3.1 Breaks planning for the pilots

Exercise 3.1.1 Read and translate the text.

Speedbird 25 has been airborne for almost an hour now. After crossing the North Sea and the northern part of the Netherlands, the jet is closing in on the Helgoland VOR, located on a small island off the German coast.

With the heavy workload of departure behind them, the first item of business for the pilots is to work out the schedule of rest breaks. John and Harry have to be back on duty one hour before arrival. Some quick maths determines that each pilot will get a 3-hour 15-minute rest period. Bob gets the first break and Harry and John settle into the routine, that will mark the long hours of cruise ahead – monitoring the aircraft systems, keeping an eye on the fuel burn and checking how the flight’s progress compares to the flightplan.

The flight is under the control of the Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre, the ATC agency that handles all traffic at 24.500 ft and higher over the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and northwest Germany.

At 18.12 UTC, Harry requests clearance to climb to FL 330. The controller asks the crew to stand by, and a few minutes later he responds.

Maatricht Control: Speedbird two five, on present heading, climb to flight level three three zero.

First Officer R/T: Okay, on this heading, flight level three three sero and the heading is zero six zero, Speedbird two five.

The jet climbs to the new altitude at 1.250 ft per minute (fpm). The controller calls back with clearance to proceed direct to the Codan VOR (CDA) on a Danish island in the Baltic Sea south of Copenhagen. The radio beacon is 106 nm away and should be reached at 18.30 UTC. Islands of light appear in the ocean of blackness below – German cities on the right side and Danish communities ahead and on the left.

Exercise 3.1.2 Answer the questions.

1. How long has Speedbird 25 been in the air?

2. What VOR is Speedbird 25 closing to?

3. Where is Helgoland VOR located?

4. What is the first item of business for the pilots?

5. When do John and Harry have to be back on duty?

6. How long will each pilot have rest period?

7. What is the routine job for Harry and John?

8. Who controls the flight of Speedbird 25?

9. What time does Harry request clearance to climb?

10. What FL does Harry request?

11. What does the controller ask the crew to do?

12. What information does the controller give to Speedbird 25?

13. What is the heading of Speedbird 25?

14. What FL is Speedbird 25 cleared to climb to?

15. Is the jet climbing to FL 330?

16. What is rate of climb?

17. Why does the controller call Speedbird 25 back?

18. How far is the radio beacon?

19. What time should the radio beacon be reached?

20. Where do islands of light appear?

Exercise 3.1.3 Are the following statements true (√) or false (×)? Correct the false ones.

1. Speedbird 25 has been airborne for almost 2 hours now.

2. Before crossing the North Sea and the northern part of the Netherlands, the jet is closing in on the Helgoland VOR.

3. The Helgoland VOR is located on a small island off the German coast.

4. The first item of business for the pilots is to work out the schedule of rest breaks.

5. John and Harry have to be back on duty one hour before arrival.

6. Each pilot will get a 2 hour and 15-minute rest period.

7. The flight is under the control of the Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre.

8. At 18.12 Z Speedbird 25 requests clearance to climb to FL 350.

9. The controller responds immediately.

10. Speedbird 25 flies on heading 060.

11. The jet climbs to the new altitude at 1.200 ft per minute.

12. The controller does not allow Speedbird 25 to proceed direct to the Codan VOR.

13. The radio beacon is 206 n.m. away.

14. Island of light appear in the ocean of blackness below German cities on the right side and Danish communities ahead on the left.

Exercise 3.1.4 Give English equivalents for the following words and word combinations.

Самолет взлетел; час тому назад; после пересечения; Северное море; Нидерланды; небольшой остров; немецкое побережье; большой объем работы; разрешить какую-то проблему, вопрос; расписание; несколько быстрых математических расчетов; следить за работой систем самолета; план полета; экипаж воздушного судна; несколько минут спустя; отвечать; вызывать снова; следовать прямо; Балтийское море; морская миля; появляться; слева; справа.

Exercise3.1.5 What do the following abbreviations stand for?

VOR Z R/T n.m. ft f.p.m.

Exercise 3.1.6 Find in the text synonyms for the following words and expressions.

Solve the problem; timetable; the first point of business; situated on; the jet is approaching; watch smth; wait; answer back; under; must be reached.

Exercise 3.1.7 Match the word combinations and expressions in column A with those in column B.

A	В
1. airborne	a. расписание
2. to work out	b. на данном курсе
3. on duty	c. определять
4. schedule	d. на маленьком острове
5. to keep an eye on	e. запросить разрешение
6. under the control of	f. оторвавшийся от земли
7. on present heading	g. перерыв на отдых
8. to proceed direct	h. на дежурстве; при исполнении обязанностей
9. on a small island	i. разрешить вопрос
10. to request clearance	j. следить за
11. to determine	k. под контролем
12. rest break	l. следовать напрямую, прямо

Exercise 3.1.8 Fill in the gaps with the words from the text choosing from the ones given in brackets.

1. Speedbird 25 has been _________ (flying, determined, airborne) for _________ (almost, approximately, nearly) an hour ago.

2. After crossing _________ (the Red Sea, the Black Sea, the North Sea), the jet is closing in to the Helgoland VOR.

3. Some quick maths _________ (defines, determines, specifies) that each pilot will get a 3 hour 15-minute rest __________ (time, break, period).

4. The ATC agency _________ (controls, monitors, handles) all traffic at 24.500 ft and higher.

5. At 18.12 UTC Harry _______ (asks, begs, requests) clearance to climb to FL 330.

6. A few minutes later the controller _________ (answers back, responds, calls back).

7. Islands of light _________ (show, appear, come) in the ocean of blackness below.

Exercise 3.1.9 Fill in the gaps with the related words.

1. After ________ the North Sea and the _________ part of the Netherlands, the jet is _________ in on the Helgoland VOR. (CROSS + NORTH + CLOSE)

2. With the heavy workload of __________ behind them, the first item of business for the pilots is to work out the schedule of rest breaks. (DEPART)

3. Crew members settle into the routine that will mark the long hours of cruise ahead - ________ the aircraft system, ________ an eye on the fuel burn and _________ how the flight’s progress compares to the flightplan. (MONITOR + KEEP + CHECK)

4. The controller calls back with _________ to proceed direct to the Codan VOR. (CLEAR)

Exercise 3.1.10 In the list below find a definition for the given words.

Crew Jet VOR Departure Schedule ATC First officer Clearance Radio beacon Flightplan

1. a propulsion engine which generates thrust by burning a mixture of air and fuel and then emitting the resulting gas rearwards.

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

3. authorisation from Air Traffic Control for a flight to proceed under specific conditions.

4. a service provided by an appointed authority to promote the safe, orderly and expeditions movement of aircraft.

5. plan showing all specified information for a planned flight submitted orally or in written to ATC.

6. airport rotating beacon, a very bright light flashing alternately white and green which gives the pilot a visual indication of the location of the airport.

7. a pilot rank, under the command of the Captain.

8. a defined and published time at which a flight either departs or arrives as in the airline timetable.

9. very high frequency Omnidirectional Radio Range beacon, a ground based navigational aid which transmits a special signal through 360°.

10. persons operating the aircraft in flight, i.e. pilots and Cabin Crew.

Exercise 3.1.11 Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Самолет находится в воздухе уже почти около часа.

2. После пересечения Северного моря и северной части Нидерландов, реактивный самолет подходит к Гельголанд BOPy.

3. Первое, что нужно сделать, так это разработать график (расписание) отдыха членов экипажа.

4. Джон и Генри должны приступить к работе за час до прибытия.

5. Несколько быстрых математических расчетов определяют, что каждый пилот будет отдыхать 3 часа 15 минут.

6. Боб будет отдыхать первым.

7. Генри и Джон занимаются рутинной работой, которая будет длиться долгими часами.

8. Они будут следить за работой систем самолета, контролировать топливо и сверять свой полет с планом полета.

9. В 18.12 Генри просит разрешения на набор ЭП 330.

10. Диспетчер просит экипаж немного подождать.

11. Воздушное судно выдерживает ЭП 330 с курсом 60°.

12. Скорость набора реактивного самолета 1.250 футов в минуту.

13. Диспетчер дает указание следовать прямо на Кодан ВОР на датском острове в Балтийском море южнее Копенгагена.

14. Радиомаяк находится на расстоянии 106 морских миль.

15. Островки света появляются в темноте внизу – немецкие города с правой стороны, а датские – слева.

Exercise 3.1.12 Make up your own sentences using the following words and word combinations.

The North Sea; a small island; the German coast; heavy workload; departure; the first item of business; schedule; to be on duty; one hour before arrival; to keep an eye on; monitor the aircraft systems; to check the flight’s progress; to call back; to proceed direct; on the right/left side.

Exercise 3.1.13 Retell the text.