Vocabulary

ETA	Estimated time of arrival.
Full load	Filled to utmost capacity.
Knots	A measurement of speed.
Barometer	An instrument measuring atmospheric pressure.
The spread between	The difference between.
Dew point	The temperature at which dew forms.
Hectic	Extremely busy.
To vector	To guide a pilot in flight.
Wake turbulence	Turbulent air behind a large aircraft which can turn over a small aircraft following too closely.
Local flights	Flights that take off and land at the same aerodrome.
Procedure turn	A manoeuvre in which a turn is made e.g. a turn made in a holding pattern.
Holding pattern	A predetermined circuit which keeps an aircraft within a specified airspace.
To intercept	To reach/arrive at an airway or radial.
Inbound	Towards an airport, a navaid etc. (the opposite is outbound).
Fix	Any navaid from which an aircraft can determine its exact position.
To home-on	Heading towards a radio station or navaids.

CONVERSATION

Is ETA an abbreviation for estimated time of arrival? Is ETA the exact time of arrival? What is ETA? Who wants/needs to know the ETA of a flight? Why would you want to know the ETA of a flight? When a plane has a full load (1) is it heavy? Can a plane with a full load travel fast? Does a plane arrive early with a full load? What can make a full load on an aeroplane? Do all planes have a full load? How does an airline know the plane has a full load?

Do planes measure their speed in knots? (2) Is a plane travelling at 500 knots going fast? What type of plane travels at 500 knots a 747 or a Cessna? If a barometer measures the atmospheric pressure, is it useful in aviation? Does a meteorologist use a barometer? Does a mechanic use a barometer? Who uses a barometer? What does a barometer measure?

The difference between the temperature and the dew point (3) is called the spread. (4) Could a narrow spread between the temperature and the dew point bring fog? Poor visibility? Does a pilot need to know the spread between the temperature and the dew point? The meteorologist? The navigator? Who needs to know the spread between the temperature and the dew point?

Do controllers sometimes have a hectic (5) time with the traffic? Do they always have a hectic time? When do they have a hectic time?

A controller vectors (6) a pilot when he says turn left 20°; turn right 25° etc. Who vectors a pilot? Does he use radar to vector a pilot? Can he vector a pilot from the tower cab? What controller vectors a pilot? Why does a pilot need to be vectored?

Is wake turbulence (7) dangerous? Does wake turbulence form behind large aircraft? At take off? At landing? Where is wake turbulence to be found? What type of aircraft leave wake turbulence behind them?

Do local flights (8) take off and land at the same airport? Does a flying school have local flights? Does a local flight pilot need a flight plan? Does a local flight travel far? Does a local flight need much fuel? From where does a local flight take off and land?

The holding pattern

Does a pilot use his instruments to make a procedure turn? (9) Does he use his rudder to make a procedure turn? His undercarriage? What does a pilot use to make a procedure turn?

Is the holding pattern (10) above an airport? Can many planes take their turn to land in a holding pattern? Is it always necessary to hold in the holding pattern? When is it necessary to hold in the holding pattern? What turn does a pilot make in the holding pattern?

Does a pilot crossing the Indian Ocean intercept (11) an airway? Crossing Africa? Does a controller tell a pilot to intercept an airway at 35,000 feet? What does a controller actually say to a pilot when he wants him to intercept an airway at 35,000 feet? 39,000 feet?

Does an inbound (12) aircraft head towards an airport? Does an inbound aircraft head towards a VOR? DME? ILS? What does an inbound aircraft do? Who sees an inbound aircraft from the tower? What traffic pattern does an inbound aircraft join?

Where does an inbound aircraft join the holding pattern? In what direction is an inbound aircraft heading? What is the opposite of inbound? Is a fix another word for navaid? Is VOR a fix? Tell me the other navaids that are a fix. Does a radial lead to a fix?

When a pilot follows a VOR radial, does he home-on (13) the VOR? The DME? The ILS? What navaid does he home-on on a VOR radial? A DME radial?

WRITTEN EXERCISES

Instructions to students: Using the following vocabulary or expressions, invent appropriate air traffic controllers' instructions communications for pilots.

Example: "to intercept", you could write the following: "Turn right ten degrees to intercept 'J' ". Or another example could be "passengers". You could write "Please advise how many passengers are on board". Write on a separate sheet of paper. You may use more than one of the following in any exercise.

a procedure turn	holding pattern
expected approach time	downwind leg
barometer	hold short of
dew point	cruising speed
wake turbulence	maintain