4.3 Descent

Exercise 4.3.1 Read and translate the text.

The jet has turned on a southerly heading as it follows the dogleg routeing over the Pearl River delta and into Hong Kong airspace. John has set the range on his ND to 160nm and now the symbol for GYA, the Gaoyoa VOR, appears at the top of the screen. This is where the crew will commence the descent. At Mach 0.83/340kt, the jet will descent at 3,000fpm clean speed and 4,500 fpm with the speedbrakes deployed. Ideally, the pilots want to be 10,000ft above the ground 30 track miles from the airport at 250kt and at the traffic pattern altitude at the flap up manoeuvring speed about 12nm out. Multiplying the altitude by three provides a rough guide for the distance required for a descent. For example, a crew going down to 7,000ft from 33,000ft – a descent of 26,000ft – would start down 78nm from the airport, assuming ATC permits it.

At 04.00 UTC, the Captain calls the Chinese controller requesting descent and is cleared down to 8,400m (27,600ft).

Before the jet starts down, the two pilots switch roles. Harry will fly the descent and initial approach. John will handle the radios. He will resume control of the aircraft at the decision height, usually about 200ft, or sooner once the runway is in sight to perform the landing.

The Captain runs through the descent checklist: the EICAS is checked for any unresolved messages; the approach briefing has been completed; the speeds, decision height and autobrake are all checked set for landing.

Overhead GYA the 747-436 turns to an easterly heading for the 38 nm-leg to the Pingzhou VOR (POU). The jet passes POU descending through 32,000ft and banks to the right to a heading of 164˚. John takes a few moments to update passengers on the progress of the flight.

Captain PA: ‘Good morning ladies and gentlemen, this is John Leahy, the Captain, speaking. I hope you’ve enjoyed the peace and quiet in the night. I’m sorry it was a bit bumpy from time to time. We’re now starting our descent into Hong Kong. The time in Hong Kong is 13 minutes past twelve and we’ll be getting off the aircraft in just over half an hour, touching down on schedule at quarter to one. The weather in Hong Kong is extremely pleasant. It’s clear skies, a light northwesterly wind and the temperature is 24 Celsius. Thank you!’

While John was making his announcement, Guangzhou Control cleared the flight down to 17,000ft.

The jet is headed to the Lianshengwei (ZUH) VOR near the Chinese coastline, dropping through 24,000ft. Harry concentrates on the instruments as he guides the jumbo in its descent.

He levels the jet at 17,000ft and 280kt. Control is transferred to Hong Kong Radar. John tunes the new frequency of 124.3 MHz as the flight nears SIERA, a waypoint southwest of the airport that marks one of the entry points for the Baker One STAR.

Exercise 4.3.2 Answer the questions.

1. What type of routeing does the jet follow over the Pearl River delta and into Hong Kong airspace?

2. Where will the crew commence descent?

3. What rate and speed will they descent at?

4. What distance is required for descent?

5. When does the Captain request descent and what altitude is he cleared down to?

6. What roles do John and Harry perform?

7. What is there in the descent checklist?

8. What does the 747-436 do overhead GYA?

9. What does John inform the passengers about?

10. What altitude did Guangzhou Control clear the flight down to while John was making his announcement?

11. What is Hong Kong Radar frequency?

Exercise 4.3.3 Are the following statements true (√) or false (×)? Correct the false ones.

1. The symbol for GYA, the Gaoyoa VOR, appears at the bottom of the screen.

2. The crew will commence descent at GYA.

3. Multiplying the altitude by two provides a rough guide for the distance required for a descent.

4. At 04.00 UTC the Captain calls the controller requesting descent and is cleared to 8,400m (26,700 ft).

5. Harry will fly the descent and initial approach and John will handle the radios.

6. Overhead GYA the 747-436 turns to an easterly heading for the 39 nm-leg to the Pingzhou VOR (POU).

7. The temperature in Hong Kong is 24 Celsius.

8. The frequency of Hong Kong Radar is 124.4 MHz.

Exercise 4.3.4 Give English equivalents for the following words and word combinations.

Ломаный маршрут, начать снижение, скорость при убранных механизации и шасси, аэродинамические тормоза, над землей, высота полета по кругу (над аэродромом), эволютивные скорость полета с убранными закрылками, расстояние, требуемое для снижения, первоначальный этап захода на посадку, высота принятия решения, ВПП в поле зрения, контрольный перечень операций при снижении, инструктаж при заходе на посадку, протекание полета, новая частота,точка входа.

Exercise 4.3.5 What do the following abbreviations stand for?

ND VOR fpm EICAS nm ft kt MHz STAR UTC

Exercise 4.3.6 Find in the text synonyms for the following words and expressions.

Begin, start, perfectly, around, approximately, allows, normally, finished, crosses, descend rapidly, approaches, indicates/denotes.

Exercise 4.3.7 Match the word combinations and expressions in column A with those in column B.

A	B
1. checklist	a. эволюторная скорость полета с убранными закрылками
2. clean speed	b. контрольный перечень операций при снижении
3. entry point	c. высота круга
4. dogleg routeing	d. начальный этап захода на посадку
5. initial approach	e. аэродинамический тормоз
6. speedbrake	f. автоматический тормоз
7. flap up manoeuvring speed	g. ломанный маршрут полета
8. autobrake	h. точка входа
9. descent checklist	i. скорость при убранных шасси
10. traffic pattern altitude	j. контрольный перечень операций

Exercise 4.3.8 Fill in the gaps with the words from the text choosing from the ones given in brackets.

1. The jet follows the ___________ (dogleg routeing, initial approach, rough guide) over the Pearl River delta and into Hong Kong airspace.

2. This is where the crew will __________ (start, begin, commence) descent.

3. At Mach 0.83/ 340 kt, the jet will descend at 3,000 fpm ____________ (approach speed, clean speed, descent speed).

4. Before the jet starts ___________ (descent, approach, down), the two pilots switch roles.

5. John will resume contrpl of the aircraft at the __________ (traffic pattern altitude, decision height, when the runway is in sight).

6. The EICAS is checked for any _______ (unresolved, resumed, resolved) messages.

7. Harry concentrates on the instruments as he guides the __________ (jet, jumbo, Boeing) in its descent.

Exercise 4.3.9 Fill in the gaps with the necessary from of the words given in brackets.

1. While John is making his _________ , Guangzhou Control cleared the flight down to 17,000 feet. (ANNOUNCE)

2. The jet has turned on a _________ heading. (SOUTH)

3. The pilots want to be at the traffic pattern altitude at the flap up ________ speed about 12 nm out. (MANOEUVRE)

4. The Captain calls the Chinese __________ .(CONTROL)

5. John will resume control of the aircraft at the __________ height. (DECIDE)

6. John takes a few moments to ______ passengers on the progress of flight. (DATE)

7. The weather in Hong Kong is _________ pleasant. (EXTREME)

8. John tunes the new _________ of 124.3 MHz. (FREQUENT).

9. SIERA marks one of the _________ points for the Baker One Star. (ENTER)

Exercise 4.3.10 In the list below the box find a definition for the given words.

Radar Aerodrome traffic circuit Decision height Touchdown Waypoint Briefing Bank Bumpy Extremely To update

1. a radio detection device which provides information on range, azimuth and/or elevation of objects

2. specific height in the precision approach at which approach must be initiated if the required visual reference to continue approach has not been established

3. travel with one side higher than the other, usually when turning

4. the point where the normal glidepath intercepts the runway

5. with an uneven surface

6. the specified path to be flown by aircraft operating in the vicinity of an aerodrome

7. a specified geographical location used to define an area navigation route or the flight path of an aircraft employing area navigation

8. giving sb detailed information or instruction in advance (before sth)

9. give sb the latest information

10. to a very high degree

Exercise 4.4.11 Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Реактивный самолет разворачивается на восточный курс, так как он выполняет ломаный маршрут.

2. Джон устанавливает расстояние на своем навигационном дисплее в 160 морских миль.

3. Умножение высоты на три обеспечивает приблизительное наведение для расстояния, необходимого для снижения.

4. В 04.00 UTC Капитан вызывает китайского диспетчера, запрашивая снижение и получает разрешение на снижение до 8.400 метров.

5. Джон возвратится к управлению полетом на высоте принятия решения, обычно около 200 футов.

6. ЭЙЛАС проверена.

7. Инструктаж перед выполнением захода выполнен.

8. Скорости, высота принятия решения и автоматический тормоз проверены и установлены для посадки.

9. Реактивное ВС кренится направо на курс 164º.

10. Джон в течение нескольких минут сообщает пассажирам последнюю информацию о протекании полета.

11. Гарри сосредотачивает внимание на приборах, т.к. он управляет снижением ВС. Джон настраивает новую частоту в 124.3 мегагерца, когда полет подходит к точке СИЕРА.

Exercise 4.3.12 Make up your own sentences using the following words and word combinations.

Dogled routeing; commence descent; clean speed; speedbrakes; traffic pattern altitude; initial approach.

Exercise 4.3.13 Retell the text.