Author: Gareth

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Tracking planes answers

Here are the answers to last Friday’s video, enjoy!

Suggested ICAO level for video: 5+

1. The 70th annual general meeting of IATA.
2. To discuss the future of aviation.
3. When a plane is 250 nautical miles from land, radar coverage starts to fade, and planes are alone.
4. By using high frequency radio.
5. They changed to a satellite system called AICARS, which has an automatic tracking system which sends data (on Air France planes) every ten minutes.
6. Cost, and the fact that it’s not an obligation.
7. Free satellite tracking of planes every 15 minutes via its satellite system.
8. Up to $10,000 a plane and then extra for the cost of sending data to the satellite.

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Tracking planes

Here’s a video that discusses the changes that need to be made to ensure that an MH370 event never happens again.

Suggested ICAO level: 5+

Have a great weekend!!

1. What event did Doha recently host?
2. What did the many executives there discuss?
3. When are planes ‘alone’ in the skies?
4. How is contact maintained in these situations?
5. What changes did Air France make after the crash of one of their planes in 2009?
6. What is preventing more airlines from implementing this system?
7. What is Inmarsat offering?
8. How much can these systems cost to install?

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/business/2014/06/12/spc-business-traveller-mh370-task-force-a.cnn.html

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Runway overrun

Here’s the text to the listening from yesterday.

Enjoy!!

An old cargo plane was lined up and waiting for takeoff clearance. It was fully loaded and the the weather conditions weren’t ideal, but were above the minimums for takeoff. After the plane received clearance to take off the pilot pushed the throttle levers forward and the plane accelerated down the runway. Before V1 the pilot received a warning of a hydraulic problem. He immediately applied the brakes and tried to stop but couldn’t stop before the end of the runway. Fortunately the plane only put its nose on the grass at the end of the runway and there was no damage. However, the plane couldn’t move and had to be towed to a remote area for inspection.

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Runway overrun

Listen to this recording and try to write what your understand. You don’t need to understand every word, just the most important ideas. Use your own words to write what happened.

You can listen as many times as you like.

Check below the recording for some of the difficult words and come back and check the full text from this recording tomorrow.

Suggested ICAO level: 3+

Have a great day!

Difficult words: throttle levers (n.), V1, apply the brakes, tow (v.)

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Airbus Vs Boeing’s widebody strategy answers

Here are the answers to last Friday’s video, enjoy!

Suggested ICAO level for video: 5+

1. He says that their products cover everything from 200 – 500 seats and they compliment each other in terms of their size, range, efficiency and economics.
2. He says that their planes match what their customers say they want. He also says that the A330neo, A350 and A380 correspond to what Airbus’ customers want.
3. She suggests that Boeing has the advantage at the moment. She uses the expression, ‘some believe Boeing is delivering the punches which Airbus is having to duck’ to suggest this.
4. He says Boeing has a more holistic strategy, covering everything from 240 – 400 seats, and with the 747 defending the VLA sector. He describes Airbus as ‘a bit more reactive’, with the A330neo as an illustration of that. He also says that the A330neo-900 was launched to defend against the 787-9.

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Airbus Vs Boeing’s widebody strategy

Here’s an interesting video about Boeing and Airbus’ widebody strategies and which will succeed.

Try to answer the following questions about the video and come back on Monday for the answers.

Suggested ICAO level: 5+

Have a great weekend!!

1. What does Randy Tinseth say about Boeing’s ‘complete line of products’?
2. What does Alan Pardoe say ‘counts the most’ about Airbus’ ‘family of airplanes’?
3. Who does the narrator suggest has the advantage at the moment? What expression does she use to suggest this?
4. What does Rob Morris say about each manufacturer?

Airbus v Boeing: Which widebody strategy will succeed?

The rivalry in the widebody sector is intense not because Airbus and Boeing have directly competing products, but because they do not. Each has a different vision for the long-haul market, and the Farnborough air show will see them continue their tussle over which is right.