✈️Aviation English

✈️ Let’s Talk About CFIT – A Critical Aviation Hazard 🌍

🔍 CFIT stands for Controlled Flight Into Terrain, one of the deadliest yet preventable types of aviation accidents. It happens when a perfectly airworthy aircraft, under full control of the pilots, unintentionally collides with the ground, a mountain, or other obstacles.

💡 Did You Know?

Most CFIT accidents occur during the approach and landing phase, often due to reduced visibility, poor situational awareness, or misinterpretation of navigation data.
The term was coined by Boeing engineers in the 1970s to highlight this specific risk in aviation safety.

🛑 What Causes CFIT?

Pilot error: Misjudging altitude, descent rates, or terrain proximity.
Inadequate planning: Failing to consider terrain in flight paths.
Equipment issues: Faulty navigation or a lack of warning systems.

🚨 Prevention Is Key!
Modern solutions like Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (TAWS) and strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have significantly reduced CFIT risks. However, constant vigilance and situational awareness remain pilots' strongest tools.

Sometimes I ask such questions in the exams.
Let's clear the air. What do we know about scarecrows?Are they still used in aviation?

Yes, scarecrows are sometimes used at airports. But traditional scarecrows are not common, but modern variations and bird deterrents serve a similar purpose.


First of all I'd like to mention that scarecrows or similar devices are used to deter birds and other wildlife from the airfield. Birds pose a significant hazard to aircraft, especially during takeoff and landing, as bird strikes can damage engines or airframes.

There are different types of scarecrows at airports:

Stationary Decoys: Fake owls, falcons, or other predator models may be placed around runways to scare off birds.

Moving Devices: Kites or drones designed to resemble birds of prey are sometimes used to create a dynamic threat.

Automated Scarecrows: Devices with moving parts, lights, or sounds to startle wildlife.

Bioacoustics: Speakers broadcasting predator calls or distress signals are more advanced versions of traditional scare tactics.

The phrase "in the nearest time" is not correct.

"in the near future" is a correct one.

"Soon" and "as soon as possible " also sound natural.

Now, a question for air traffic controllers.

"подменный диспетчер"

Any options?

Я летаю капитаном A 320.

Here are some options that work well:

"I fly A320 as a captain."
"I’m a captain on the A320."
"I’m an A320 captain."

Due to the punctured aircraft skin, the aircraft was grounded for repairs and additional structural integrity checks.

Following the bird strike, the engineers assessed the punctured aircraft skin to determine if it affected the plane’s pressurization system

"The airport has ceased working."

This means the airport has completely stopped operations. No flights are taking off, landing, or being managed .It’s temporarily or permanently shut down. ( Аэропорт перестал работать.)

"The airport has come to a standstill."

This implies that all airport operations have stopped, usually due to an unexpected issue such as a severe weather event, a strike, or technical failures. It's a temporary situation where activities have stopped. (Аэропорт перестал работать.)

"The airport is in decay."

This indicates that the airport’s infrastructure or facilities are deteriorating over time. ( Аэропорт в упадке.)

In aviation, “unsecured cargo” refers to items on board that haven’t been properly fastened or restrained in place. Unsecured cargo can be a serious safety hazard.

Imagine a cargo flight preparing for takeoff. During pre-flight checks, the crew notices that some items in the cargo hold haven’t been secured according to safety standards. If they took off with unsecured cargo, even normal turbulence could cause items to shift. This can not only damage the aircraft but also throw off the center of gravity, affecting aircraft handling.

Or think of a commercial flight where an overhead bin pops open mid-flight due to heavy, unsecured cargo. Items falling can injure passengers or crew and cause significant disruptions.

The previous tests are based on ICAO Doc 4444 (Chapter 12).

Today we've discussed the types of weapon that can be used by hijackers with one of my students.
And we've recollected the word "firearms".

By the way, what else can be used by hijackers?

"Fail-safe" is a technical term that can refer to a system or mechanism designed to continue functioning in the event of a problem.

E.g.
The landing gear system has a fail-safe design, ensuring it can still deploy even if the primary mechanism fails.

Engineers incorporated fail-safe mechanisms into the hydraulic system to provide backup control in emergencies.

The autopilot system includes a fail-safe mode that automatically disengages in the event of a malfunction.

Happy Saturday!
I have got a number of messages from a friend of mine concerning my previous posts about RTF.
He is doing his EASA ATPL course nowadays. He told me that British pilots tend
1)to use point instead of decimal
2)to say 35 hundred feet

Look) The previous posts were created in accordance with ICAO doc 9432 which regulates STANDARD RTF.
If the natives don't adhere to these rules, good riddance to them! https://aviation-is.better-than.tv/icaodocs/Doc%209432%20-%20Manual%20of%20Radiotelephony/DOC%209432%20-%204%20ed.%202007.pdf

Have you got a minute to spare?)
Read this captivating article.

Find one more minute to write down adjectives which can be used to describe the pilot's action.

https://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news/5565/Pilot-Buys-Pizza-For-150-Passengers-After-Emergency-Landing-Leads-To-7-Hour-Delay

Aircraft materials which are targeted for upgraded fire resistance are thermoset resins for interior decorative panels, secondary composites, and adhesives, thermoplastics for decorative facings, telecommunication equipment, passenger service units, molded seat parts, transparencies, and electrical wiring.

ICAO Doc 9432. Manual of Radiotelephony.

SELCAL exam contains such a question " Why isn't the phrase "ready for takeoff" used nowadays?

This phrase is considered to be ambiguous. If a pilot uses the phrase "ready for take off" when he is at the holding point or before receiving clearance, it could lead to a misunderstanding or premature action, potentially causing dangerous situations.

Instead, pilots must use the phrase "ready for departure" to indicate their readiness.


So, the phrase "ready for take off" is prohibited in aviation radio phraseology to prevent confusion and enhance safety.
The term "take off" should only be used by ATC when giving the final clearance for departure (e.g., "Cleared for take off"). Using it prematurely can lead to miscommunication where a pilot might think they are cleared to depart when they are not.


Reasons for Prohibition:
Clearance Only: The term "take off" should only be used by ATC when giving the final clearance for departure (e.g., "Cleared for take off"). Using it prematurely can lead to miscommunication where a pilot might think they are cleared to depart when they are not.

The examples of the deadliest catastrophes in aviation because of the phrase "Ready for takeoff".

Tenerife Airport Disaster (1977):

The deadliest aviation accident in history involved two Boeing 747s at Tenerife North Airport. The KLM captain mistakenly thought he had take-off clearance after he heard "OK" from ATC, even though he had only received instructions to hold position. He announced "We are now at take off," and started the takeoff roll without proper clearance. This led to a collision with a Pan Am 747 still on the runway, killing 583 people. The misunderstanding around the use of the phrase "take off" contributed to the disaster.

Detroit Metro Airport (1990):

A Northwest Airlines DC-9 had received instructions to taxi and hold short of the runway, but the pilots used the phrase "ready for take off" during communication. Due to a misunderstanding, the plane entered the runway without clearance, leading to a runway incursion. Fortunately, no collision occurred, but this incident highlighted the dangers of using the phrase incorrectly.
Toronto Pearson International (2011):

A small aircraft pilot used the phrase "ready for take off" instead of "ready for departure" while waiting for take-off clearance. ATC misunderstood the request and began communicating with another aircraft, which almost resulted in a runway conflict. The error was caught just in time.

The plane's windscreen is designed to withstand strikes from birds during flight, ensuring the safety of the crew and passengers.

Aviation regulations require that a cockpit windscreen can withstand strikes from hail and debris without cracking.

Modern aircraft windscreens are built from reinforced glass and special materials to withstand strikes, even in extreme weather conditions."