Free Aviation English Lesson

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Start Practicing for ICAO English

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This free lesson is designed as an introduction to a new test-practice

course for the ICAO English exam which can be found at
www.practiceICAOenglish.com
This lesson helps raise awareness of the various factors that can negatively
impact communication, such as: rudeness, time pressure and multitasking.
Before you begin, make sure you have your headphones or speaker and
microphone switched on.

Please begin.

Comments from Industry experts:

A really great free lesson from Practice ICAO English.

Its an excellent way to gauge your level of English proficiency.

In busy airspace, it is critical that pilots and air traffic controllers understand each other clearly
and accurately the first time.
Pilots who are serious about undertaking a career in aviation must definitely take advantage of
this excellent free resource.
James Marasa
Air Traffic Controller
www.ATCreadback.com
ATCreadback.com is an online Aviation English program created by air
traffic controllers to provide real-world training to student and ESL pilots.

Bruce Jett Green called the free lesson:

A real confidence builder for the professional global aviator
With crowded airways and stressed out pilots and controllers, clear and concise communication is
essential on the flight deck. Practice ICAO English Course should be your first step toward
wearing the coveted aviator wings!
Bruce Jett Green, Air Traffic Control Manager. Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport and FAA
Safety Team Member.
Jett is an aviation safety crusader who writes and lectures aviators and air traffic controllers on
human factors mishap prevention on the flight decks and radar rooms across the United States.
www.safetycrusader.com

WHY is this lesson FREE?

We are going to help you practice EXACTLY the kinds of skills you need, to pass YOUR ICAO English
test.
We are developing an online Practice ICAO English course for pilots just like you, which you will
find at www.PracticeICAOenglish.com .
As an introduction to this course, we are giving this FREE lesson away to you so you can benefit by
trying out your English skills.
This lesson raises awareness of the HOT topic of Miscommunication and the disastrous
consequences that can result.
We are committed to leading you safely up to your ICAO English test with:
The skills, the knowledge and the confidence you need to pass with our low-cost Test-Practice
course.
Visit www.practiceICAOenglish.com NOW to learn more.

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FREE LESSON MATERIAL - Please print out the cards pages in colour
Multi-tasking exercise - please follow the instructions carefully.
1.- Print out the cards in color, cut them out, and place them on a desk
in front of you
2.- You will then press the audio links to listen to some instructions that
you must follow
3.- There are only three types of instructions:
o touch
o pick-up
o turn over
4.- You will read back the instructions while performing the actions.
5.- If you are instructed to touch the green 59, but there is no green 59,
you will say negative green 59.
6.- To make sure that you follow the instructions correctly, it is a good
idea to ask someone to listen to the instructions with you and
observe your actions.
7.- Now watch the video to see a demonstration of the activity

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Audio instructions

After completing the task, note down your observations below as a self-learning
exercise.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

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FREE LESSON MATERIAL - COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN - TRUE STORY

Multi-tasking is certainly challenging, yet unavoidable in the cockpit. Complete the

wordsearch to uncover more factors affecting communication. See the clues in the
table below. The words may appear horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

FACTORS AFFECTING COMMUNICATION

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Clue
theurgencytocompletetaskswithina
certainperiod(2words)

FactorAffectingCommunication

timepressure

theATCidentifierforaircraft.

lotsofaircraftmovingonthegroundandin
theair(2words)

ateamofmechanicsandtechniciansthat
maintainandserviceaircraftonthe
ground(2words)

inabilitytolandafterbeingcleared(2words)

thepeopleresponsibleforsafetyinsidethe
plane(2words)

aparticulargeographicarea

failuretowork

notacquaintedwiththeplaceofdepartureor

arrival(2words)
theworkofkeepingsomethinginproper
condition

adverseordestructiveatmospheric
conditions

thepronunciationofEnglishspokenbynon
nativeEnglishspeakers

anunscheduledstoporchangeofdestination

airport

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The following pictures were taken at the scene of the Avianca Airlines crash which

took place on January 25th 1990. Poor English language and communication have
been cited as two of the contributing factors to this tragedy.

All the vocabulary studied in this lesson will be heard in the video content. Some of
the words may be new to you.
There will be 4 parts to this lesson. Each part consists of a pre-watching vocabulary
exercise, video viewing and note taking and an after watching exercise.
Part 1 Pre-watching vocabulary exercise - Draw lines to match the words with their
definitions. You can use a dictionary or follow this link for help: http://
www.thefreedictionary.com/

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If you experienced any problems watching this video please see an online version at
http://www.practiceicaoenglish.com/video/
After-Watching Questions
Now refer to your note taking and complete the answers with suitable words from
the target vocabulary.
1. What have air traffic controllers been nervously tracking?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
2. How does the presenter describe what inside the terminal building will be
like?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
3. What do the Air Traffic Managers in Washington DC order the controllers in
New York to do?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
4. Why can't they use runway 13?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
5. Due to carrying the maximum fuel allowed, how much extra flying time does
the pilot have?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

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6. By early evening what is happening to the weather at New York airport?

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
7. What is it about the crew of Avianca 52 that the grey haired gentleman finds
inconceivable?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

Part 2 Pre-watching vocabulary exercise - Using a thesaurus or website, such as

http://thesaurus.com/ , find synonyms (words having the same or nearly the same
meaning) for the following words:

Now watch part two of the Avianca Flight 52 disaster.

If you experienced any problems watching this video please see an online version at
http://www.practiceicaoenglish.com/video/

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Part 2 - After-Watching exercise

Read the following facts about the incident and decide if they would have a positive
or negative impact on cockpit communication and the safety of the flight. Please
put a tick
beside those having a positive impact and a cross X beside those having
a negative one.
Facts
The Flight Engineer and First Officer only had 4 months flight time in the 707
The flight crew were extremely experienced
They were familiar with the route and procedures
They didn't know about the bad weather ahead
They were flying in one of the most congested air spaces in the world.
They were under the direction of more than 6 controllers.
The controllers were trying to get circling aircraft safely on the ground.
Visibility was getting worse.
Lengthy delays
Distracted Air Traffic Controller
Intimidating Air Traffic Controllers in New York airspace

Part 3 Pre-watching vocabulary exercise - Read the words in the left hand column
and then highlight the words with the same meaning in the right hand column.
There may be more than one word.

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Take time to read the `after watching exercise below and then click on the link to
watch part three of the Avianca Flight 52 disaster.

If you experienced any problems watching this video please see an online version at
http://www.practiceicaoenglish.com/video/
Part 3 After-Watching exercise - complete the sequence of events by filling in the
gaps below. Please take notes while watching.

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Part 4 Pre-watching vocabulary exercise - Study the table below and then
complete the short exercise that follows.

Based on what you've seen so far, see if you can guess which words from the table
above complete these sentences.
The Captain was concerned about the fuel state and was talking
____________________.
Avianca 52 finds itself flying into ____________________ windshear.
The captain ____________________searches for the runway, but it is
____________________ in low fog.
He ____________________ that they were running out of fuel.
The passengers can hear the sounds of the engines beginning to
____________________.
Now watch the video and listen to see if what you've written is correct. If you
experienced any problems watching this video please see an online version at
http://www.practiceicaoenglish.com/video/

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Part 4 After-watching exercise - Please complete the questions to go with the

answers below. Remember to focus on the vocabulary and grammar, don't rush.
1. What__________________________________________________________?
The Captain was concerned about the fuel state.
2. What__________________________________________________________?
Avianca 52 found itself flying into severe weather.
3. What
_____________________________________________________________?
The Captain and First Officer were unable to see the runway.
4. What__________________________________________________________?
The Captain asked the First Officer to tell the controllers that they were out
of fuel.
5. Why___________________________________________________________?
It is not certain why the crew allowed the controllers to vector them way
out in the original holding pattern.
6. Why___________________________________________________________?
It's a sign that the engines are short of fuel.

Thank you for completing this lesson. I hope it has helped to make you more aware
of some of the very real communication problems out there.
Please click on this link to download the answer key.

Our goal as aviation English specialists is to provide effective and interesting

English learning resources for pilots so that English levels and communication
may be improved for passing ICAO requirements, benefiting you, the pilot.
Our hearts go out to the people who lost friends and family in this accident.
We develop English teaching resources based on real incidents in an attempt
to highlight the importance of clear communication and prevent further
unnecessary incidents in the future.
To download the answer key please go to the following address:
http://www.practiceicaoenglish.com/download/files/Free.Aviation.English.Lesson.Answer.Key.zip

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