IRS?

25. What does GPS stand for?

26. Are all jumbos equipped with GPS?

27. What signals does GPS rely on?

Exercise 1.9.3 Are the following statements true (√) or false (×)? Correct the false ones.

1. Harry is elected to be the pilot flying for the outbound flight.

2. John will act as a co-pilot.

3. They won’t swap roles for the return flight.

4. John will still be the commander for the return flight.

5. John will have actual control of the aircraft and make all decisions.

6. Harry monitors John’s flying for the outbound flight.

7. Bob will do the exterior inspection.

8. Performing the walk around on a jet is not a quick job.

9. Airline engineers haven’t inspected the jet yet.

10. Walk-around is known as a transit check.

11. Each aircraft in the fleet gets a daily Ramp 1 check.

12. Bob hasn’t found anything wrong.

13. John has completed his scan check.

14. Scan check begins on the right instrument panel.

15. VHF and HF panels are located on the centre console.

Exercise 1.9.4 Give English equivalents for the following words and word combinations.

Выбирать, внешний осмотр, искать повреждения, осматривать, уровень масла, предполетная проверка, десятиминутный прогрев, точка точного местонахождения самолета, получать сигналы от спутника, автономные навигационные блоки, автоматически настраивать, прошло длинный путь, управлять самолетом, пилот управляющий полетом в данный момент, журнал техобcлуживания, давление в пневматике, пульт настройки УКВ и КВ, органы управления, износ тормозов и шин, маршрут проверки, последняя возможность, гарантировать, органы управления автопилотом, пожарные краны двигателя.

Exercise 1.9.5 What do the following abbreviations stand for.

APU FMC IRS DME GPS VHF HF

Exercise 1.9.6 Find in the text synonyms for the following words and expressions.

Check; spill; oil amount; problem; careful inspection; monitor; pilot the jet; make; opportunity; finish; transit check; cockpit; equipment; external; lever; central pedestal; installed; switch on; complex; employ; motion; can; wind velocity; adjust; precise.

Exercise 1.9.7 Match the word combinations and expressions in column A with those in column B.

A	B
1. carry out	a. принимать решение
2. walk around	b. пилотировать точно
3. look for	c. это может удивить
4. preflight routine	d. искать
5. cabin emergency equipment	e. внешний обход
6. switches and controls	f. выполнять
7. make a decision	g. маршрут предполетной проверки
8. navigate accurately	h. обнаруживать малейшее движение самолета
9. it may surprise	i. запись развития полета
10. track the jet’s precise position	j. переключатели и органы управления
11. detect the tiniest movement of the aircraft	k. продолжать выполнять свои обязанности
12. recording the progress on the flightlog	l. аварийное оборудование кабины
13. get on with other tasks	m. прослеживать точно место самолета

Exercise 1.9.8 Fill the gaps with the words from the text choosing from the ones given in brackets.

1. John was ______ (ordered, elected, informed) to be the pilot flying for the out-bound flight.

2. Each aircraft _____ (takes, gets, performs) a daily Ramp 1 check.

3. Airline engineers have already ______ (checked, examined, inspected) the jet.

4. Harry will _____ (pilot, fly, navigate) the aircraft.

5. Harry will ____ (do, make, act) as a co-pilot.

6. The walk-around remains an _____ (initial, essential, positional) part of the preflight routine.

7. He checks the switches for ______ (interior, exterior, prior) lights.

8. It is the _____ (past, last, fast) opportunity for the pilot to check his own aircraft.

9. All jumbos in fleet are being _____ (arranged, fixed, equipped) with GPS.

10. It may _____ (take, astonish, surprise) some that this form of navigation is unchanged.

11. They are _____ (detecting, listening, looking) for damage or leaks.

12. Harry _____ (has finished, has completed, has checked) his scan check.

13. Next he checks the autopilot ______ (controls, panels, switches).

14. FMC uses this ______ (indicator, publication, information) to update the triple IRS location.

Exercise 1.9.9 Fill in the gaps with the related word.

1. The flight management computer ____ the navigation database. (SEARCHING)

2. The jet can also ____ accurately out of range of ground-based aids. (NAVIGATION)

3. Harry ____ on the three units. (TURNING)

4. Doing the walk-around normally ____ to the handling pilot. (FALLING)

5. Harry will ____ the aircraft and make _____ . (FLIGHT) (DECIDE)

6. Harry will ___ out others duties. (CARRYING)

7. Pilots take a few minutes to ____ in. (SETTLING)

8. Engineers _____ their own inspection. (PERFORMANCE)

9. They are _____ for damage or leak. (LOOK)

10. He _____ a careful examination to the engines and the wheels. (GIVING)

11. They _____ the technical log for any outstanding snags. (REVIEWING)

Exercise 1.9.10 In the list belowthe box find a definition for the given words.

Briefing Co-pilot Autopilot Pressurization Thrust lever Spoilers Departure Flight Scan check Switch Wing

1. the act of leaving or setting out on a journey

2. relating information to all concerned to ensure a good understanding of the procedures required for the operation of the aircraft

3. pilot not in command

4. methodical observation of the flight instruments in a set sequence or pattern during instrument flying

5. a device for braking electric circuit

6. device for automatic steering and controlling the flight

7. operation trip or journey of an aircraft between two airports operated by an airline

8. control levers mounted on the pedestal in the cockpit by means of which the pilot may control the supply of fuel to the engines

9. an aircraft system which keeps a comfortable level of air pressure inside the pressure cabin of an aircraft

10. the airfoil shaped structures on either side of the fuselage designed in such a way as to generate lift

11. panels on the upper surface of the wing when raised into the airstream increase drag and reduce lift

Exercise 1.9.11 Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Они будут меняться ролями на обратном пути.

2. Поскольку на борту есть дополнительный пилот, Боб будет выполнять внешний осмотр.

3. Перед каждым полетом инженеры выполняют серию проверок.

4. Хэрри завершил методичный осмотр кабины экипажа.

5. Визуальный осмотр начинать с верхней панели, с органов управления топливной, электрической и гидравлической систем.

6. Осталось только 55 мин. до вылета.

7. Хэрри будет работать в качестве второго пилота и выполнять другие обязанности.

8. Каждый из этих автономных навигационных блоков использует сложные лазерные гироскопы.

9. Реактивный самолет может тоже летать точно вне зоны действия наземных средств, используя только инерционную систему координат.

10. Все реактивные самолеты оборудованы Джи-Пи-Эс'ом.

11. Хэрри включает три блока инерционной системы координат, чтобы включить десятиминутный прогрев.

12. Хэрри будет контролировать полет Джона.

13. Он проверяет выключатели отбора воздуха и ВСУ.

14. Он подтверждает, что ВСУ работает.

15. Затем он спускается вниз от центрального пульта, где расположены РУДы и ручки тормозов/ спойлеров и переключатели закрылок.

Exercise 1.9.12 Make up your own sentences using the following words and word combinations.

Progress inspection; get on with other tasks; the walk-around; careful examination; examining items such as brake and tyre wear; engine oil levels; tyre pressures; external lighting; preflight routine; scan check; flightdeck instrumentation; switches; controls; pressurization; APU; exterior lights; autopilot controls; centre console; thrust levers; flap selector handle; tuner panels for the VHF; HF radios; turns on; flight management computer system.

Exercise 1.9.13 Retell the text.