1.6. Weather reports and forecasts

Exercise 1.6.1 Read and translate the text.

The pilots next turn their attention to the other part of the package which contains weather reports and forecasts for the departure and arrival airports and numerous airports along the way. It also includes a rundown of deficiencies on the aircraft and a list of NOTAMs (Notices to airmen), which alert pilots to operational considerations such as closed taxiways, curfews and out-of-service radio beacons.

A glance out of the briefing room window shows that weather won’t be a problem for departure, it is a sunny but cool day in London. The weather looks promising as well for the arrival, with just scattered clouds and haze forecast for Hong Kong. However, the significant weather map for Asia shows the presence of a strong jet stream blowing at 140kt that intersects the route over China. It means there is a good chance of turbulence towards the end of the flight, quite likely around the time the cabin staff will be serving breakfast.

Reviewing the NOTAMs for Heathrow reveals information about night-time restrictions and taxi procedures but nothing that should affect today’s operation. The notes for Hong Kong tell the crew they may not have to fly the full arrival procedure into the airport, which is a lengthy routing over the South China Sea. Air traffic controllers at Hong Kong have been using radar vectors to shortcut arrivals, trimming as much as 10 minutes off the flight time. This is an important detail the pilots will keep in mind when they plan their approach.

Exercise 1.6.2 Answer the questions.

1. What does the other part of the package contain?

2. What does it also include?

3. What does a glance out of the briefing room window show?

4. What does the significant weather map for Asia show?

5. What does it mean?

6. What information can you reveal reviewing the NOTAMs for Heathrow?

7. What do the notes for Hong Kong tell the crew?

8. Why have air traffic controllers been using radar vectors?

Exercise 1.6.3 Are the following statements true (√) or false (×)? Correct the false ones.

1. The pilots next turn attention to weather reports and forecasts for the departure and arrival airports.

2. NOTAMs alert pilots about marginal weather along the route.

3. A glance out of the briefing room shows that weather will be a problem for departure.

4. The significant weather map for Asia shows the presence of a strong jetstream.

5. The NOTAMs for Heathrow reveals information about night-time restrictions.

6. The notes for Hong Kong tell the crew they have to fly the full arrival procedure.

7. Air traffic controllers at Hong Kong have been using radar to shortcut arrivals.

Exercise 1.6.4 Give English equivalents for the following words and word combinations.

Сводка погоды, аэродром вылета, краткое изложение недостатков, неработающие радио-привода, дымка, синоптическая карта, ночные ограничения, процедура прибытия, сократить процедуру прибытия, к концу рейса, выглядит обещающим, процедура руления.

Exercise 1.6.5 Find in the text synonyms for the following words and expressions.

Shortage; warn; heavy; itinerary; influence; reduce arrival; remember; show the information; night-time limitations.

Exercise 1.6.6 Match the word combinations and expressions in column A with those in column B.

A	B
1. turn attention	а. выглядеть обещающим
2. arrival airport	b. процедуры руления
3. rundown deficiencies	c. обращать внимание
4. briefing room	d. сократить прибытие
5. look promising	e. аэропорт прибытия
6. significant weather map	f. краткое описание недостатков
7. cabin staff	g. помнить о чем-либо
8. taxi procedures	h. комната предполетной подготовки
9. shortcut arrivals	i. обслуживающий персонал
10. keep in mind	j.точная погодная карта

Exercise 1.6.7 Fill in the gaps with the words from the text choosing from the ones given in brackets.

1. The pilots turn next their attention to the other part of the package which _______ (includes, contains, describes) weather reports and forecasts.

2. NOTAMs _____ (warn, notify, alert) pilots to operational considerations such as closed taxiways, curfews, and out-of-service radio beacons.

3. The weather looks promising with just _____ (scattered, few, broken) clouds and haze forecast for Hong Kong.

4. The significant weather map shows the presence of a strong ____ (wind, sandstorm, jetstream) blowing at 140 kts.

5. There is a good chance of _____ (wake turbulence, turbulence, jetstream) torwards the end of the flight.

6. Reviewing the NOTAMs for Heathrow reveals the information about night time _____ (restrictions, limitations, prohibitions) and taxi procedures.

7. Air traffic controllers at Hong Kong have been using radar vectors to shortcut arrivals ______ (balancing, trimming, saving) as much as 10 min off the flight time.

Exercise 1.6.8 Fill in the gaps with the necessary form of the words given in brackets.

1. The other part of the ____ contains weather reports and forecasts for the departure and arrival airports. (PACK)

2. A glance out the ___- room window shows that weather won’t be a problem for departure. (BRIEF)

3. The weather looks ____ as well for the arrival. (PROMISE)

4. The significant weather map shows the presence of a strong jetstream _____ at 140 kts. (BLOW)

5. There is a good chance of turbulence towards the end of the flight, quite ____- around the time the cabin staff will be serving breakfast. (LIKE)

6. ____ the NOTAMs for Heathrow reveals information about nighttime restrictions. (REVIEW)

7. The notes for Hong Kong tell the crew they may not have to fly the full arrival procedure, which is lengthy ____ over the south China Sea. (ROUTE)

8. Air traffic controllers have been ____ radar vectors to shortcut arrival. (USE)

Exercise 1.6.9 In the list below the box find a definition for the given words.

Alert NOTAM Jetstream Cabin staff Turbulence Radio beacon Weather forecasts Briefing Departure airport

1. a statement of expected weather conditions for a particular place at a particular time or period of time based on regular observation

2. the airport from which the flight leaves on its journey

3. warning given to prepare for danger or an attack

4. published advice to pilots of a temporary nature affecting their area of operations

5. relating information to all concerned to ensure a good understanding of the procedures required for the normal and abnormal operation of the aircraft

6. a narrow tube (about 100 miles diameter) of very strong winds located near the tropopause, high above the earth normally at altitudes of between 25,000 and 40,000 ft and core speeds of between 100 and 150 kts

7. members of the aircraft crew who are responsible for the safety of the cabin and passengers and whose duty is to serve the passengers during flight

8. irregular or uneven current of air

9. ground based transmitters which broadcast signals to guide aircraft

Exercise 1.6.10 Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Другая часть пакета содержит сводки погоды и прогнозы для аэропортов вылета и прилета.

2. Он также включает в себя краткое описание недостатков ВС и перечень НOTAMов.

3. Погода не будет проблемой для вылета.

4. Погода выглядит обещающей также и для прибытия.

5. Однако, точная синоптическая карта показывает присутствие сильного струйного течения, дующего со скоростью 140 узлов.

6. Это значит, вполне возможно, что к концу рейса может появиться турбулентность.

7. НOTAM для Хитроу показывает информацию о ночных ограничениях и процедурах по рулению

8. Замечания для Гонконга говорят экипажу, что они, возможно, не должны будут выполнять полную процедуру прибытия в аэропорт.

9. Диспетчеры Гонконга используют радиолокаторное наведение, чтобы ускорить время прилета.

Exercise 1.6.11 Make up your own sentences using the following words and word combinations.

Contain; weather reports and forecasts; numerous airports; list of NOTAMs; operational considerations; strong jet stream; good chance of turbulence; information about night-time restrictions; taxi procedures.

Exercise 1.6.12 Retell the text.