4.5 Slowing up and configuring the aircraft for the approach

Exercise4.5.1 Read and translate the text.

Harry decides it is time to start slowing up and configuring the aircraft for the approach. He calls: ‘Flap one’. The Captain moves the flap selector handle back one notch, deploying the inboard and midspan leading edge devices. John also dials up 220 kt in the airspeed window, moving the cursor on the airspeed tape for the easy reference. Through 9,000 ft, Flap 5 is selected. The outboard leading edge device and the trailing edge flaps now extend from the wings as well. The outboard landing lights and logo lights are turned ON. The FASTEN SEATBELTS signs are checked ON. The pilots also conduct a height check, a cross-check of the altimeter to ensure the indications match and the altimeter settings are set. This check is done at 10,000 ft and 20,000 ft during both the climb and descent.

The flight has about 40 nm to go in its approach. The Captain makes a brief PA (Public Address) announcement to update passengers and cabin crew that touchdown is now expected in about 10 minutes. Flight attendants are busy gathering up the breakfast dishes and preparing the cabin for the arrival. They have to work fast to get the job done before landing.

In any aircraft, a good landing starts with a good approach. The trick to a good approach in a 747 is to get it established at the proper airspeed and in trim early. The pilots then make small, constant corrections to keep it on course. The 747 is a big jet and with so much inertia, significant deviations in heading and altitude can quickly lead to a destabilized approach. British Airways’ procedures state that the jet should be stabilized on the approach by 1,000ft at the very latest – established on the centreline, descending on the correct glideslope, gear down, flaps set and at safe approach airspeed. If any of those parameters are not met, a go-around procedure is mandatory.

Like chess players plotting their next move, the pilots are thinking ahead of the jet, anticipating the next ATC clearance and deciding on their next action, such as extending the flaps further, reducing speed and requesting a lower altitude. Such planning is critical. At 250 kt – the typical speed in the airspace around airports – the 747 is moving at four miles a minute. It takes time and distance to slow down, about 45 seconds and 3-4 nm to slow from 290 kt to 250kt in level flight at idle thrust and another 6 nm or so to slow further to 170 kts. The speedbrakes are quite effective and will reduce the time and distance required to decelerate by 40% if required.

Exercise 4.5.2 Answer the questions.

1. What do John and Harry do on the call ‘Flap one’?

2. What is turned ON?

3. What check do the pilots conduct?

4. When is the touchdown expected now?

5. What are the flight attendants doing?

6. What is a trick to a good approach in a 747?

7. What do British Airways’ procedures state?

8. In what case is a go-round procedure mandatory?

9. How long does it take to slow down?

10. What is quite effective in reducing the time and distance required?

Exercise 4.5.3 Are the following statements true (√) or false (×)? Correct the false ones.

1. John dials up 220 ft in the airspeed window.

2. Through 8,000 ft, Flap 5 is selected.

3. The outboard landing lights and logo lights are turned OFF.

4. The FASTEN SEATBELT signs are checked ON.

5. A hight check and a cross-check of the altimetres are done at 10,000 ft.

6. The cabin crew have to work fast to get the job done before landing.

7. Significant deviations in heading and altitude with the 747 can quickly lead to a destabilized approach.

8. It takes about 45 seconds and 3-4 nm to slow from 290 kt to 170 kt.

Exercise 4.5.4 Give English equivalents for the following words and word combinations.

Посадочные огни; расположенные за бортом ВС; если требуется; рукоятка рычага управления закрылками; разрешение УВД; процедура ухода на второй круг; выпуск закрылков указатель воздушной скорости; уменьшение скорости; устройство; приспособление; безопасная скорость захода; табло “Пристегните ремни!”; установка высотомера; середина размаха; правильная глиссада; передняя кромка; шасси выпущены; задняя кромка; закрылки установлены; сбалансированный; тяга на режиме малого газа; существенные отклонения; полет на заданном эшелоне; неустойчивый заход; запрос более низкой высоты; курсор; стрелка; указатель; перед посадкой; логотипные огни; бортпроводники; проверка высоты; одновременный контроль.

Exercise 4.5.5 What do the following abbreviations stand for?

ATC kt PA nm

Exercise 4.5.6 Find in the text synonyms for the following words and expressions.

Chosen; lower; carry out; guarantee; short; to inform; go-around procedure; obligatory; compulsory; slow down; flight attendant; pick up; get ready; quickly; permanent; essential; permission; ask for.

Exercise 4.5.7 Match the word combinations and expressions in column A with those in column B.

A	B
1. slowing up	a. замедление, уменьшение скорости
2. flap selector handle	b. середина размаха
3. midspan	c. выпустить закрылки
4. extend flaps	d. рукоятка рычага управления закрылками
5. landing lights	e. передняя кромка (крыла)
6. idle thrust	f. ленточная шкала указателя воздушной скорости
7. leading edge	g. перекрестный контроль
8. trailing edge	h. посадочные огни
9. airspeed tape	i. задняя кромка крыла
10. cross-check	j. тяга в режиме молого газа

Exercise 4.5.8 Fill in the gaps with the words from the text choosing from the ones given in brackets.

1. Harry decides it is time to start slowing down and ________ (decelerating, stabilizing, configuring) the aircraft for the approach.

2. The captain deploys the inboard and midspan leading edge ____________ (devices, flaps, landing lights).

3. The outboard leading edge device and the trailing edge flaps now __________ (extend, deploy, stabilize) from the wings.

4. The _________ (inboard, outboard, midspan) landing lights and logo lights are turned ON.

5. The trick to a good approach in a 747 is to get it established at the proper airspeed and __________ (in trim, balanced, constant) early.

6. Significant deviations in heading and altitude can quickly lead to _________ (deviation, decelerated, destabilized) approach.

7. If any of the parameters are not met, a ___________ (missed approach, holding, go-around) procedure is mandatory.

8. It takes time and distance to ___________ (slow down, configure, decelerate) the aircraft.

9. The __________ (airspeed, airbrakes, speedbrakes) are quite effective.

Exercise 4.5.9 Fill in the gaps with the necessary form of the words given in brackets.

1. John moves the cursor on the airspeed tape for the easy _________ .(REFER)

2. Through 9,000 ft, Flap 5 is _________ . (SELECT)

3. The Captain makes a brief PA _________ to update passengers and cabin crew that touchdown is now expected in about 10 minutes. (ANNOUNCE)

4. Flight attendants are busy gathering up the breakfast dishes and __________ the cabin for the __________ . (PREPARE + ARRIVE)

5. The pilots make small, constant _________ to keep the plane on course. (CORRECT)

6. The pilots anticipate the next ATC ________ and deciding on their next ______. (CLEAR + ACT)

7. Such ________ is critical. (PLAN)

Exercise 4.5.10 Match the words in column A with their definitions in column B.

Centerline Decelerate Device Automatic terminal information service Glidepath Clearance Inboard Outboard Airspeed Flap

1. authorization or permission

2. thing made or adapted for a special purpose

3. slow down

4. situated outside of an aircraft

5. speed of an aircraft relative to the air through which it is moving

6. part of the wing on an aircraft that can be lifted to change the aircraft’s upward direction.

7. a descent profile determined for vertical guidance during a final approach.

8. midpoint of the airway, runway, taxiway

9. situated within the sides of an aircraft

10. the provision of current, routine information to arriving and departing aircraft by means of continuous and repetitive broadcasts throughout the day or a specified portion of the day.

Exercise 4.5.11 Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Джон набирает 220 узлов на индикаторе воздушной скорости.

2. Устройство внешней передней кромки крыла и закрылки задней кромки выпущены из крыльев.

3. Внешние посадочные огни и логотипные огни включены.

4. Табло “Пристегните ремни!” включено.

5. Пилоты выполняют проверку высоты, одновременную проверку высотомеров, чтобы убедиться в соответствии показаний.

6. Капитан делает краткое объявление по громкоговорящей бортовой системе, чтобы сообщить пассажирам и обслуживающему экипажу, что посадка ожидается приблизительно через 10 минут.

7. Бортпроводники готовят салон к прилету.

8. Хорошая посадка начинается с хорошего захода.

9. Пилоты делают небольшие постоянные поправки, чтобы удерживать ВС на курсе.

10. Существенные отклонения в курсе и высоте могут быстро привести к дестабилизированному заходу.

11. Согласно процедурам “Бритиш Эйрвейз” реактивное ВС должно быть стабилизировано на заходе к высоте как минимум 1 000 футов.

12. Пилоты думают раньше ВС, предвосхищая следующее разрешение УВД и принимая решение о своих последующих действиях.

13. Требуется время и расстояние, чтобы уменьшить скорость.

14. Аэродинамические тормоза достаточно эффективны и сократят время и расстояние, необходимое для уменьшения скорости на 40%, если потребуется.

Exercise 4.5.12 Make up your own sentences using the following words and word combinations.

Flap selector handle; midspan; leading edge; trailing edge; device; airspeed tape; cursor; outboard landing lights; logo lights; height check; cross-check; flight attendants; in trim; significant deviations; a go-around procedure; ATC clearance; idle thrust.

Exercise 4.5.13 Retell the text.