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APRESENTAÇÃO 
 
 
Este material é direcionado a pilotos que procuram orientações a respeito do Exame de Proficiência 
Linguística em Inglês da ANAC. 
 
Desde o dia 05 de março de 2009, todos os pilotos que necessitam realizar voos fora do espaço aéreo 
sob controle brasileiro devem apresentar em seus Certificados de Habilitação Técnica a averbação de 
proficiência linguística em Inglês (serão autorizados a compor a tripulação técnica os pilotos que 
comprovarem proficiência linguística nível 4 ou5). 
O Exame foi criado pela OACI (Organização de Aviação Civil Internacional) com o intuito de aumentar 
a segurança nas comunicações radiotelefônicas entre pilotos e controladores de voo. 
Sendo o Brasil um dos países-membros da OACI, cabe a ANAC (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil) a 
responsabilidade de certificar pilotos de aviões e helicópteros. Para que tais pilotos comprovem 
proficiência linguística, deverão demonstrar habilidade de falar e entender a linguagem utilizada em 
comunicações radiotelefônicas, através da realização de um teste de Inglês, o Santos Dumont English 
Assessment, que é uma entrevista oral composta por quatro partes. 
O intuito deste material, ainda que embasado em regulamentos oficiais, é aprimorar os 
conhecimentos técnicos necessários, não tendo como objetivo substituir regulamentos vigentes ou 
manuais de operação. 
 
O conteúdo inclui a linguagem necessária para uma comunicação efetiva em situações anormais, 
pontos gramaticais importantes e vocabulário técnico. 
 
Espero contribuir com os leitores, auxiliando no processo de aprendizagem do inglês aeronáutico. 
 
 Aline Chelfo 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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SANTOS DUMONT ENGLISH ASSESSMENT 
 
O Exame de Proficiência Linguística é uma entrevista oral composta por quatro partes: 
 
Parte 1: Aviation Topics- Personal & Aviation Related Questions 
 
Na primeira parte, “Aviation Topics’, os candidatos devem responder questões gerais relativas 
a sua experiência profissional e a atividades cotidianas no desempenho de suas funções. O 
objetivo de tais questões é fazer os candidatos se sentirem confortáveis durante a entrevista e 
assim criar uma atmosfera favorável para que possam demonstrar seu conhecimento do 
idioma. Entretanto, essas respostas também são avaliadas, devendo ser informativas e tendo 
duração aproximada de 1 (um) minuto cada. 
 
Parte 2: Interacting as a Pilot - Audio 
Na segunda parte do teste, “Interacting as a Pilot”, o candidato vai interagir com o controle de 
tráfego aéreo desempenhando o papel do piloto . 
Três diferentes comunicações radiotelefônicas são apresentadas por meio de dois áudios em 
cada uma delas. O candidato pode ouvir até duas vezes cada gravação. Caso sinta essa 
necessidade, é importante que o candidato solicite essa repetição, interagindo como um piloto 
– ele não será penalizado por isso. Dentro de cada situação, que pode ser previsível ou 
inesperada, o candidato deve agir como num role-play – isto é, entrar no papel de piloto e 
interagir com o controlador de forma apropriada, confirmando ou esclarecendo mal 
entendidos como se estivesse numa situação real. Da mesma forma que o faria se estivesse 
numa cabine, candidato deve fazer anotações enquanto escuta os áudios. Todas as 
informações são importantes. Ao final de cada situação da parte 2, após interagir com o 
controlador, o candidato reportará ao examinador todas as informações compreendidas do 
último áudio. O objetivo da parte dois é avaliar a capacidade de compreensão e interação 
apropriadas do candidato. 
 
 
 
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Parte 3: Unexpected Situations – Audio 
 
Na terceira parte do exame, “Unexpected Situations”, o candidato escuta três situações de 
emergência diferentes, apresentadas por meio de gravações de diálogos radiotelefônicos entre 
piloto e controlador. Nesta parte do teste também é permitido fazer anotações. 
Cada interação é tocada automaticamente duas vezes, havendo uma pausa de 5 segundos 
entre elas. Em seguida, o candidato deve reportar todas as informações que conseguiu 
compreender, reportadas pelo piloto e pelo controlador, bem como responder a uma questão 
proposta pelo examinador. No final da Parte 3, o candidato deve comparar as emergências que 
escutou com relação ao grau de severidade, soluções possíveis e formas de prevenção. O 
objetivo desta parte é não apenas avaliar a capacidade do candidato de identificar e 
compreender situações reais de emergência ou complicações situacionais através de gravações 
(canal não-visual), como também de interagir com o examinador ao relatar o que ouviu (face-a-
face), fazendo a transição da fraseologia padronizada para o inglês geral. Além disso, as 
perguntas propostas pelo examinador na parte 3 dão ao candidato a oportunidade de expandir 
mais suas respostas e de demonstrar melhor sua proficiência no idioma. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Parte 4: Picture Description and Discussion 
 
 Na quarta parte do exame, “Picture Description”, o candidato deve descrever uma foto ou 
figura e, então, responder às questões propostas pelo examinador, inferindo, avaliando, 
levantando hipóteses e comparando as consequências ocorridas em eventos passados, atuais e 
passíveis de ocorrer no futuro. Em todas as versões é apresentada uma afirmação (statement) 
relacionada com aviação, e o candidato deve expressar se concorda ou não com ela, 
justificando sua opinião com argumentos e exemplos. O objetivo desta parte é avaliar o 
desempenho do candidato ao sustentar conversas, expressando e justificando opiniões sobre 
um tópico relacionado a aviação. A habilidade em desenvolver, satisfatoriamente, diálogos de 
alto nível relacionados ao seu trabalho, utilizando o inglês geral, é o ponto crucial. fotos ou 
figuras. Examinador e candidato devem discutir sobre a situação em si, inferindo, avaliando, 
usando argumentos e comparando as consequências ocorridas em eventos passados, atuais e 
passíveis de ocorrer no futuro. O objetivo desta parte é avaliar o desempenho do candidato ao 
relatar suas opiniões e explicações. A habilidade do candidato em desenvolver 
satisfatoriamente diálogos de alto grau de complexidade no trabalho é o ponto crucial desta 
parte. 
A interação entre o mesmo e o examinador é gravada para posterior avaliação da produção 
oral. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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CONTENTS 
 
 
 
 
UNITS OPERATIONAL 
TOPICS 
LANGUAGE 
FUNCTIONS 
AVIATION 
VOCABULARY 
 
01 – AIRPORT 
OPERATIONS 
Page 09 
 
• Airport Layout 
• Miscommunication 
• Runway Incursion 
• Equipment And Staff 
-Personal Pronouns 
-Simple Verb Tenses 
-Questions 
-Possessives 
-ICAO Alphabet 
-Air infrastructure 
-Numbers 
-Signs & Markings 
 
02 – EN ROUTE 
EVENTS 
Page 12 
 
• Onboard Situations 
• Navigation 
• Technology 
• Special Flights 
-Determiners 
-Auxiliary Verbs 
-Continuous Tenses 
-Reported Speech 
 
-Embarking 
-Abbreviations 
-Visual Features 
-Flight instruments 
 
 
03 – GROUND 
MOVEMENTS 
Page 15 
 
• Startup and Pushback 
• Ground Collisions 
• Delays 
• Cargo 
- Adjectives & adverbs 
- Synonyms 
- Cause and Effect 
- Easilyconfused words 
- Ground Equipment 
- Navaids 
- Aerodrome layout 
- Collisions and 
issues 
 
04 –
METEOROLOGY 
Page 18 
 
• METAR; TAF; ATIS 
• Adverse Conditions 
• De-icing Procedures 
• Volcanic Ash 
- Conditions 
- Word Endings 
- Have Something Done 
- Clarifying & 
Rephrasing 
- Weather reports 
- Wind & turbulence 
- Weather Words 
- Abnormalities 
 
 
05 – MEDICAL 
ISSUES 
Page 21 
 
• Emergencies 
• Medlink 
• Pilot Incapacitation 
• Food Poisoning 
- Paraphrasing 
- Dealing with lack of 
language 
- Expressing needs 
- Still, yet and already 
- Emergencies 
- Symptoms of stress 
- Pilot’s health 
- Passengers 
Behavior 
 
06 – FIRE & FUEL 
Page 24 
 
 
• Fire on board 
• Engine malfunction 
• Fuel starvation 
• Dangerous Goods 
- Quantifiers 
- Stress and Intonation 
- Speeches 
- Asking for help 
- Alerts 
- Types of fire 
- Firefighting 
- Fuel system 
 
 
 
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An airport is a facility where passengers connect from 
ground transportation to air transportation. It is a 
location where aircraft such airplanes and helicopters 
takeoff and land. Aircraft may also be stored or 
maintained at an airport. It must have runway, taxiways, 
hangars and terminal buildings. 
 
An airfield is an area where an aircraft can land and 
takeoff, which may or may not be equipped with any 
navigational aids or markings. Many grass strips are also 
designated as airfields. 
 
An aerodrome is a defined area on land or water 
(including any buildings, installations and equipment) 
intended to be used either wholly or in part for the 
arrival, departure and surface movement of aircraft. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I. QUESTIONS 
1) According to the text, what is the difference between airport, airfield and aerodromes? 
 
2) What was the most incredible place you have ever landed at? 
 
3) How do you think airports will be in the future? 
 
 
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4) What’s your opinion about Brazilian infrastructure? 
 
 
II. VOCABULARY 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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III. GRAMMAR in the Air  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
- 
- 
- 
- Fill the blanks with the correct subject pronouns: 
1) _____ is the Captain of the flight. (George) 
2) _____ landed on runway 17 right. (An A380) 
3) _____ have 2 more flights today right after lunch. (Me) 
4) _____ work for the same airline company. (Kevin and I) 
 
 
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5) _____ flies airplanes and helicopters. (Anna) 
6) _____ need to fill a report of your accident. 
7) _____ must check the weather forecast before every flight. (You and Joseph) 
8) _____ live on the same apartment and (Chris and Steve) 
 
MISCOMMUNICATION 
Miscommunication in aviation remains a serious threat to safety. Factors such as pilots workload, 
quality of audio signal, accent of pilot or controller, English language proficiency of operator, and 
failure to use standard phraseology are all thought to contribute to communication errors. 
It had contributed to the deaths of more than 2000 people who have been killed in plane crashes 
since the mid-1970s. 
Given that radio communication is the main means of communication between air traffic controllers 
and pilots, effective communication "is crucial for aviation 
safety". 
The study of aviation communication is related to our 
understanding of English, and differences between native 
English speakers and speakers of English as a second 
language in high risk situations. Effective communication is 
paramount in ensuring the success of the global aviation 
industry. 
An investigation of a runway collision between two Boeing 
747s in the Canary Islands in 1977 revealed the Dutch-
speaking pilot's lack of English proficiency may have 
contributed to the accident. 
The aftermath of the collision between KLM and 
 Pan Am 747s in the Canary Islands in 1977. 
 
The accident, involving a Pan Am jumbo and a KLM plane, claimed the lives of 583 people — making 
it the deadliest accident in aviation history. 
A transcript of cockpit communication leading to the 1990 crash of Avianca flight 52 in New York 
revealed the pilot did not declare an emergency situation when he reported being low on fuel. 
The plane crew reported "running out of fuel" instead of signaling an emergency situation with the 
words "Mayday" or "Pan Pan", another international distress signal. 
 
 
 
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IV. QUESTIONS 
1) According to the text, what is miscommunication? 
 
2) What is crucial for aviation safety? 
 
3) What was the reason of the accident involving PanAm and KLM? 
 
4) How can pilots avoid miscommunication? 
 
V. VOCABULARY 
 
 
A - ALFA AL fah N - NOVEMBER no VEM ber 
 
B - BRAVO BRAH voh O - OSCAR OSS car 
 
C - CHARLIE CHAR lee OR SHAR lee P - PAPA pah PAH 
 
D - DELTA DELL tah Q - QUEBEC keh BECK 
 
E - ECHO ECK oh R - ROMEO ROW me oh 
 
F - FOXTROT FOKS trot S - SIERRA see AIR rah 
 
G - GOLF golf T - TANGO TANG go 
 
H - HOTEL hoh TEL U - UNIFORM YOU nee form OR OO nee form 
 
 
I - INDIA IN dee ah V - VICTOR VIK tah 
 
J - JULIET JEW lee ETT W - WHISKEY WISS key 
 
K - KILO KEY loh X - X-RAY ECKS ray 
 
L - LIMA LEE mah Y - YANKEE YANG key 
 
M - MIKE mike Z - ZULU ZOO loo 
 
 
 
 
 
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VI. GRAMMAR in the AIR  
 
 
 
 
 - Chose the correct form of the verb to be - am/is/are. 
1. It ____cold today. 
2. I ____on duty now. 
3. They _____ flight engineers . 
4. There ____ a pen on the desk. 
5. My name ____ Sully. 
6. We ____ from Ukraine. 
7. That taxiway ____ to the right. 
8. She ____ an English teacher. 
 
 
 
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- Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verb. 
 
Examples: 
a) I (be) am a pilot of Phenom100. 
b) Joseph (fly) flies Bell 429. He (not fly) doesn’t fly airplanes. 
c) Does she have an FAA license? Yes, she does. / No, she doesn’t. 
d) In Congonhas an airplane (take off) takes off and (land) lands every 3 minutes. 
e) A Boeing 757 (have) has an override function. It (not have) doesn’t have ultimate control. 
 
 
 
1) I (be) _______ sixteen years old. 
 
2) Tommy (live) ________ at 107 Pine Lane. 
 
 
3) My company (have) ________ more than 100 aircraft. 
 
4) They (eat)_______ lunch at 12:00. 
 
 
 
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5) You (need) _________ to go around when you are not stabilized. 
 
6) I (love) __________ cold weather. 
 
7) He (go)___________ to the airport early in the morning. 
 
8) We (want)___________ to depart before midnight. 
 
9) Mr. Anderson (teach)__________ meteorology at ACA Flight School. 
 
10) They (study)___________ before they go to the flight simulator training. 
 
11) I (want) ___________ to turn left on the left exit. 
 
12) All air traffic controllers (have) __________ a license to work. 
 
13) We (undergo)__________ medical exam once a year. 
 
14) It (snow)___________ here in December. 
 
15) When the ground staff (wash) _________ the helicopter they (let) _______ it dry by itself. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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RUNWAY INCURSION 
A Runway Incursion is defined as “Any occurrence at an aerodrome involving the incorrect presence 
of an aircraft vehicle or person on the protected area of a surfacedesignated for the landing and take 
off of aircraft”. (ICAO Doc 4444 - PANS-ATM) 
It should be noted that this 'incorrect 
presence' may be a consequence of a failure of 
a pilot to comply with a valid ATC clearance or 
their compliance with an inappropriate ATC 
clearance. 
 
 
Effects 
An increased risk of serious collision for aircraft on the ground. When collisions occur off the runway, 
the aircraft and/or vehicles involved are usually travelling relatively slowly: in contrast, when a 
collision occurs on the runway, at least one of the aircraft involved will often be travelling at 
considerable speed which increases the risk of significant aircraft damage and the severity of the 
consequences therefrom, including serious or fatal injury. 
 
Most Common Types 
▪ Aircraft runway entry contrary to ATC 
clearance 
▪ Aircraft runway crossing after landing 
contrary to ATC clearance 
▪ Towed aircraft runway crossing contrary to 
ATC clearance 
 
 
VII. VOCABULARY (Contributory Factors) 
 MULTIPLE SIMULTANEOU LINE-UPS WEATHER CONDITIONAL CLEARANCES 
http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Collision_Avoidance
 
 
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 AERODROME DESIGN SIMULTANEOUS USE OF INTERSECTING RUNWAYS 
 CONDITIONAL CLEARANCES ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETENCE PHRASEOLOGY 
 
I. __________________________. 
Low visibility may increase the chance of flight crew becoming disorientated and unsure of 
their position whilst taxying. Low visibility is also likely to restrict a controller’s ability to 
identify and follow aircraft visually so that cross-checking a reported aircraft position with 
its actual location may become impossible unless Surface Movement Radar is available. 
II. _________________________ 
If, as a consequence of aerodrome design, aircraft have to cross active runways to move 
between their take off or landing runway and their parking position, the likelihood of 
runway incursions is increased. This risk may be reduced if the LRST identifies the Runway 
Hotspots thereby created and effective risk mitigation is developed and applied. 
Operation with intersecting active runways is also likely to require careful consideration to 
ensure that the inherently increased risk of conflict is adequately managed. 
III. ___________________________________ 
 Use of Multiple Line-ups for a series of aircraft departures from the same runway from 
different entry positions may increase the potential for runway collision. 
IV. ________________________________ 
If conditional clearances are used, the risk consequent upon any error in their issue or 
actioning may be increased because of errors in aircraft identification by adjacent aircraft. 
The chances of such errors are increased if aircraft livery does not readily correspond to 
the RTF call sign being used; this is sometimes the result of airline alliance livery policies or 
the ad hoc operational substitution of leased-in aircraft. 
V. _______________________________. 
Unless ATM SOPs are carefully formulated and rigorously applied, use of intersecting 
runways can significantly raise the risk of both runway incursions and Loss of 
http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Cross-checking_Process
http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Surface_Movement_Radar
http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/LRST
http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Hot_Spots_at_Aerodromes
http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Hot_Spots_at_Aerodromes
http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Multiple_Line-ups_on_the_Same_Runway
http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Conditional_Clearance
http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/SOP
http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Loss_of_Separation
 
 
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Separation between aircraft near the ground and aircraft on the ground. At some airports 
where intersecting runways are used, especially in the USA, Land and Hold Short 
Operations are part of normal procedures. These are considered by some non-US aircraft 
operators to introduce an unacceptable level of additional risk; consequently, their flight 
crews are instructed to decline offers of such clearances. 
VI. ___________________________ 
Use of Non-Standard Phraseology or non-adherence to Standard Phraseology can lead to 
clearance confusion and misunderstanding between flight crew and controllers. In 
particular the standard expression "Taxi into position and hold" used in the USA in place of 
the ICAO Phrase "Line up and wait" is worthy of note. 
VII. ____________________________ 
Despite the introduction by ICAO of a system of validating competence in Aviation English, 
instances of pilots whose native language is not English misunderstanding taxi clearances 
still occur. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GROUND EQUIPMENT AND STAFF 
1. 2. 3. 
http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Loss_of_Separation
http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Land_and_Hold_Short_Operations
http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Land_and_Hold_Short_Operations
http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Non-Standard_Phraseology
http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Standard_Phraseology
 
 
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In aviation, groundcrew or ground staff are the support personnel that service aircraft on the ground 
– as opposed to aircrew (___), who operate an aircraft while in flight. The term groundcrew is used 
by both airlines and military aviation. 
4. 5. 6. 
 
Airline ground crew members include : technicians (___), ramp agents/ marshallers (___), customer 
service agents (___) and flight dispatchers (___). Ground crew members 
are responsible for clearing the runway and gate area of any debris or 
garbage, in order to prevent foreign object damage (___) by an object 
being sucked into an engine. The crew visually inspects the tarmac (____) 
and removes any items found; this is typically called a "FOD walk" and is 
done prior to an aircraft's arrival and departure. 
 
 
 7. 
 
 
 
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_object_damage
 
 
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1. How can you define runway incursion? 
 
 
 
2. What is a non-standard transmission? 
 
 
 
3. What do you think of the Brazilian airport infrastructure? 
 
 
 
4. How important is the phraseology? 
 
 
 
5. What are companies doing to improve English Proficiency? 
 
 
 
6. What’s the most critical phase of the flight? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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AIRPORT SIGNS AND MARKINGS 
 
 
 
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- Match the words in the two columns: 
 
 
a) Outbound destination sign 
b) Runway boundary sign 
 
 
 
1) The runway on which your aircraft is 
2) Holding point markings 
c) ILS critical area boundary sign 3) Taxiway you’re on 
d) Taxiway ending markings 4) Directions to common taxi routes 
e) Taxiway location sign 5) Termination of the taxiway 
f) Direction sign for runway exit 6) Visible to pilots exiting the rwy 
g) Runway location sign 7) Out of clear of ILS critical area 
h) Runway holding position sign 8) Approaching taxiway 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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ONBOARD SITUATIONS 
During a flight, pilots must pay attention to all phases, including flight plan clearance, 
embarking, cargo loading, start-up procedures, taxiing, take-off roll, cruising, landing, 
disembarkingand parking. A good way to memorize a flight plan clearance is using a mnemonic 
process called CRAFT. 
CRAFT stands for: 
• Clearance limit, the end point of the clearance (usually, but not always, the 
destination airport) 
• Route, the route that the flight is to follow as part of the clearance (often the route 
originally filed, although ATC may change this) 
• Altitude, the initial altitude to be maintained by the flight, plus, in many cases, a time at 
which cruise altitude clearance may be expected 
• Frequency, the frequency to which the pilot(s) should tune upon leaving the departure 
airport 
• Transponder, the transponder code that must be set for the aircraft prior to departure 
and during the flight. T also stands for time, as in void time, if one is issued. A void time is 
an expiration time, meaning, the IFR clearance is voided if the aircraft is not airborne by the 
void time. 
If there is no delay or computer problem, EOBT and ETD are often as planned. 
 
VOCABULARY 
 
 
 
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ETD ETA EOBT TRACON APP ACC TWR 
GND CLR ATIS NOTAM AFIS POB TCAS 
 
1._______ automatic terminal information service 8.________ clearance delivery 
2._______ ground control 9.________ tower control3._______ 
traffic collision avoidance system 10._______ estimated off-blocks 
time4._______ terminal radar approach control 11._______ aerodrome flight info 
service5._______ approach control 12._______ notice to airman 6._______ 
rea control center 13._______ estimated time of 
arrival7._______ estimated time of departure 14._______ persons onboard 
 
 
GRAMMAR in the AIR  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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- Choose A or AN to complete the exercise: 
1. ______pilot 
 
2. ______seat 
 
3. ______emergency 
 
4. ______ fire truck 
 
5. ______ answer 
 
6. ______ clearance 
 
7. ______routine flight 
 
8. ______investigation 
 
9. ______ flight plan 
 
10. ______ old habit 
1 11. ______ very stormy area 
 
1 12. ______ airport 
 
1 13. ______inbound traffic 
 
 14. ______ extremely large airplane 
 
 15 . ______ light rain 
 
 16. ______ fantastic infrastructure 
 
1 17. ______ unusually situation 
 
 18. ______ hour ago 
 
1 19. ______ expensive meal 
 
2 20. ______ hard landing 
 
 
 
 
 
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NAVIGATION 
 
Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 was a scheduled international passenger flight that disappeared on 
8 March 2014 while flying from Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia to Beijing - China. The aircraft, 
a Boeing 777-200ER operated by Malaysia Airlines last 
made voice contact with air traffic control at 01:19 MYT 8 
March (17:19 UTC, 7 March) when it was over the South 
China Sea, less than an hour after takeoff. The aircraft 
disappeared from air traffic controllers' radar screens at 
01:22 MYT. The aircraft was carrying 12 Malaysian crew members and 227 passengers from 15 
nations. The multinational search effort for the aircraft is the largest and most expensive in 
aviation history. 
Several pieces of marine debris found on the coast of Africa and on Indian Ocean islands off the 
coast of Africa, the first discovered on 29 July 2015 on Réunion, have been confirmed as pieces 
of Flight 370. However, the bulk of the aircraft has still not been located, prompting many 
theories about its disappearance. 
In response to Flight 370's disappearance, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) 
adopted new standards for aircraft position reporting over open ocean, extended recording 
time for cockpit voice recorders, and, 
from 2020, will require new aircraft 
designs to have a means to recover 
the flight recorders, or the information 
they contain, before the recorders sink 
below water. 
 
 
 
 
QUESTIONS 
 
 
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1.) According to text, how did controllers notice that Flight 370 had vanished? 
 
 
2.) What are the possible causes of that disappearance? 
 
 
3.) How can technology enhance navigation accuracy? 
 
 
4.) What has ICAO done to prevent situations like that? 
 
 
 
 
GRAMMAR in the Air  
 
 
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- Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verb. 
 
1. Last week my copilot and I ___________ (travel) to the USA. 
2. Anna ___________ (not copy) the flight plan. She is still talking to the flight dispatcher. 
3. I ________ (fly) 22 hours past week. It was a busy week! 
4. __________ you ________ (check) oil level? Yes, I did. 
5. All pilots and ATC _________ (need) to undergo a severe training to work here. 
6. All passengers ______________ (embark) the plane on time. 
7. The ground technician _______________ (report) there was a fuel leak. 
8. We were expecting to depart at 5 but the weather ___________ (not get) better. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
[ICAO NA PROA] 
 
 
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
30 
 
AVIATION IRREGULAR VERBS 
 
VERB SIMPLE PAST PARTICIPLE 
MAKE (A TURN) 
GO (AROUND) 
TAKE (OFF) 
GET (OUT) 
LEAVE (THE APRON) 
GIVE (WAY) 
HAVE (PROBLEMS) 
HIT (THE TREES) 
PUT (THE MASK) 
CUT (THE ENGINE) 
BRING (THE PASSENGERS) 
CATCH (FIRE) 
OVERRIDE (THE RWY) 
LOSE (THE ENGINE) 
FLY 
LOSE (CONTACT) 
SEND (A MESSAGE) 
COME (TO THE GATE) 
FEEL (UNCOMFORTABLE) 
DO (A DEVIATION) 
SEE (THE MARSHALLER) 
FALL (INTO THE OCEAN) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
31 
 
CREATING AND REORGANIZING SENTENCES 
1) Translate the text below to Portuguese: 
“Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight 163 departed Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at 21:08 local time en 
route to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. About seven minutes into the flight, the cargo 
compartment smoke detector system “B” alarm was heard in the flight deck. Fifty-nine 
seconds later, the other cargo compartment smoke detector was also heard in the flight 
deck.” 
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ 
2) Fill in the blanks using the verbs from the box. Use the Simple Past: 
For the next four minutes, the flight crew________ (begin) troubleshooting the alarms 
and ___________(attempt) to find the procedure for dual cargo smoke alarms in the 
flight manual. The flight engineer __________(leave) the flight deck to check on the 
conditions in the passenger cabin. Thirty-six seconds later, the flight 
engineer__________(return) to the flight deck and _________ (report) a fire in the 
cabin. About 12 minutes into the flight, the captain__________ (initiate) a return to 
Riyadh. This_____ (be) about 18 minutes before the airplane__________(come) to a 
stop. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
32 
 
TECHNOLOGY 
 
Drones 
Popularly known as drones, but also referred 
to as remotely piloted aircraft systems 
(RPAS) or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) 
they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, 
ranging from small handheld types up to 
large aircraft, potentially a similar size to 
airliners. 
They are everywhere. Clearly they are a 
safety threat. Commercial airlinersand GA (general aviation) pilots have been reporting 
increasingly more near misses at significantly less than 500’ with a UAV on short final. Imagine 
a full passenger aircraft sucking one into its engine at full power on takeoff over a populated 
area. 
One of the most recent incidents occurred March 18, when a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt 
approaching Los Angeles International Airport reported a drone flew about 200 feet above the 
Airbus A380. Police and sheriff’s department helicopters were dispatched to search for the 
drone, the Los Angeles Times reported. 
 
Because of incidents like this, regulators have been working feverishly to formulate rules for 
how to incorporate commercial drone operations into U.S. airspace and trying to educate 
hobbyists about staying out of the way of airliners. 
 
 
 
Just like any other aircraft, an unmanned aircraft 
must always be flown in a safe manner, both with 
respect to other aircraft in the air and also to people 
and properties on the ground. 
 
 
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-drone-near-miss-lax-20160318-story.html
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
33 
 
QUESTIONS 
1.) According to text, why are drones a risk to aviation? 
 
2.) What are the possible damages an impact between a drone and a aircraft can cause? 
 
3.) How can technology enhance safety to this situation? 
 
4.) What have regulators done to prevent collisions risks? 
 
VOCABULARY 
SHAPE HANDHELD THREAT INCREASINGLY TO DISPATCH 
ABOVE REGULATORS FEVERISHLY HOBBYISTS MANNER 
-Match the words in the box with the right definitions: 
1) The opposite to below ________________ 6) Progressively ________________ 
2) Marked by an intense emotion ____________ 7) Mode, style or way ____________ 
3) The form or outline of an object ____________ 8) Terror; menace _______________ 
4) An official responsible for controls 9) To send off __________________ 
of public activity __________________________ 
 
5) Small and light enough to be operate 10) A person who pursuit hobbies 
while you hold it in your hands ______________ _____________________________ 
 
 
 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
34 
 
GRAMMAR in the Air  
 
 Present Continuous examples: 
- Tom is flying to the USA. He left Brazil last 
night and he will get there in the afternoon. 
- Two military jets are taxiing to runway 09 
left. Give way to those traffics. 
 
 
Past Continuous examples: 
- CFT airlines was giving classes for Russian 
pilots in 2015. They completed the course in 
2016. 
- The drone almost collided with them while 
they were flying over Sao Paulo 
 
 
 Future Continuous examples: 
- QATAR will be hiring new pilots soon. 
They’ve upgraded the fleet. 
- Anna is a Captain of an EC155. She will be 
landing on an oilrig for the first time 
tomorrow. 
 
 
 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
35 
 
 
EXERCISING! 
 
- Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verb. 
 
1.) I ______________________ (have lunch) right now. I need to depart soon. 
2.) _______ this Airbus 330 __________ (fly) here in Dubai? Amazing airplane! 
3.) You ________ always ________________ (come) later for the meetings last week. 
4.) __________ you _____________ (refuel) the plane? Yeah, I was. 
5.) Flight 370 _________________ (depart) right now. 
6.) Cabin crew members _________ (not) ______________ (stay) at this hotel. 
7.) ATCO ___________________ (call) us. Read back the message. 
8.) All flights were cancelled. The weather _____________________ (get) worse. 
9.) _______ John _____________ (work) for Avianca? No, he isn’t. 
10.) My first solo flight was amazing. The CFI __________________ (talk) to me before I 
took of so that I could relax a little. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
36 
 
SPECIAL FLIGHTS 
 
VIP FLIGHTS 
Besides GA (general aviation) and commercial 
flights, pilots can be submitted to a very 
distinctive task: they are responsible for carrying 
VIP passengers such as chiefs of state, 
professional athletes, world famous celebrities, 
religious leaders and others. The security of a flight like that has a very elevated level of 
importance. Closures due to Air Force One flights are inconvenient but necessary sometimes. 
 
AEROBATIC FLIGHTS 
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft 
altitudes that are not used in normal flights. Most of them 
involve rotation of the aircraft about its longitudinal (roll) axis 
or lateral (pitch) axis. Other maneuvers, such as a spin, displace 
the aircraft about its vertical (yaw) axis. Aerobatic flying 
requires a broader set of piloting skills and exposes the aircraft 
to greater structural stress than for normal flight. 
 
AIR AMBULANCE 
Air medical services are the use of air transportation, 
airplane or helicopter, to move patients to and from 
healthcare facilities and accident scenes. 
Helicopters are used to transport patients between 
hospitals and from trauma scenes; fixed-wing aircraft are 
used for long-haul transport. 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
37 
 
QUESTIONS 
1.) According to text, what are the three different types of special flights? 
 
2.) Should VIP flights be treated differently to other flights? Why? Why not? 
 
3.) Have you ever been to an air show? How was it like? 
 
4.) What kind of special cares should air ambulance personnel take? 
 
VOCABULARY 
DISTINCTED CLOSURES MANEUVER BROADER 
 HEALTHCARE TRAUMA SCENES LONG HAUL 
-Match the words in the box with the right definitions: 
1.) Preservation of mental and physical care ___________________ 
2.) Different; not alike; not similar ____________________________ 
3.) A journey over a long distance ___________________________ 
4.) A place of an accident that caused injuries __________________ 
5.) Greater than; bigger; wider ______________________________ 
6.) A deliberate coordinated movement _______________________ 
7.) Blockage; occlusion; obstruction; stop _____________________ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
38 
GRAMMAR in the Air  
 
 Simple Present Simple Past 
I’m ready for takeoff → He said he was ready for takeoff 
 Present Continuous Past Continuous 
I’m taking off now → He said he was taking off then 
 Simple Past Past Perfect 
I took off yesterday → Mike said he had taken off the day 
before 
 Present Perfect Past Perfect 
I have aborted takeoff → He said he had aborted t/o 
 Will Would 
I’ll report leaving twy A → Mike said he would report 
leaving twy A 
 Can Could 
I can stop taxiing → Mike said he could stop taxiing 
 
 
EXERCISING! 
 
- Change the sentences to reported speech: 
1.) We are initiating descent now. __________________________________________________ 
2.) I can give you vectors. _________________________________________________________ 
3.) We flew to Mexico City last week. _______________________________________________ 
4.) I have already been to an accident. ______________________________________________ 
5.) We have no flaps or speed brakes. _______________________________________________ 
6.) I am not the chief purser. ______________________________________________________ 
7.) We willnot allow any flight disturbance __________________________________________ 
 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
39 
VOCABULARY 
Visual Features 
COASTLINE RIVER RANGE HILLS CLIFF 
VALLEY FIELDS WOODS JETTY HARBOR FACTORY 
DAM QUARRY MAST POWER LINES RAILWAY 
SUBSTATION OILRIG CREEK HIGHWAY FARM 
 
1) Powerhouse ________________ 2) Waterway ________________ 3) Road _____________ 
4) Series of mountains ___________ 5) Pier ____________________ 6) Precipice__________ 
7) Oil platform _________________ 8) Seashore _________________ 9) Peaks ____________ 
10) Electric cables _______________11) Railroad ________________ 12) Dale _____________ 
13) Excavation _________________ 14) Forests __________________ 15) Bay _____________ 
16) Plantation _________________ 17) Post _____________________ 18) Ranch ___________ 
19) Industry ___________________ 20) Water barrier _____________ 21) Port ____________ 
 
 
 Flight Instruments 
____DG – Directional Gyro 
____ASI – Air Speed Indicator 
____VSI – Vertical Speed Indicator 
____ALT – Altimeter 
____TC – Turn Coordinator 
____AI – Altitude Indicator 
 
 
 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
40 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
S
TARTUP AND PUSH BACK 
 
To start and push back an aircraft, a ground crew is usually 
needed and is typically provided by the airport, and paid for by 
the airline. 
Several accidents have occurred over the years during 
engine start and pushback and so good communication with the 
ground crew over the intercom is essential. Once the aircraft’s 
red flashing beacon is lit all non-essential ground crew must stay 
clear of the aircraft. 
If the aircraft is at a gate it will require push back, which 
requires a tug. If parked on a stand it is often acceptable to taxi 
the aircraft directly from the stand. 
ATC may provide a conditional clearance stating that 
pushback is approved once an aircraft passing behind has cleared. 
This must then be passed onto the ground crew. The engines are 
usually started during the pushback. Traditionally engine start has 
been a critical element as it has resulted in problems, such as hot 
starts and hung starts. With modern engine control systems these 
problems are very rare however the crew still pay a lot of 
attention to the engine gauges during engine start, and look for 
indications of problems. 
Once the engines are running and all after start checklists 
have been completed a taxi clearance will be obtained. 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
41 
 
GRAMMAR in the Air  
ADJECTIVES describe NOUNS ADVERBS describe VERBS 
Safe operation Operating safely 
Smooth landing Landing smoothly 
Good work Working well 
Efficient pilots Piloting efficiently 
Responsible actions Acting responsibly 
Inadvertent flight Flying inadvertently 
Quick stop Stopping quickly 
*Many words have both an adjective and adverb form 
 
- Complete the sentences using an adverb or an adjective: 
 
1. He reads the flight manual (quick) ____________________________________ 
2. B777 is a machine. (pretty)__________________________________________ 
3. The class is loud today. (terrible)_____________________________________ 
4. Max is a technician. (good)__________________________________________ 
5. You can open this box. (easy) ________________________________________ 
6. It's a day today. (terrible)____________________________________________ 
7. She flies the helicopter (good) _______________________________________ 
8. He is a(n) ATCO. (careful)___________________________________________ 
9. He pilots the chopper(careful)________________________________________ 
10. The engine sounds(loud)____________________________________________ 
 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
42 
 
 
GROUND COLLISIONS 
 
 A Northwest Airlines DC-9 that had reported hydraulic problems collided with a 
Northwest Airbus on the ground, injuring six people. 
The DC-9 landing from Columbus, Ohio, lost control of steering as it was taxiing to its 
gate and the Airbus was backing away from its gate for takeoff to San Antonio. 
The injured included four crew members from the DC-9, including the pilots, and two 
ground employees. No passengers were hurt during the incident, but afterward one 
passenger complained of shortness of breath and was treated as a precaution. 
None of the injuries appeared life threatening. 
The escape slide on the Airbus had been deployed. 
After the crash, the DC-9 appeared to be partially lodged underneath the Airbus. The 
top of the DC-9's cockpit area was sliced by the Airbus' wing, and the fuselage made 
contact with the tail section of the Airbus. 
National Transportation Safety Board was investigating, and the planes could not be 
moved until investigators arrived. The planes were not affecting other air traffic. 
The hydraulic system on an aircraft controls mechanics such as steering. 
 
 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
43 
 
 
QUESTIONS 
 
1.) According to the text, why did this collision happen? 
 
 
2.) Describe the picture. Mention as many details as possible. 
 
 
3.) How can ground collisions be avoided? 
 
 
4.) To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement: ground crew must be 
responsible to guide all landing traffic until they cut off the engines. 
 
 
 
GROUND EQUIPMENT 
 
JET REFUELER WATER TANK AIRSTAIRS TOILET TRUCK CATERING TRUCK 
BAGGAGE CONVEYOR VESTIBULE DOOR TOW TRACTOR 
 
 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
44 
 
 
DELAYS and CARGO 
 
Air traffic control is a very complex service that works 24 hours a day and 365 days per year. 
Millions of aircraft are guided safely and expeditiously through a World Airspace System to 
their destinations. Only in the USA around 2,246,004 passengers fly every day. And all of it 
depends on one singular thing: technology. So what if it fails? 
 
According to FAA and EASA, many international 
airports have already been disrupted after 
problems with a computer server and consequently 
some flights were cancelled, others diverted and 
the majority delayed. 
As a consequence of the backlog, companies have a 
huge loss. Technicians have to work under high 
pressure to get all servers up to speed again. 
 
In addition to this, there are some other very common problems during embarking and loading, 
such as missing passengers, cargo hold issues and even employers on strike. Some companies 
have already banned pets from being checked like luggage. Livestock in the hold, besides 
causing a significant extra workload to cargo workers can also compromise the integrity of the 
airplane. American Airlines decided to do so after a pit bull damaged cables and the hold’s 
bulkheads and door when it escaped from its cage. 
 
 
 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
45 
 
QUESTIONS 
1.) According to the text, what are the possible causes of a flight delay? 
 
 
2.) Describe the pictures. Mention as many details as possible. 
 
 
3.) Can you mention any other contributing factor to delays? 
 
 
4.) To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement: airline companies are 
responsible for the integrity and safety of pets that are transported in the cargo 
compartment. 
 
VOCABULARY– FALSE COGNATES 
INGLÊS O QUE É? COM O QUE PARECE? 
 
Actually Na verdade Atualmente: currently, nowadays 
 
Beef Carne bovina Bife: steak 
College Faculdade 
 
Colégio: High school 
 
Costume Fantasia Costume: tradition 
Deception Enganação, mentira 
 
Decepção: disappointment 
 
Library Biblioteca Livraria: bookstore 
Novel Romance como gênero literário 
 
Novela: soap opera 
 
Parent Pais Parente: relatives 
 
Prejudice Preconceito Prejudicar: damage 
 
Pretend Fingir Pretender: intend 
Push Empurrar 
 
Puxar: pull 
 
Support Apoiar, dar apoio Suportar: to bear 
 
 
Complete the sentences with the words in the box: 
 
ACTUALLY PARENTS PRETEND SUPPORT RELAY PRETEND ULTIMATE 
1.) If a pilot has _______________ control, then he/she takes the final decision. 
2.) Bird strike is _______________ a serious problem. 
3.) When you are tired you don’t need to _______________ to be fine. Tell it to your boss! 
4.) My ______________ still live in Brazil. I can visit them very often. 
5.) Anac 123, can you hear me? Could you please ____________ the message to the ATC? 
6.) When I moved to China my family couldn’t ____________ me. It was really hard for me. 
 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
46 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
How can weather affect aircraft? 
Wind, more than rain, directly affects how an aircraft flies because the movement of air creates 
lift over the wings. Shifts in air pressure, wind speed or direction can impact how much lift is 
created with sudden changes being capable of forcing an aircraft to rise or fall suddenly. 
 
What kind of weather can cause problems for aircraft? 
Modern commercial jets are able to handle a large range of weather conditions. Thunderstorms 
and tall clouds called cumulonimbus are among the most risky weather patterns that pilots 
may face. They can stretch as high as 60,000 feet, well above the ceiling altitude of most 
commercial aircraft. 
Thunderstorms can form quickly, reaching their peak strength within 15 minutes, and usually 
occur as air warms up creating rising air currents that become extremely turbulent. After 
reaching maturity, a thunderstorm will start shedding the moisture it absorbed, forming rain or 
hail and strong downdrafts. While thunderstorms do cause lightning, serious accidents due to 
lightning strikes are extremely rare. 
An aircraft entering a thunderstorm could experience updrafts or downdrafts exceeding 3,000 
feet per minute. Changes in air pressure and temperature inside a thunderstorm can also lead 
to icing. 
 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
47 
 
 
What technologies are available to track or avoid bad weather? 
Satellites, weather balloons and ground radar have been used to both forecast future weather 
and update current conditions for decades. Ground-based weather radars transmit a signal, 
then detect and analyze the returning echo to assess the size and concentration of water 
droplets as well as wind speed. 
 
 
 
Because weather patterns can form and dissipate quickly, and weather analysis can be difficult 
at longer distances, aircraft are being increasingly equipped with on-board systems 
called Airborne Weather Avoidance Radar. 
While AWAR is useful for a pilot to get nearby weather information, it is also limited in both the 
direction and range at which it can detect wind or rain. 
In addition to weather detection and avoidance technology, communications systems are a key 
tool for pilots to receive and share information. 
Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System, or ACARS, is a data-based system 
that avoids the need for information to be relayed by voice. In addition to aircraft data such as 
fuel and location, ACARS can be equipped to include weather data. 
 
Can good equipment allow a pilot to fly through 
thunderstorms? 
On-board AWAR systems are designed to allow pilots 
to avoid severe weather, not fly through it. The U.S. 
FAA recommends pilots avoid heavy weather by at 
least 20 miles. 
“Weather recognizable as a thunderstorm should be 
considered hazardous, as penetration of any 
thunderstorm can lead to an aircraft accident and fatalities to those on board,” the FAA 
advises. 
“Our primary aim as pilots is to get passengers safely back on the ground and the secondary 
aim is to give them the smoothest and most comfortable ride possible,” said Captain Smith. “So 
even if the plane can physically fly through these clouds -- not the very center, but around the 
edges - we always try to avoid getting anywhere near them just to keep it as smooth as 
possible. Pilots also need to check constantly METAR and TAFs.” 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
48 
 
 
 
1. GRAMMAR in the Air  
 
1. First conditional: If I have enough money, I will go to Japan. 
*2. Second conditional: If I had enough money, I would go to Japan. 
3. Third conditional: If I had had enough money, I would have gone to Japan. 
 
 
USES OF THE CONDITIONAL 
1. Second conditional 
a. Nature: unreal (impossible) or improbable situations. 
b. Time: present; the TENSE is past, but we are talking about the 
present, now. 
e.g. If I knew her name, I would tell you. 
If I were you, I would tell my father. 
Compare: If I become president, I will change the social security 
system. (Said by a presidential candidate) 
If I became president, I would change the social security 
system. (Said by a schoolboy: improbable) 
If we win this match, we are qualified for the semifinals. 
If I won a million pounds, I would stop teaching. (improbable) 
CONDITIONAL CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE 
2. If + Past Tense would + inf 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
49 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EXERCISING! 
 
 
1) Complete the sentences below placing WOULD + PAST 
TENSE of the indicated verbs: 
 
 
a) My Captain _____________ (go around) immediately if we ______________ 
(know) about the wind shear. 
b) If you __________ (be) a CFI they ____________ (give) you a job opportunity. 
c) A passenger was disturbing the flight yesterday. The chief flight attendant 
_____________(put) plastic handcuffs on him if he ____________ (stop). 
d) We ___________(maintain) the ETA if the weather ___________(permit). 
e) All pilots __________ (pass) the exam if they ______________(study) more. 
f) I __________(go) home right away if I __________ (can). 
g) Flight AZ4462 ___________ (not/be) late if the passengers from the connection 
flight _____________ (be) here already. 
h) My boss said he ____________ (can) raise up my salary if I __________ (be) 
approved on the Proficiency Test. 
i) ATCO __________(clear) us to land if a dog _________ (not/be) on the runway. 
j) If a crew member ___________(be) reproved on the medical exam he/she 
__________ (have) his/her CMA cancelled. 
 
 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
50 
 
VOCABULARY 
 
 
 
 GALE / GUSTY WIND 
 
 FOG 
 
SANDSTORM 
 
 HAILSTORM 
 
 MICROBURST 
 
 LIGHTNING STRIKE 
 
 
 
 
 
METAR, TAF and ATIS 
 
Pilots must check weather conditions before the flight in order to avoid adverse conditions and 
even to change the flight plan route. Airports disruptions might be caused by extreme adverse 
conditions. As a consequence of a shallow fog (for example), winter operations can be severely 
compromised. Such information is provided by the airport in different ways: Meteorological 
Terminal Air Report (METAR), Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) and Automatic Terminal 
Information Service (ATIS) are some examples. 
Weather is indicated by up to 3 groups comprising symbols and letters from the following: 
 
- = slight += Heavy BC = Patches BL = Blowing 
BR = Mist DR = Low Drifting DS = Dust Storm DU = Widespread Dust 
DZ = Drizzle FG = Fog FC = Funnel Cloud (e.g. Tornado) FU = Smoke 
FZ = Freezing GR = Hail GS = Small Hail HZ = Haze 
IC = Diamond Dust MI = Shallow PL = Ice Pellets PO = Dust Devils 
RA = Rain SA = Sand SG = Snow Grains SH = Shower 
SN = Snow SQ = Squall SS = Sandstorm TS = Thunderstorm 
VA = Volcanic Ash VC = In the vicinity (nearby) UP = Unidentified Precipitation RE = Recent 
 
 
 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
51 
 
Some meteorological events are commonly confused because of their similarity. A dust devil event 
is similar to a tornado. Both show thunderstorm and gusty winds causing a rotation mass of air. 
 
GRAMMAR in the Air  
Causes and effect explains why an event happened or what the consequences of such an event 
were. A cause and effect paragraph can focus on causes, effects or both. Complete the sentences: 
 
 AS A RESULT OF CONSEQUENTLY BECAUSE OF 
THEREFORE THE LEADING CAUSE OF SO DUE TO 
 
1.) CFT 0338 needed to go around _______________ strong tail wind on short final. 
2.) A spark ignited a fire in the toilet. _________________ flight attendants had to act fast. 
3.) Squall line is a group of storms that can be ___________________ of tornadoes. 
4.) _________________ volcanic ash encounter engines might stop working. 
5.) Patches of standing water were reported by a pilot, ___________ the runway was closed. 
6.) Blowing sand acts as an abrasive on aircraft surfaces, _______________ it must be 
avoided. 
7.) ________________ recent ice pellets (sleet), the runway was slippery. 
 
 
 
 
 
DE-ICING PROCEDURES 
As winter arrives, airports dust off their deicing equipment and 
ready for another season of cold, snow, and ice. While a car may be 
safely operated partially covered in ice or snow, aircraft must be 
completely free of contamination to assure a safe flight. Deicing can 
sometimes lead to flight delays, but the alternative is far worse. 
 
What exactly are deicers doing? 
 
Deicers are there to ensure that there’s no frozen contamination, be it frost, ice, or snow on 
the critical surfaces of the aircraft. The trucks they use carry about 2000 gallons of deicing fluid 
and are equipped with hydraulic lifts, pumps, and heaters that allow deicers to accomplish 
 
 
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their task of removing any and all frozen material from the aircraft, from the leading edges of 
the wings to the top of the tail. 
Airframe icing can lead to reduced performance, loss of lift, altered controllability and 
ultimately stall and subsequent loss of control of the aircraft. Hazards arising from the 
presence of ice on an airframe include: adverse aerodynamic effects; blockage of pitot tubes 
and static vents; radio communication problems and surface damage from ice shedding. 
 
What are some things deicers need to be aware of? 
 
To be effective and efficient at deicing requires attention to detail. 
The weather and type of contamination are big factors, constantly 
changing conditions have a big impact on how deicing operations are 
carried out. The aircraft itself also requires close attention at all 
times; at many airports, particularly those with special areas 
specifically for deicing as opposed to gate deicing, the entire process 
is conducted with engines running. Given how close deicers and their vehicles get to the 
aircraft (as close as 3-5 feet / 1-2 meters at times), being aware of engines, APUs, as well as 
moving control surfaces on the aircraft is very important. Besides deicing, snow ploughs are 
used to remove ice from tarmac, runways and taxiways. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
QUESTIONS 
 
1.) According to the text, what are deicing procedures for? 
 
 
2.) Describe the picture. Mention as many details as possible. 
 
 
3.) Can you mention any hazard of ice accretion ? 
 
 
4.) To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement: adverse weather 
conditions are no longer obstacles to modern aviation. 
 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
53 
 
GRAMMAR in the Air  
HAD + OBJECT + PAST PARTICIPLE 
 
Causative form: have something done. We use have 
something done to mean another person does a service 
for us. Take a look at these two sentences: 
 
1. He washed the airplane. (He did it by himself) 
2. He had the airplane washed. (Someone else did it for him) 
 
EXERCISING! 
- Create sentences below using the CAUSATIVE FORM: 
 
1) I refueled the helicopter with 200 liters. 
___________________________________________ 
2) Captain Vette pushed the A380 back. 
______________________________________________ 
3) Mrs. Smith repaired the avionics of the 
Learjet_______________________________________ 
4) Engines stopped working. We need to fix them. 
______________________________________ 
5) They concluded the pre flight inspection. 
___________________________________________ 
6) We investigated all accidents and incidents. 
_________________________________________ 
7) CFT Airlines released 3 brand new aircraft. 
__________________________________________ 
8) Flight 789 embarked all passengers on time. 
_________________________________________ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
54 
 
GRAMMAR in the Air  
 
 
Complete the sentence using the correct word ending: 
 
VOLCANIC ASH 
 
 During a volcanic eruption, huge (quantity) ____________ of material can be ejected into 
the atmosphere, reaching great height and (be) ____________ a threat to aviation for several 
months. Volcanic ash can accumulate at higher altitudes in clouds which then drift with the 
wind. The ash does not show up on aircraft weather radar or ATC radars because of the small 
size of the particles. Ash particles carry electrical charges 
and, within a cloud of volcanic ash, this can give rise 
to thunder and lightning in the area (immediate) 
_____________ overhead the eruption. 
 At night, St Elmo's Fire, created when (charge) 
_____________ ash particles hit the aircraft, may be the first 
circumstantial indication to a flight crew that they are (fly) 
____________ into dense volcanic ash. Other indications 
might be a sulphurous smell and dust within the cabin. All of 
those signs must be seen as (power) ______________ threats 
to the (safe) ___________ of the flight. 
 Volcanic ash encounter can result in engine damage and malfunction. The particles are 
(predominant) _________________ composed of silicates which melt within the hot section of 
an engine. It’s a (consider) ______________ risk to cross an ash cloud. 
 Another potential hazard is external surface corrosion, a (noise) _____________ action that 
happens all over the aircraft skin and also on the windscreens. 
 
 
[ICAO NA PROA] 
 
 
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
55 
 
 
 
 
CLARIFYING & CONFIRMING 
 
Clarifying is a positive way of obtaining a clear, accurate, 
and complete understanding of what the speaker wants 
to communicate. 
 
Confirming is the skill by which listeners use a closed 
probe to test if they truly understand the speaker’s 
logical and emotional content. 
 
Confirming is the hand that fits in the glove of clarification. Clarification is a means; confirming 
is the end. 
 
Example: PILOT: “San Francisco Approach, we are on backup power, ANAC 123.” 
 ATC: “ANAC 123, confirm you have an instrument blackout.” 
 PILOT: “NEGATIVE. We have an electrical problem, not an instrument blackout, ANAC 
123.” 
 
 
EXERCISING! 
 
Practice with a partner: 
 
Situation 1 - PILOT: (you needed to abort takeoff roll due to a dogon the runway) 
_____________________________________________________________________________ 
 ATC: (ANAC 123, confirm you have stopped takeoff because of an object on the rwy) 
_____________________________________________________________________________ 
 
 
Situation 2- PILOT: (you have an indication of an open inspection panel on the aft side) 
_____________________________________________________________________________ 
 ATC: (ANAC 123, I understood you had an inspection on the aft side, please confirm) 
_____________________________________________________________________________ 
 
 
Situation 3- PILOT: (you are low on fuel and you need an additional refueling before startup) 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 ATC: (ANAC 123, please confirm you need to expedite startup) 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
 
 
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CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
56 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Air travel can precipitate or contribute to medical problems in a 
number of ways, even in previously healthy travellers. Uncertainty due 
to delay compounds any anxiety and may mean that too long is spent 
drinking at the bar. 
 Once in the air the drop in pressure causes 30% gas expansion, 
and less oxygen is available. Pain from middle ears is common, 
especially on the descent. 
 As the journey proceeds the dry cabin atmosphere irritates 
mucous membranes. Drinking extra fluid helps, but drinking alcohol has 
the opposite effect. The intoxicating properties of alcohol are enhanced at altitude and often 
contribute to “air rage", as does the smoking ban in nicotine addicts. Time zone changes and 
altered meal times can result in insulin dependent diabetics becoming hypoglycemic, though 
diabetic meals can be provided. 
 Passengers on other strict drug regimens, such as for 
epilepsy, may also have problems, especially if they have packed 
their medication in the hold. Scalds are quite frequent from hot 
drinks in a crowded area, and head injuries caused by items 
falling from overhead storage bins are quite common. 
 The most common reasons for diversion in a recent US 
study were cardiac incidents (28%), neurological problems 
(20%), and food poisoning (20%). Other reports have cited 
severe and uncontrollable pain or bleeding, major injury with 
 
 
[ICAO NA PROA] 
 
 
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
57 
shock, impending birth, and uncontrollable mental disturbance. 
 
 
 QUESTIONS 
 
1) According to the text, what are the most frequent causes of in-flight medical emergencies? 
 
2) How does dry air affect the passenger health? Is it possible to avoid this problem? 
 
3) Which are the most common reasons for diversions? 
 
4) What is the object below and why is it carried on commercial aircraft? 
 
5) What does it contain? 
 
6) Are there any special procedures to use it? Who is allowed to open it? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
[ICAO NA PROA] 
 
 
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
58 
 
√ BANDAGES √ MEDICATION √ EQUIPMENT 
 
-Match the medical conditions with their definitions: 
 
 
hypoxia heart attack motion sickness premature childbirth 
fracture asthma food poisoning epilepsy headache 
diabetes allergic reaction high blood pressure inebriation 
 
a) the condition of being drunk; intoxication 
b) mental disorder manifested by convulsions and involuntary movements 
c) a coronary thrombosis or occlusion that is characterized by chest pain 
d) immunological reaction to a substance that causes itching and anaphylactic shock 
e) early parturition; a labor before ninth month of pregnancy 
f) a chronic lung disorder; airway obstruction; difficult breathing 
g) a feeling of illness, especially of needing to vomit; nausea caused by motion 
h) a disease in which the body cannot control the level of sugar in the blood 
i) a pain you feel inside your head 
j) a great measure of the pressure at which the blood flows through the body 
k) a deficiency of oxygen reaching the tissues of the body 
l) a gastrointestinal disorder caused by bacteria or by chemical residues in food 
m) the act or process of breaking; a rupture 
 
 
 
[ICAO NA PROA] 
 
 
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
59 
 
 
GRAMMAR in the Air  
 
 
PARAPHRASING & REPHRASING 
 
When you need to restate a thought or a text using different words, especially to clarify, you 
can paraphrase or rephrase a sentence. 
 
Example: 
- Every pilot should keep him(her)self in healthy conditions to ensure the safety of flights. 
- All pilots need to have a clean bill of health to guarantee the integrity of flights. 
 
 
EXERCISING! 
 
-Answer the questions paraphrasing or rephrasing the main idea. Follow the example: 
 
Q: How did your family react when you told them you wanted to be a pilot? 
A: Well, when I informed my family that I had intentions to become a pilot they reacted really 
well. All of them supported me a lot. 
 
1.) Q: How is the annual medical exam for pilots conducted? 
A:______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________ 
 
2.) Q: Have you received training to deal with medical emergencies? 
A:______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________ 
 
3.) Q: Have you ever witnessed a medical emergency in your job? 
A:______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________ 
 
4.) Q: Why aeromedical flights need special attention? 
A:______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________ 
 
5.) Q: How do you keep yourself healthy? 
A:______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________ 
 
 
 
 
[ICAO NA PROA] 
 
 
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
60 
 
MEDLINK 
 
When a medical situation arises during a flight, crewmembers have ready access to an 
emergency department doctor for advice and assistance. Medlink physicians are there to help 
crewmembers prevent medical situations from escalating – or cope with them as they occur. 
During a medical event, timing and knowledge are crucial. Medical volunteers can assist 
the Medlink doctor with gathering vital signs and administering any medications or treatment 
recommendations. 
Volunteers can rely on the immediate knowledge Medlink doctors have on the medical 
equipment available on the aircraft, medications available, and their location within the 
medical kit. If no medical volunteer is present, Medlink can confidently provide instruction to 
crewmembers. 
 
- Match the words from the text with their meaning or synonyms: 
 
1) WITHIN A) happens; results from; appears 
2) GATHERING B) deliver; afford; offer 
3) ARISES C) scheduling; timetabling; synchronism 
4) PROVIDE D) collecting; assembling 
5) ADVICE E) doctors; surgeons; specialists 
6) COPE F) trust; to have faith or confidence 
7) PHYSICIANS G) inside; into the innerpart 
8) ESCALATING H) increase; enlarge, intensify 
9) RELY ON I) guidance; instruction; assistance 
10) TIMING J) manage; handle 
 
- Discuss with a partner about the situations below. Write a list of two symptoms and 
actions to be taken to each of the medical problems: 
 
Medical issue Symptoms Actions 
HEART ATTACK 
PREMATURE LABOR 
FRACTURED LEG 
 
 
 
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61 
 
PILOT INCAPACITATION 
 
Pilot Incapacitation is the term used to describe the inability of a pilot, who is part of 
the operating crew, to carry out their normal duties because of the onset, during flight, of the 
effects of physiological factors. 
Death is the most extreme example of incapacitation, usually as a result of a heart 
attack, but is not necessarily the most hazardous. Although most recorded deaths of operating 
pilots in flight have been found to be due to cardiovascular disease, by far the most common 
cause of flight crew incapacitation is gastroenteritis. 
Incapacitation may occur as a result of: 
▪ The effects of Hypoxia (insufficient oxygen) associated with an absence of normal 
pressurization system function at altitudes above 10,000 ft. 
▪ Smoke or fumes associated with an in-flight fire or with contamination of the air 
conditioning system. 
▪ Gastro-intestinal problems such as severe gastroenteritis potentially attributable 
to food poisoning, or to food allergy. 
▪ Being asleep. 
▪ A medical condition such as a heart attack, stroke or seizure, or transient mental 
abnormality. 
▪ A bird strike or other event causing incapacitating physical injury. 
▪ A malicious or hostile act such as assault by an unruly passenger, terrorist action or 
small arms fire, or possibly malicious targeting of aircraft with high powered lasers by 
persons on the ground. 
 
Clearly, if the single pilot of a small aircraft becomes incapacitated then the safety of the 
flight is liable to be severely compromised and loss of control may result. However, for the two 
pilot case typical of larger transport aircraft, incapacitation of only one of the pilots is unlikely 
to present a significant risk given the attention which pilot training, especially for low minima 
precision approaches, is usually required to give to the implications of single pilot 
incapacitation. 
 
 
 
 
 
[ICAO NA PROA] 
 
 
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
62 
 
QUESTIONS 
1) According to the text, what is pilot incapacitation? 
 
2) What can airlines do to prevent those problems? 
 
3) What actions can be taken to avoid food poisoning? 
 
4) What would you do if the other pilot got unconscious during a flight? 
 
5) To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement: pilots must have a clean bill of 
health. 
 
 
GRAMMAR in the Air  
 
STILL, YET and ALREADY 
 
➔ Used to talk about something that hasn’t finished. 
➔ Used in questions, affirmatives and negatives sentences. 
Examples: He is still flying in Italy. 
 Are you still on an emergency? 
 I still haven’t got my ICAO proficiency. 
 
 
➔ Used to talk about something that is expected to happen. 
➔ Used in questions and negatives sentences. 
Examples: Have you written the report yet? 
 The company hasn’t bought new planes yet. 
 
 
➔ Used to talk about something that has happened, often earlier than expected. 
➔ Usually used in questions and affirmatives sentences. 
Examples: The flight attendant already knows the hotel they are going to. 
 Has CFT 394 already landed? 
 
 
 
 
 
[ICAO NA PROA] 
 
 
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63 
 
EXERCISING! 
1. You don't have to do it. I've ___________ done it. 
2. I've had no time. I haven't done it _________ . 
3. Don't wake him. He's ________ asleep. 
4. I've ________ told you what to do. Listen carefully this time. 
5. The plane has _________ arrived. It was really early. 
6. The landing gear was fixed up six months ago but it _______gets stuck. 
7. Are you ________ working for the same company? 
8. There's no need to tell ATCO. He _______ knows. 
 
PASSENGER BEHAVIOUR 
 
 Disruptive passenger behavior can be defined as aberrant, abnormal, or abusive 
behavior on the part of passengers either at airports or onboard commercial flights. It can have 
many causes ranging from the stress of travel and the banning of smoking to the side effects of 
prescription drugs or even alcohol. 
 Besides that, airlines have the right to refuse to carry passengers with conditions that 
may worsen, or have serious consequences, during the flight. They may require medical 
clearance from their medical department/adviser if there is an indication that a passenger 
could be suffering from any disease or physical or mental condition that: 
• May be considered a potential hazard to the safety of the aircraft; 
• Adversely affects the welfare and comfort of the other passengers and/or crew 
members; 
• Requires medical attention and/or special equipment during the flight; 
• May be aggravated by the flight. 
 
 
- Match the two columns: 
 
1) Disruptive a) Health 
2) Aberrant b) Deteriorate 
3) Ranging c) Unruly 
4) Refuse d) Varying 
5) Worsen e) Decline 
6) Welfare f) Agonizing 
 
 
[ICAO NA PROA] 
 
 
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
64 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Fire in the air is one of the most hazardous 
situations that a flight crew can be faced with. Without 
aggressive intervention by the flight crew, a fire on board 
an aircraft can lead to the catastrophic loss of that 
aircraft within a very short space of time. Once a fire has 
become established, it is unlikely that the crew will be 
able to extinguish it. There are different types: 
▪ Engine Fire. An engine fire is normally detected 
and contained satisfactorily by the aircraft fire 
detection and suppression systems. However, in 
certain circumstances (e.g. an explosive breakup of the turbine), the nature of the fire is 
such that onboard systems may not be able to contain the fire and it may spread to the 
wing and/or fuselage. Where an engine fire has been successfully contained, there is 
still a risk that the fire may reignite and therefore it is still advisable for the crew to land 
the aircraft as soon as possible and allow fire crews to carry out a visual examination of 
the engine. 
▪ Cabin Fire. A fire within the cabin will usually be detected early and be contained by the 
crew using onboard fire fighting equipment. As with an engine fire, it is still advisable to 
land the aircraft as soon as possible and carry out a detailed examination of the cause of 
the fire and any damage. 
▪ Hidden Fire. A hidden fire may be detected by onboard fire detection systems or by the 
crew or passengers noticing smoke or fumes, a hot spot on a wall or floor, or by unusual 
electrical malfunctions particularly when the systems are unrelated. This is the most 
dangerous type of fire for 2 reasons: 
1- Hidden fires are difficult to locate and access in order to fight 
them. The time delay may allow the fire to take hold and do 
considerable damage to the aircraft. 
2- A hidden fire may initially be difficult to confirm and the crew may 
be slow to initiate an emergency landing. The consequence of such a 
delay may be that the fire becomes non-survivable before the aircraft 
has an opportunity to land. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
[ICAO NA PROA] 
 
 
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF - Aviation English Course 
 
 
 
 
 
65 
 
QUESTIONS 
 
1.) According to the text, what are some of the