Announcement: Aviation English – Inglês para Aviação

Does The New Airline Travelers “Bill of Rights” Go Too Far?

On August 23 the majority of the new rules proposed in what is being called the “Travelers Bill of Rights” took effect. This is yet another set of rules and regulations aimed at the already heavily regulated airline industry, which leaves one to wonder how many more regulations can possibly be imposed on the airlines. When it comes to safety it is an obvious necessity to have certain rules in place to protect passengers but if the government continues to impose such hefty regulations they may price the airlines out of business. There is no doubt that these additional rules and regulations will have an impact on the price of airline tickets. The question that is yet to be answered is how much of an impact will this have. This new set of regulations does provide a comprehensive set of consumer protections but at what cost? It has been proven throughout history that whenever an industry is overly regulated that it can result in devastating consequences for those businesses involved.

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The Cockpit

[audio:http://aviationenglishblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/10thecockpit.mp3|titles=The Cockpit]The Cockpit

The cockpit is the area in the front of the aircraft from where a pilot controls the aircraft. Referred to as flight deck on an airliner, it is basically the driver’s seat. However, the things that go on in a cockpit are far more complicated than what happens behind the wheel. The cockpit comprises of an instrument panel and controls which allow the pilot to fly the aircraft.

The cockpit of an aircraft has undergone a dramatic change over the years. After all the changes, the layout has been standardized today. Modern cockpits are fully computerized and the manual flight control has been replaced by a fly-by-wire system with an electronic interface and the control column with an electronic side-stick.

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Why it’s great to be a pilot

[audio:http://aviationenglishblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/11greattobeapilot.mp3|titles=Why it’s great to be a pilot]TOPIC: Why it’s great to be a pilot

You can always spot a pilot…even when he/she is not on the airport property. It’s something about the way they carry themselves and they way they react to everything that has to do with flying. They are the ones that don’t complain about “airplane noise” and actually prefer to live close to an airport. Whenever an airplane flies overhead, all pilots will look up and try to identify the kind of aircraft…guaranteed. This I what truly makes aviators a breed apart from the rest of the population.

The ability to travel in a three-dimensional environment so totally different from our ground perspective is the main draw. Pilots enjoy the best view that any office building would never even come close to. The aviator works in another world and enjoys seeing our world from a completely different perspective. In this world, we have the opportunity to enjoy the planet in an environment that is mostly free from the signs of human interference.  There is something about flying through the clouds that detaches you from everything that is happening on the ground.

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Cabin crew procedures

Cabin crew procedures

Aim

• Practice English skills in an aviation context
• Revise some typical procedures and test yourself on knowledge you not only need to know but may be tested on during interviews
• Have fun!

The list of cabin crew procedures can be daunting but don’t worry, there’s always a Flight Attendant’s Manual on board! For this lesson, let’s focus on the pre-flight safety announcement, followed by some revision of ICAO abbreviations.

ICAO, the International Civil Aviation Organisation, sets international aviation safety standards. A typical pre-flight safety announcement will include:

• A  reminder to review the aircraft safety card
• The use of the seat belt
• The requirement that passengers must comply with lighted signs, posted placards, and crew members instructions
• The location and use of the emergency exits, evacuation slides and emergency floor lighting
• The use of the oxygen mask
• The location and use of the life vests, life rafts and flotation devices (not typically included if the flight does not overfly or fly near vast masses of water)
• The brace position
• A reminder not to smoke onboard, including the toilets
• The precautions to take before take-off and landing: to stow luggage under a seat or in an overhead compartment, to return folding trays and seat backs to the upright position, to turn off electronic devices

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Santos Dumont, Pioneer Aviator

[audio:http://aviationenglishblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/13santosdumont.mp3|titles=Santos Dumont]

Alberto Santos Dumont, Pioneer Aviator

Santos Dumont, born in 1873, grew up in a coffee plantation owned by his family but spent most of his adult life in Paris. He was so fascinated by machinery that even as a child he learned to drive steam tractors and the steam locomotive of the plantation train too.

A great fan of Jules Verne, the father of science fiction, Santos Dumont had read all his books by the time he was ten. As a child he would reflect deeply while gazing at the magnificent skies of Brazil in the long sunny afternoons in his vast plantation and dream of flying airships and flying machines.

The first thing he did on arrival in France at the age of 17 was to buy an automobile and hire a private tutor for studying physics, chemistry, mechanics and electricity. His passion for flying eventually made him one of the most famous people in the aviation industry during the early 20^th century.

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Prepositions of Place/Location IN/ON/AT

TOPIC: Prepositions of Place/Location

GOAL: To learn about the proper use of prepositions of place/location

Level: Easy

Exercise #1: Read about Prepositions of Place and then proceed to Exercise #2

A preposition links nouns, pronouns and phrases to other words in a sentence. The word or phrase that the preposition introduces is called the object of the preposition.

Even for the most advanced students, propositions can always use more practice. Many verbs are (usually) followed by certain prepositions. Some even entirely change the meaning of a verb by turning it into a phrasal verb.  Learners just have to memorize most prepositions, especially those that follow certain verbs (and even more so for those that create phrasal verbs). Some prepositions can be used interchangeably depending on the situation. This just adds more confusion for people learning English.

The good news is that prepositions of place, perhaps, are among the most consistent (that is, they have fewer exceptions). Prepositions of place are almost logical, if you can understand the preposition on its own.

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Air Rage – Causes and Prevention

Air Rage – Causes and Prevention

Air rage is defined as ‘disruptive or unruly behavior exhibited by passengers and crew of an aircraft during a flight’. The reasons for this kind of behavior have often been assigned to excessive alcohol consumption, crowded or long flights that agitate passengers, problems with crew members or other psychological problems. Air rage can create an environment of tension in the air putting both the crew members and the passengers at risk.

According to aviation expert, Diana Fairechild recycled air on planes aids in spreading infections like flu and tuberculosis and minimal oxygen in the cabin can also lead to a higher level of temper tantrums and boisterous behavior among kids. There have been many reports of air rage resulting in unscheduled landings, jail time and penalties for passengers, career changes for flight attendants and even death of a passenger.

Helicopters

[audio:http://aviationenglishblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/08helicopters.mp3|titles=Helicopters]

Exercise #1: Read about helicopters and then proceed to Exercise #2

Helicopters are the most versatile flying machines in existence today. This versatility gives the pilot complete access to three-dimensional space in a way that no airplane can. If you have ever flown in a helicopter you know that its abilities are exhilarating. The amazing flexibility of helicopters means that they can fly almost anywhere. However, it also means that flying these machines is complicated. The pilot has to think in three dimensions and must use both arms and both legs constantly to keep a helicopter in the air. Piloting a helicopter requires a great deal of training and skill, as well as continuous attention to what is happening with the aircraft.

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Airline vs. Executive Aviation

Exercise #1: Read about the differences between airline flying and executive aviation and then proceed to Exercise #2

The physical aspects of flying an airplane are fairly similar in most segments of the aviation industry. However, the overall economic scope and nature of this flying can be quite different, depending on the segment. A good case is the comparison between executive/business aviation and the airline market.  Both operate a range of turboprop and jet aircraft but their use and customer base is very different.

So, we know that the typical airline passenger is the casual traveler, and frequently, a businessman/woman flying to a major market. But who uses business aviation? The answer is: companies and individuals seeking a fast, hassle-free option of air travel. While companies that rely on business aviation represent many different professions and locations, they all have one thing in common: the need for fast, flexible, safe, secure and cost-effective access to destinations across their country and around the world. Business aircraft allow employees to make a trip involving stops at several locations, then return to headquarters the same day. Hundreds or thousands of dollars can be saved on hotel rooms, rental cars, meals and other expenses that would be needed to make the same trip over several days via auto, train or airline transport. Because employees can meet, plan and work with each other aboard business aircraft, productivity en route is greatly enhanced.

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