4.8 Landing

Exercise 4.8.1 Read and translate the text.

The automated voice calls out ‘fifty above’, then ‘decide’ as the decision height (DH) is reached. With the runway in sight and landing clearance in hand, the crew continue the approach.

The First Officer watches the instruments as the Captain keeps the jet squarely on the ILS during the few final hundred feet to touchdown.

At 100ft, the nose of the aircraft should be close to crossing the runway threshold. But if the threshold has already been passed, the aircraft is high and a go-around should be considered if runway length is a factor.

At 50ft, the aircraft should be over the threshold. If the threshold is still in sight, the aircraft is dangerously low and the landing attempt should be aborted. At 30ft the pilot flares the jet for touchdown. Jumbo pilots are advised not to let the aircraft float. The non-handling pilot watches the instruments and will call ‘attitude’ if the pitch attitude during the flare or after touchdown exceeds 7.5˚, creating a risk of a tail scrape.

Approaching the threshold, John checks the descent rate to make sure it is not excessive. At 30ft he slowly reduces the thrust to idle and initiates a flare with a gentle squeeze back on the control column to pitch the nose up slightly to about 5˚. He holds that pitch attitude and lets the 16 main wheels settle on the runway.

Six spoiler panels automatically rise from the top of each wing to disrupt the airflow and keep the jet firmly on the ground. With the main wheels on the runway, Harry raises the reverse thrust handles on the front of the throttles. Engine cowlings slide back and blocker doors move into place to redirect the cold bypass air forward. At the Captain’s command, the First Officer pulls the thrust levers back to the partial reverse detent and the engines spool up to about 70% №1 to help slow the jet. These three reverse thrust settings – reverse idle is used at noise sensitive airports like Heathrow but only if runway conditions are good; partial reverse; and full reverse, which is reserved for limiting conditions, such as slippery runways when maximum retardation is required.

With the selection of reverse thrust, the inboard sections of the leading edge devices automatically retract to reduce lift and to ensure they are not damaged by the engine airflow blowing forward around the wing.

John lets the nose wheel gently touch the runway and then uses the rudder pedals to keep the jumbo on the centreline as it decelerates. Harry calls ’80 knots’. Passing 70kt, John commands reverse idle. The First Officer moves the thrust (THR) levers to the reverse idle detent. Once the Captain is satisfied that the aircraft is safely slowing, he disconnects the autobrakes by pressing gently on the rudder pedals. When the jet has slowed further to about 15kt the engines are returned to forward idle thrust.

Exercise 4.8.2 Answer the questions.

1. When does an automated voice call on ‘decision’?

2. What does the First Officer do and what does the Captain do?

3. What should the position of the aircraft be at 100ft? 50ft?

4. What does the pilot do at 30ft?

5. What does John do, approaching the threshold?

6. What rises automatically from the top of each wing? What for?

7. What does the First Officer do at the Captain’s command?

8. How many reverse thrust setting are there? What are they?

9. Why do the inboard sections of the leading edge devices automatically retract?

10. What does John use to keep the jumbo on the centreline as it decelerates?

11. When does the Captain disconnect the autobrakes?

Exercise 4.8.3 Are the following statements true (√) or false (×)? Correct the false ones.

1. The Captain watches the instruments and the First Officer keeps the jet squarely on the ILS during the final few hundred feet to touchdown.

2. At 100ft, the nose of the aircraft should be close to crossing the runway threshold.

3. At 50ft, the aircraft should be over the threshold.

4. The pitch attitude during the flare or after touchdown of 7.5° creates a risk of a tail scrape.

5. At 30ft John quickly reduces the thrust to idle.

6. With the main wheels on the runway, Harry raises the reverse thrust handles on the front of the throttles.

7. There are three reverse thrust settings – reverse idle, partial reverse and full reverse.

8. John uses the rudder pedals to keep the jumbo on the centerline as it accelerates.

9. Passing 70kt John commands reverse idle.

10. When the jet has slowed further to about 15kt the engines are returned to full reverse.

Exercise 4.8.4 Give English equivalents for the following words and word combinations.

Автоматический голос; высота принятия решения; разрешение на посадку; торец ВПП; длина ВПП; попытка осуществить посадку; пилот; не осуществляющий пилотирование ВС; угол тангажа; задевание хвостом; скорость снижения; выравнивание (перед приземлением); щиток интерцептора; воздушный поток; рукоятка реверсивной тяги; дроссельный рычаг; капот двигателя; створка блокирования потока воздуха; частичный реверс тяги; реверс тяги на режиме малого газа; реверс максимальной тяги; скользкая ВПП; максимальное торможение; педали управления рулем направления.

Exercise 4.8.5 What do the following abbreviations stand for?

DH ILS ft THR

Exercise 4.8.6 Find in the text synonyms for the following words and expressions.

Go on; observe; near; cross; miss; approach; trial; danger; decrease; start; aircurrent; guarantee; please.

Exercise 4.8.7 Match the word combinations and expressions in column A with those in column B.

A	B
1. blocker door	a. реверс максимальной тяги
2. engine cowling	b. створка блокирования воздуха
3. full reverse	c. реверс тяги на режиме малого газа
4. idle reverse	d. частичный реверс тяги
5. partial reverse	e. капот двигателя
6. pitch altitude	f. рукоятка реверсной тяги
7. reverse thrust handle	g. щиток интерцептора
8. spoiler panel	h. замедление
9. retardation	i. угол тангажа
10. tail scrape	j. царапина, задевание хвостом

Exercise 4.8.8 Fill in the gaps with the words from the text choosing from the ones given in brackets.

1. The first officer watches the instruments, as the Captain keeps the jet ______ (squarely, smoothly, slightly) on the ILS.

2. A ________ (missed approach, go-around, landing) should be considered if runway length is a factor.

3. The landing attempt should be _______ (considered, abandoned, aborted).

4. John checks the descent rate to make sure it is not _______________ (expensive, expansive, excessive).

5. At 30 ft John slowly reduces the ______________ (thrust, throttle, threshold) to idle.

6. Six spoiler panels automatically rise from the top of each wing to ____________ (abrupt, disrupt, deploy) the airflow.

7. Engine cowlings __________ (slide, slid, slight) back.

8. Blocker door more into place to _______________ (direct, redirect, remove) the cold bypass air forward.

9. ____________ (idle, partial, full) reverse is used at noise sensitive airports like Heathrow.

10. John uses the rudder pedals to keep the jumbo as it ____________ (slows down, decelerates, accelerates).

Exercise 4.8.9 Fill in the gaps with the necessary form of the words given in brackets.

1. The __________ voice calls out ‘fifty above’. (AUTOMATE)

2. At 100 ft, the noise of the aircraft should be close to ___________ the runway threshold. (CROSS)

3. The aircraft is ___________ low. (danger)

4. Six spoiler panels __________ rise from the top of each wing. (AUTOMATE)

5. The First officer pulls the thrust lever back to the ____________ reverse detent. (PART)

6. Full reverse is reserved for _____________ conditions. (LIMIT)

7. John lets the nose wheel ________ touch the runway. (GENTLE)

8. The Captain _____________ the autobrakes by pressing gently on the rudder pedals. (CONNECT)

Exercise 4.8.10 In the list below the box find a definition for the given words.

Threshold Disconnect Cowling Float Idle Lift Throttle Thrust Spoiler Rudder

1. device on an aircraft to slow it down by interrupting the flow of air

2. beginning of that portion of the runway usable for landing

3. forward force produced by a propeller, jet engine, rocket.

4. detach sth from sth

5. valve controlling the supply of fuel, steam etc. to an engine, lever or pedal operating this

6. removable metal covering for an engine.

7. move without resistance of air, drift slowly

8. (of an engine) run slowly in neutral gear or without doing work

9. upward pressure that air exerts on an aircraft in flight

10. piece of metal on the rear of an aircraft used for steering.

Exercise 4.8.11 Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Имея ВПП в поле зрения и получив разрешение на посадку, экипаж продолжает заход.

2. Второй пилот следит за приборами.

3. На высоте 100 футов нос ВС должен быть близко к пересечению торца ВПП.

4. На высоте 50 футов ВС должно быть над торцом ВПП.

5. На высоте 30 футов пилот выравнивает ВС для посадки.

6. Джон проверяет скорость снижения, убеждаясь, что она не превышается.

7. Джон поднимает нос ВС примерно на 5°.

8. Шесть щитков интерцептора автоматически поднимаются с каждого крыла.

9. Есть три установки реверсивной тяги.

10. Реверс на режиме малого газа используется в аэропортах, где нужно уменьшать уровень шума.

11. Устройства на передней кромке автоматически убираются, чтобы уменьшить подъемную силу.

12. Второй пилот передвигает рычаги тяги на положение реверс на режиме малого газа.

13. Капитан отсоединяет автоматические тормоза, нажав на педали руля направления.

Exercise 4.8.12 Make up your own sentences using the following words and word combinations.

Engine cowling; idle reverse; full reverse; limiting conditions; pitch attitude; selection; spoiler panel; non-handling pilot; reverse thrust handle; partial reverse; gentle; rudder pedals; redirect; disconnect; airflow.

Exercise 4.8.13 Retell the text.