1.11. Before start check. Preflight briefing.

Exercise 1.11.1 Read and translate the text.

Twenty five minutes before departure, the Captain calls for the Before Start check.

The pilots confirm that the interior and exterior inspections have been done; the oxygen system is checked; the flight instruments are checked set for departure; the current barometer setting is dialed into the altimeters; the parking brake is checked set; and the autobrake switch is set to RTO, or rejected take-off. If the take-off is aborted above 85kt, the autobrakes will automatically apply full braking when the throttles are cut to idle. The spoilers will deploy as well to help slow the jet.

The crew now proceed with the preflight briefing, a review of the take-off and the flight ahead. It includes a discussion of any outstanding deficiencies, significant weather, terrain considerations and performance restrictions.

The first item is the SID routeing. Departing from Runway 09 Right. Speedbird 25 will climb on runway heading for 2nm, and then turn left to 054˚ to intercept the 075˚ radial from the London VOR (LON), located at Heathrow. Ten miles from LON, the jet will turn left again to a heading of 020˚ to track inbound to the Brookmans Park VOR (BPK), located northeast of the airport, and from there will proceed on course.

John and Harry review the procedures to handle an emergency on take-off, while Bob listens in from the jumpseat.

Captain: ‘If stop is called, I shall reject the take-off as long as we’re below vee one. I shall close the thrust levers, disconnect the autothrottle and allow the autobrakes to bring the aircraft to a halt.’

First Officer: ‘I shall bring all thrust levers up to the interlock position. If the speedbrakes haven’t already come out, I shall pull them out for you and then I will give you all available reverse thrust above one hundred knots until you tell me otherwise.’

Captain: ‘When we come to a halt on the runway, I shall set the parking brake. Make sure we cancel reverse thrust and get into forward thrust. Then we’ll restate the emergency and I’ll call for any drills that need to be done which you may carry out on your own with me monitoring the bigger situation. Say I call for the fire checklist on engine number four.’

First Officer: ‘I shall confirm that this is the thrust lever you wish to close. I shall close it and do the same with the fuel control switch. I’ll pull the fire handle. If we’ve got a fire message, I will rotate it, check that the bottle discharges and start the stopwatch for thirty seconds.’

Captain: ‘I’ll try and keep an eye on you. However, I might be talking to a tower or talking to the cabin crew. If it looks like anything catastrophic and we have to get out of the aircraft, then I’ll call for the evacuation checklist. My job is to make sure I have set the parking brake. Then I’ve got to shut down the engines and initiate the evacuation.’

First Officer: ‘I will confirm the aircraft is depressurized and if it isn’t, I will manually open the outflow valves. Having done that, I will pull all four fire handles and if there’s a threat of fire, discharge the bottles.’

Captain: ‘If we get airborne, make sure you call positive rate of climb. We will raise the gear and once climbing safely away, you can then restate the emergency. Make sure I understand what’s gone wrong before we carry out any drills. I will engage the autopilot above two hundred and fifty feet to give us more capacity. Obviously Bob is behind us. Bob, if you think we’ve missed something, say so.’

The briefing continues until all important details have been covered, rehearsed and understood. Continueing with the check, the fuel load is confirmed once again and the fuel panel set up for engine start. The main pump switches, override pump switches 2 and 3, fuel crossfeed switches 1 and 4 and centre wing tank pump switches are all selected ON. The pilots confirm that the FMC has been loaded with the data required for take-off.

The mode control panel on the glareshield, used for the autopilot, autothrottle and flight directors, has been set for departure. As the final items of preparation, both LNAV and VNAV are armed to engage once airborne.

Harry pulled the checklist from its holder atop the glareshield and confirms nothing was missed. It is British Airways’ policy to perform procedures from memory and then use the checklist to ensure that all the items have been completed.

John calls air traffic control for the departure clearance.

Captain R/T: ‘Heathrow delivery, this is Speedbird two five, stand Tango Seven, seven four four for Hong Kong, QNH one zero three four.’

Heathrow Delivery: ‘Speedbird two five is cleared to Hong Kong as filed, Brookmans Park Five Juliet, squawk zero five seven two.’

The Captain jots down the clearance on the SWORD flight plan and both pilots confirm that the relevant details have been loaded in the FMC. The squawk code given by the controller is dialed into the transponder. When air traffic control radar sweeps the sky, the transponder will reply with the jet’s distinct code for easy identification on the controller’s radar screen.

The checks are completed 10 minutes before departure, leaving time for the crew to deal with any last-minute issues. By now, the 276 passengers have boarded and the final call has gone out in the terminal. The Captain uses the public address system to greet the travelers and provides a brief synopsis of the trip ahead.

Alan Woodward, the CSD (Cabin Service Director), opens the flightdeck door and advises the pilots that the passengers are settled in their seats and the flight attendants are ready for departure.

As the final minutes tick away, the pilots learn that the ramp workers are running behind schedule. With just minutes to go, they still have three bins of cargo to load. The delay gives the pilots a few minutes to enjoy a cup of tea.

Exercise 1.11.2 Answer the questions.

1. What does the pilot confirm?

2. When do the autobrakes automatically apply full braking?

3. What are the spoilers applied for?

4. What does the preflight briefing include?

5. What is the SID routine?

6. What must the first officer do if stop is called?

7. When does the Captain reject the take-off?

8. Is it possible to pull the speedbrakes manually?

9. Say the captain calls for the fire. What must the first officer do?

10. When does the captain call for the evacuation checklist?

11. What must he make sure after that?

12. How many fire handles should be pulled in case of fire?

13. At what altitude is the autopilot engaged?

14. Until what time does the briefing continue?

15. What is confirmed once again?

16. When does John call air traffic control for the departure?

17. How many passengers have boarded the plane?

18. What system does the Captain use to greet the travellers?

Exercise 1.11.3 Are the following statements true (√) or false (×)? Correct the false ones.

1. Thirty five minutes before departure, the captain calls for the Before Start Check.

2. The pilot confirms the last barometric setting is dialed into the altimeters.

3. When throttles are cut to take off power, the autobrakes will automatically apply full braking.

4. Pre-flight briefing is a review of the take off and flight ahead.

5. Speedbird 25 will climb on runway heading for 3 nm.

6. The captain will reject the take off as long as they are below V₁.

7. The first officer will confirm and then close the thrust lever.

8. If it looks catastrophic, the captain calls for the evacuation checklist.

9. If the aircraft is depressurized, the first officer will manually open the outflow valve.

10. The captain will pull all four fire handles.

11. The captain will engage the autopilot below 250 feet.

12. The squawk code is dialed into the transponder.

13. The checks are completed 10 minutes before departure.

14. The 256 passengers have boarded.

15. The co-pilot provides a brief synopsis of the trip ahead.

Exercise 1.11.4 Give English equivalents for the following words and word combinations.

Были загружены в компьютер управления полетом; рассматривать; устанавливать стояночный тормоз; пожарный кран; сообщение о пожаре; будут следовать по курсу; схема СИД, останавливаться на ВПП; пропустить что-то; начать эвакуацию; контрольный перечень; по памяти; аэродинамический тормоз; кран кольцевания; краткий обзор; следить; истекать; пульт управления; секундомер; клапан перепуска; поднимать шасси; включить автопилот; топливный пульт.

Exercise 1.11.5 What do the following abbreviation stand for?

RTO SID VOR FMC LNAV VNAV CSD

Exercise 1.11.6 Find in the text synonyms for the following words and expressions.

Prior; demand; detail; instruction; continue; comprise; important; limitation; situated; abort; stop; postpone information; provide; acknowledge; declare; fulfill; discontinued take off, extend; watch; switch off; scan; problem; inform; to expire.

Exercise 1.11.7 Match the word combinations and expressions in column A with those in column B.

A	B
1. review the procedures	a. объявлять аварийную ситуацию
2. disconnect the autothrottle	b. следовать курсом подхода
3. handle an emergency on take off	c. рассматривать процедуры
4. reject the take off	d. бегло просмотреть разрешение
5. track inbound	e. выходить из самолета
6. performance restrictions	f. ограничение характеристик
7. pull out	g. угроза пожара
8. nothing missed	h. пульт, установленный для запуска двигателя
9. perform procedures from memory	i. потянуть
10. get out of the aircraft	j. рассматривать аварийную ситуацию при взлете
11. a threat of fire	k. автомат тяги
12. restate the emergency	l. ничего не пропущено
13. fuel panel is set up for engine start	m. выполнять процедуры по памяти
14. jot down the clearance	n. прекратить взлет

Exercise 1.11.8 Fill in the gaps with the words from the text choosing from the ones given in brackets.

1. I shall _________ (switch on, set, adjust) the parking brakes.

2. Then they use the checklist to _________ (provide, prove, ensure) that all items have been completed.

3. John _________ (calls, informs, requests) departure clearance.

4. Speedbird 25 is ______ (allowed, provided, approved) to Hong Kong.

5. We will __________ (lift, extend, raise) the gear.

6. The checks are ______ (finished, performed, carried out) 10 minutes before departure.

7. The briefing continues until all important details have been _________ (reviewed, understood, repeated).

8. I will _________ (automatically, immediately, manually) open the outflow valves.

9. ____________ (Carrying out, Continuing, Starting) with the check the fuel load is confirmed once again.

10. The ramp workers are __________ (going, running, working) behind schedule.

11. The delay _______ (offers, supplies, gives) a few minutes to enjoy a cup of tea.

12. CSD advises the pilots that the passengers are ________ (arranged, fixed, settled) in the seats.

13. The captain jots down the ___________ (distance, clearance, importance) on the SWORD flight plan.

Exercise 1.11.9 Fill in the gaps with the related word.

1. The Captain __________ the public address system to greet the travellers (USED).

2. The _______ call has gone out in the terminal (FINALLY).

3. I might be _____ to the tower (TALKED).

4. ________ Bob is behind us (OBVIOUS).

5. The fuel load is ___________ once again (CONFIRMING).

6. The squawk code ______ by the controller is dialed (GIVING).

7. Allan _____ the flight deck door (OPENING).

8. The pilots learn that the ramp workers are _____ behind schedule (RUNS).

9. Harry _____ the checklist from the holder (PULLING).

10. Make _________ you call positive rate of climb (SURELY).

11. I will _________ autopilot (ENGAGEMENT).

Exercise 1.11.10 In the list below the box find a definition for the given words.

Autobrakes Track Autothrottle Emergency V1 Clearance Flight instrument Performance Throttles Course Reverse thrust Drill

1. aircraft system which provides automatic braking during landing or aborted take off.

2. the actual path over the ground being flown by an aircraft.

3. a route or direction followed.

4. the term sometimes used instead of thrust lever.

5. instruments, located immediately in front of the pilots, which provide information to aid the pilots in controlling and navigating the aircraft.

6. the capability or flying characteristis of the aircraft.

7. a crisis relating to the operation of the aircraft which may place it or its passengers and crew in distress.

8. the speed before which an engine failure or other serious failure must have been recognized and the decision taken to either stop or continue the take off.

9. an aircraft system which automatically controls the supply of fuel to the engines.

10. thrust applied to the aircraft in the opposite direction to the direction of motion.

11. authorization from ATC for a flight to proceed under specific conditions.

12. a training exercise which teaches by repetition of an action until it is learned.

Exercise 1.11.11 Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Командир использует громкоговорящую систему, чтобы поприветствовать путешественников.

2. Пульт режимов установлен для взлета.

3. Я включу автотормоза, чтобы остановить самолет.

4. Я сделаю то же самое с переключателем управления топлива.

5. В 10 милях от LON реактивный самолет развернется влево.

6. Первый пункт это схема СИДа.

7. Пилот подтверждает, что внешний и внутренний осмотр выполнен.

8. Если взлет прекращен на скорости больше, чем 85 узлов, автотормоз автоматически включает полное торможение.

9. Пилотажные приборы проверены и установлены на взлет.

10. Сделав это, я потяну все четыре ручки пожарных кранов.

11. Затем развернуться влево на курс 054°, чтобы выйти на радиал 075° BOPa LON.

12. Экипаж сейчас приступает к предполетному инструктажу.

13. Я выключу автотормоза.

14. Когда мы остановимся на ВПП, я установлю парковочные тормоза.

15. Пилоты подтверждают, что соответствующие детали загружены в компьютер управления полетом.

16. Брифинг проводится до тех пор, пока все важные детали охвачены, отработаны и поняты.

17. Код ответчика, данный диспетчером, набран.

18. Предполетный инструктаж включает обсуждение характерных недостатков.

19. Моя работа заключается в том, чтобы убедиться, что я установил стояночный тормоз.

20. Если есть угроза пожара, я разряжу баллоны пожаротушения.

Exercise 1.11.12 Make up your own sentences using the following words and word combinations.

Interior and exterior inspections; flight instruments; autobrake switch; full braking; will deploy; deficiencies; restrictions; runway heading; intercept; radial; handle an emergency; interlock position; thrust levers; come to a halt; restate the emergency; fire checklist; fire handle; start the stopwatch; evacuation checklist; set the parking brake; shut down the engines; outflow valves; discharge the bottles; raise the gear; engage the autopilot; crossfeed switches; control panel; perform procedures from memory; checklist; squawk code; radar screen; passengers have boarded; public address system; delay.

Exercise 1.11.13 Retell the text.