1.5. Flight data

Exercise 1.5.1 Read and translate the text.

The 747-436 will require 119.753kg of fuel to make the trip. The computer adds another 5% as contingency fuel. However, the flight planner or the captain can reduce this to 3% if good weather is forecast for an en route alternative. In this case, the planner has identified a suitable alternative route and so the flight is going with 3% contingency fuel, which amounts to 3.592kg. Macau has been chosen as the landing alternative and the jet will carry 5.801kg of fuel to make the short flight there if a landing is not possible in Hong Kong. Kaohsiung, Taiwan has been nominated as a second alternative.

Add in a further 4.328kg for the mandatory 30-minute reserve, another 975kg for taxiing and the fuel load totals 134.449kg in all. If the flight encounters no variations to the plan, there should be 13.7 tones of fuel left in the tanks after landing. The fuel calculations are tailored for each specific aircraft. The crew can tell for example that the jumbo assigned to the Hong Kong flight burn 1% more than the book performance. The fuel plan also reveals that an extra 5 tonnes of payload would increase fuel consumption by 1.5 tonnes and add 2 more minutes to the flight.

With fuel loaded, plus another 43 tonnes of payload – the passengers, their bags and cargo – the jet will weigh 365 tonnes for departure. That is almost equal to the weight of six fully loaded Baby Boeings, the 737-600, but well short of the jumbo’s 397-tonne maximum take-off weight. In fact, the 747 could haul 30 more tones of fuel on tonight’s flight, enough to fly 1.000nm beyond Hong Kong and still have an hour’s fuel in reserve.

Using 10 tonnes of fuel an hour as a rough rule of thumb for fuel consumption allows the pilots to quickly do a gross error check on the accuracy of the fuel estimates. They can choose to add more if they feel it is necessary. However, tankering unneeded fuel is a costly practice; on some flights it can mean that revenue payload – either passengers or cargo – gets left behind if the aircraft is operating near its maximum gross weight. One tonne of fuel is equivalent to about 10 passengers and their luggage. As well, the jet burns fuel to carry fuel. If the Captain wants 10 more tonnes of fuel for his arrival in Hong Kong, he would in fact need to load 15 tonnes more in London. The extra 5 tonnes would be burned en route hauling the extra fuel. With those considerations in mind, pilots usually stick with the computer’s accurate predictions, adding more only if delays look likely for the arrival.

Exercise 1.5.2 Answer the questions.

1. Why can the flight planner or the captain reduce fuel?

2. Why has Macau been chosen as the landing alternative?

3. How are the fuel calculations tailored for each specific aircraft?

4. What allows the pilots to quickly do a gross error check on the accuracy of the fuel estimates?

5. Why can pilots choose to add more fuel?

6. Where would the extra 5 tonnes be burned?

Exercise 1.5.3 Are the following statements true (√) or false (×)? Correct the false ones.

1. The B747 will require 119,753 kg of fuel to finish the trip.

2. The co-pilot can increase the fuel amount to 3% in the case of good weather.

3. The planner has identified a suitable destination.

4. The jet will have 5,801 kg of fuel.

5. Taiwan has been named as a first alternative.

6. There should be left a lot of tonnes of kerosine.

7. The fuel calculations are counted for each specific aircraft.

8. The jet will weigh 365 tonnes for departure.

9. They can calculate to add more fuel if they feel it is necessary.

10. One tonne of fuel is equivalent to about 10 passengers and their luggage.

11. The extra five tonnes would be burned during the flight hauling the extra fuel.

12. Pilots usually deal with the computer’s accurate predictions.

Exercise 1.5.4 Give English equivalents for the following words and word combinations.

Избыточное горючее; вес с полной нагрузкой; диспетчер по планированию полетов; приемлемый запасной маршрут; если посадка невозможна; расчет топлива; платный или коммерческий груз; расход топлива; 10 тонн топлива в час; грубое правило; перевозить топливо; точное предсказание.

Exercise 1.5.5 Find in the text synonyms for the following words and expressions.

Accidental; diminish; proper spare route; obligatory reserve; fuel estimates; transport; in stock; permit; additional fuel.

Exercise 1.5.6 Match the word combinations and expressions in column A with those in column B.

A	B
1. make the trip	a. точный прогноз
2. in this case	b. второй запасной аэродром
3. fuel calculations	c. достаточно, чтобы долететь
4. rough rule	d. взлетный вес
5. extra fuel	e. выполнить путешествие
6. second alternative	f. расчет количества топлива
7. the book performance	g. дополнительное топливо
8. almost equal	h. дорогостоящая практика
9. take-off weight	i. объем, указанный в сборнике
10. costly practice	j. почти равный
11. accurate prediction	k. в этом случае
12. enough to fly	l. грубое правило
13. increase fuel consumption	m. обязательный резерв
14. unneeded	n. увеличить потребление топлива
15. mandatory reserve	o. ненужное топливо

Exercise 1.5.7 Fill in the gaps with the words from the text choosing from the ones given in brackets.

1. The computer ______ (gives, adds, loads) another 5% as contingency fuel.

2. The flight planner or the _____ (captain, co-pilot, controller) can reduce this to 3%.

3. The fuel calculations are _____ (estimated, calculated, tailored) for each specific flight.

4. In fact the 747 could _____ (transport, haul, carry) 30 more tonnes of fuel on this flight.

5. However, tanking ____ (unneeded, unnecessary, unrequired) fuel is costly practice.

6. They can ______ (select, sort, choose) to add more if they feel it is necessary.

7. The fuel plan also _____ (shows, reveals, demonstrates) that extra 5 tonnes of payload would increase full consumption.

8. Using 10 tonnes of fuel an hour ____ (allows, permits,clears) the pilots to quickly do a gross error check on the accuracy of the fuel estimates.

9. One tonne of fuel is ______ (equal, the game equivalent, the same) to about 10 passengers and their luggage.

10. Pilots usually _____ (work, find out, stick) with computer’s accurate predictions, adding more only if delays look likely for the arrival.

Exercise 1.5.8 Fill in the gaps with the necessary form of the words given in brackets.

1. The planner has _____ a suitable alternative route. (IDENTIFY)

2. Macau has been chosen as the ____ alternative. (LAND)

3. With those _____ in mind, pilots usually stick with the computer’s accurate predictions. (CONSIDER)

4. With fuel _____ the jet will weigh 365 tonnes for departure. (LOAD)

5. There should be 13.7 tonnes of fuel _____ in the tanks after landing. (LEAVE)

6. Add in further 935 kg for ____ and the fuel load totals 134,449 kg in all. (TAXI)

7. However ______ unneeded fuel is a costly practice. (TANK)

8. The extra 5 tonnes would be _____ en route hauling the extra fuel. (BURN)

9. The jumbo ____ to the Hong Kong flight burns 1% more than the book performance. (ASSIGN)

10. The fuel plan also reveals that an extra 5 tonnes of payload would increase fuel ____ by 1.5 tonnes. (CONSUME)

Exercise 1.5.9 In the list below the box find a definition for the given words.

Forecast Alternative Jet Take off Weight Departure Flight captain Fuel Payload Tankering

1. the pilot in command who carries full legal responsibility for the mission operation and safety of the flight.

2. in meteorology , a statement of expected weather conditions for a particular place at a particular time or period of time based on regular observations.

3. a material used to produce heat energy by burning. In the case of aircraft it is liquid.

4. an airport at which conditions are suitable to land and to which an aircraft may proceed if landing becomes impossible or inadvisable at the original destination airfield.

5. the revenue producing load that an aircraft can carry. It includes passengers, baggage, freight and mail.

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

7. actual takeoff weight for the flight as calculated on the loadsheet.

8. carriage of fuel in excess of that actually required for the operation of the flight.

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

10. the ability to move through the air using wings.

Exercise 1.5.10 Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Боингу 747 – 436 потребуется около 120 тонн горючего, чтобы совершить полет.

2. Компьютер добавит еще 5% топлива на непредвиденный случай.

3. Если в рейсе не произойдет никаких изменений в плане, то после посадки в баках должно остаться 13,7 тонн топлива.

4. Расчет топлива производится для каждого отдельного рейса.

5. План по топливу также отображает, что дополнительные 5 тонн топлива увеличат его потребление и добавят 2 минуты полета.

6. Боинг 747 может перевозить на 30 тонн больше горючего, достаточного, чтобы улететь на 1000 морских миль от Гонконга.

7. Они могут выбрать, добавить больше, если почувствуют необходимость.

8. Заправка ненужного топлива – дорогостоящий опыт (практика).

9. Тонна горючего равна примерно 10 пассажирам и их багажу.

10. Дополнительные пять тонн сожгутся на маршруте при перевозке дополнительного топлива.

Exercise 1.5.11 Make up your own sentences using the words and word combinations.

Make the trip; suitable alternative route; contingency fuel; make the short flight; landing not possible; flight encounters no variations; fuel calculations; book performance; payload; maximum take-off weight; gross error; the accuracy; fuel estimates; costly practice; would be burned en route; computer’s accurate predictions.

Exercise 1.5.12 Retell the text.