Standart phraseology and plain language

2a 1.01 Listen to ten ATC (Air Traffic Control) and pilot transmission. Are they in standart
phraseology or plain language ?
Pilot Request taxi for departure to Montreal.
Standart phraseology
ATCO What is the condition of your injuried passenger
Plain language
b 1.01 Listen again and decide which transmission it is possible to respond to in standart
phraseology. If it is not possible, explain why.
c 1.01 Listen again and respon appropriately to each transmission.
Pilot Request taxi for departure to Montreal.
A (ATCO) Taxi to holding point bravo 3 runway 27 Right via Delta. Hold short of
Runway 27 Right
ATCO What is the condition of your injured passenger ?
A (Pilot) He appears tobe concussed and have severe bruising. The cabin crew
are administering first aid, but he requires urgent medical attention.

Misunderstanding
3a Look at the six different ways in which misunderstanding can occur. For each one, give
an example
 Vocabulary confusion  Incorrect or imprecise English
 A readback error  A garbled message
 Non-standart phraseology  Incorret

b 1.02 Listen to six transmission. Match the transmission (1-6) to the reasons (a-f) why
each one has been, or could be, misunderstood.
a. Vocabulary confusion d. Incorrect or imprecise use of
b. A readback error 1 grammar
c. Non-standart phraseology e. A garbled message
f. Incorrect pronunciation
c 1.02 Listen again and respond to each R/T exchange, removing the misunderstanding.
ATCO Delta 357, descend to altitude 9000 feet, QNH 1017
Pilot Descend to altitude 5000 feet, Delta 357
A(ATCO) Delta 357, negative: descend to altitude niner thousand feet. I say again,
Altitude niner thousand feet
d In pairs, describe a situation from your operational experience in which language was an
obstacle in communicating effectively. Explain why.
e How can cases of misundering like these affect safety ?
 Language confusion
4a In pairs, identify the word which is
incorrect in the sentences below. Then
ICAO FOCUS
propose a more appropriate word and
explain the difference in meaning between “Sometimes I won’t catch the numbers in a
the two words. frequency change, the name of a fix or off-route
1 The cabin crew have reported an unruly waypoints because they might be pronounced
passenger in the after cabin. differently.”

2 The smoke fumes being sucked into the Quoted in United States Airlini Transport Pilot
air conditioning system could phose a international Flight Langyage Experiences –
threat to the passengers’ security. Report 2: word meaning and pronunciation
3 We have an elderly passenger who was (National Technical Information Service)
suffered a stroke. Request information Which aspects of language have you found
about the nearest alternative? create the most obstacles to a complete
4 All strangers will have to fill in understanding ?
immigration cards.
5 We have three passangers suffering from severe concussion and bruises, and will
request an ambulance when we reach the stand.
6 The Antonov 124 made a hardly landing and may have some damage to the gear and
tyres.
7 Number 2 engine ingested some birds during climb-out. Engine performance seems
OK, but we are controlling the indications.
8 I’m waiting for some vegetarian meat trays to be delivered by catering; then we’ll be
ready to depart.
b 1.03 Listen to ten transmission. Each transmission contains a word which is pronounced
incorrectly. Cross out the word you hear, and circle the word which is intended.
1 quite / quiet 2 loose / lose 3 services / surfaces 4 wheel / well 5 array / area
6 feet / feed 7 ridge / rich 8 ice / eyes 9 watching / washing 10 heat / hit
c 1.04 Listen to ten sentences and choose the correct ending for the words (1-10). Choose
(-) if the word has no added ending.
1 lift s / ed / ing / - 6 clear s / ed / ing / ly / -
2 disconnect s / ed / ing / - 7 slow s / ed / ing / ly / -
3 servives s / ed / ing / - 8 check s / ed / ing / -
4 clear s / ed / ing / - 9 disconnect s / ed / ing / -
5 turn s / ed / ing / - 10 reduce s / ed / ing / -
d 1.04 Listen again and practice saying the sentences.
 Readback
5a 1.05 Listen to eight ATCO instruction,
clearances and approvals. For each
ICAO FOKUS
transmission, read back or respond
appropriately. Pay attention to “Lack of a readback or an incorrect
pronunciation, clarity and delivery. readback, not challenged by the air traffic
ATCO Descend to Flight Level 130. controller, resulted in confusion events
and runway incursions.”
A (Pilot) Descending to Flight Level
130.* Michel Tremaud, Erasing Confusion in
*NOTE Some States have preffered to omid Flight Safety Foundation AeroSafety World,
to in such clearances to avoid confusion with May 2010
two and too but ICAO has not supported this  In what ways does good readback
decision. discipline reinforce aviation safety
b Pilots  p147 ATCOs  p157 Take turns and avoid confusion?
to give instructions and information or make  In your experience, do pilots and
request. Request clarification if necessary. controllers always monitor
ATCO Air France 475, report ready for readback?
pushback
Pilot Ready for pushback, Air France 475
Pilot Malaysian 261, request ILS approach Runway 31 left
ATCO Malaysian 261, cleared ILS approach Runway 31 left
Communication errors: Omitted or incorrect call sign
6 1.06 Listen to eight controller-pilot
communications in which there is either no ICAO FOKUS
readback or incorrect readback. For each “Omitting the call sign jeopardises an
communication, give a correct readback. effective readback/hearback.”
ATCO Aeroflot 238, cleared to land
Flight Safety Foundation ALAR Briefing
Runway 26 Right, wind 220 degress, Note2.3: Pilot-Controller
six knots. Communication
A (Pilot) Cleared Runway 26 Right, six knots,  What outcomes could an
Aeroflot 238. omitted or incorrect call sign
ATCO Gulfair 4752, turn left heading 290, have ? Give exaxmples.
intercept ILS 26 Left.  What is the difference between
Pilot Turn Left heading 250, intercept ILS readback and hearback?
26 Left, Gulfair 4752.
A (ATCO) Gulfair 4752, negative. Turn left heading 290, I say again 290, intercept ILS 26
Left.
 Communication situations
7a 1.07 Listen to the eight transmission and match them to the pictures (a-h).
b 1.07 Listen again and identify the type of transmission. Mark each transmission
instruction, Request or Information.
1 5
2 6
3 7
4 8
c Look at the transmission (1-6) below. Are they In standart phraseology or plain language
1 Request departure information
2 Expect start-up time at 19:38 due traffic
3 Which is the latest ATIS Information ?
4 Maintain 3,000 feet until glide path interception
5 Taxiing to holding point runway 17 left
6 What sort of assistance do you require on arrival ?
d 1.08 Work in pairs. Listen to 12 transmissions and match them to the ask types (a-f) below.
Some of the transmissions are in standard phraseology, some in plain language.
a giving, amending and cancelling instructions
b acknowledging and reading back
c asking for clarification or more precise information
d giving information
e requesting action/permission
f asking about needs, preferences, readiness, reasons and feasibility
8 In pairs, prepare transmission between a controller and a pilot using six task types in
exercise 7d. Then perform them for the class.
 Requesting clarification and making requests
9a In pairs, clarify these ambiguous ICAO FOKUS
statements in plain English.
“Sometimes the phraseology “Say Again”
1 We’re having trouble stabilizing.
should be understood as a request for
2 It’s very bumpy up here. clarification rather than repetition.”
3 We’re showing a drop in hydraulic
ICAO Doc. 9835 Manual on the implementation
pressure.
of ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements,
4 We’re having a smooth ride. 4.5.3c 2nd edition, 2010
5 There’s nothing in sight.
 What is the difference between
6 We’ve got three greens. repetition and clarification ?
7 Give way to the triple seven.  What else, apart from the words used,
8 Perform a 360. do you listen for in a transmission ?
Pilot We are still held up at our
9 I’ll get back to you.
stand
10 Is that clear ? ATCO Say again
b compare your suggestions with the Pilot We have a mechanical problem
rest of the class. and are unable to push back
10a listen to 10 Communications explain for the moment.
why each one could be misunderstood  Suggest plain English phrases you can
use to clarify a statement.
Language Focus asking questions
Do/Does Do you have any indication of weather ?
Does the radar are show any adverse weather ?
Are/Is Are you ready ?
is the cabin secure ?
Have/Has have you got any dangerous goods ?
Has Runway 24R Been re-opened ?
Say Say heading
Confirm confirm position offer MSA
Report report airborne
What ? what is the problem ? what do you mean ?
What sort/type? what sort of TCAS advisory did you have ?
Which ? which Runway is in use
Who ? who issued the clearance
Whose ? Whose call sign is ‘speedbird’ ?
Why ? Why id you discontinue the approach ? report passengers on
board
When ? When do you expect to reach CAM? / Report ETO CAM
How much ? How much fuel have you got? / Report endurance
How many ? How many passengers are (there) on board ? / report
passengers on board
How far ? How far are you from the Threshold ? / report distance from
threshold
How long ? How long do you require to turn around ? (time)
How long is the runway ? (distance) / advise runway length
How often ? How often have you had that advisory ?
 NOTE: In R/T, Report, advise, say will usually be used instead of plain English questions.
Plain English may be used in situations requiring longer explanations.
b 1.09 Turn again and ask questions to clarify the original message using words and
phrases from the language Focus box.
c Pilots  p147 ATCOs  p157 Take turns to ask and answer questions.
ATCO cue Pilot cue
Passangers on board 238
ATCO How many passangers aare there / do you have on board ?
Pilot There are / we have 238 passangers on board.
LANGUAGE FOCUS: Making requests
Request higher level May I amend our flight plan ?
Say again Would you confirm our ETD ?
Can we expedite our departure ? Have an ambulance standing by.
Will you hold ? Could you stand by ten minutes ?
11a Which of the requests in the language Focus box are in standard phraseology ? when
would you say the others ?
b 1.10 Listen to ten situations and make an appropriate request solve the problem.
Situation On approach, after an in-flight turnback, you are just over your maximum
landing weight.
A (Pilot) We need the longer runway. Request emergency services standing by.
Request instructions to dump three tonnes of fuel.
Abbreviations
12a Complete the table. Match the abbreviations and acronyms to the explanations (1-12).
AIRPROX TCAS ATIS RVR EGPWS ETOPS
IAF ILS in.Hg LDA MSA RVSM

1 The combination of 5 The rules by which the 9 ICAO provision

localizer and glideslope vertical separation permitting twin-engine
between aircraft can be aircraft to fly more than
reduced 60 minutes from a
diversion airfield
2 Distance over which 6 The situation in which 10 The altitude below
runway markings and two aircraft come which aircraft must not
lights are visible dangerously close descend in the terminal
area

3 The length of runway 7 The poin at which the 11 The automated system
which can actually be first segment of an to provide updated
used during touchdown instrument approach aerodrome and
and landing begins meteorogical
information
4 Airborne system 8 Aircraft system designed 12 The unit of
designed to avoid to warn crew of aircraft measurement used for
aircraft collisions approaching terrain barometric settings in
north america
b 1.11 Listen to these abbreviations and identify the order in which you hear them.
AAL ACC ACARS ASI EFIS
ETA IAS INS IRS OAT

c Identify the abbreviations in exercise 12b

d 1.11 Listen again and repeat the abbreviations
e What abbreviations can you see on this chart ? Say what they mean

13 Look at the words (a-l) below, which you may encounter in an operational environment.
Match them to the definitions (1-12)
1 period of team work a holding point
2 discontinuing an approach and performing a circuit for a new
b flare
approach
3 heading issued to an aircraft for the purpose of providing c go around
navigational guidance d orbit
4 trajectory followed by the crew at a given gradient (typically 3o)
e drizzle
during approach
5 rotating the nose of the aircraft to cause touchdown f flame-out
6 narrow piece of paper or cardboard, or electronic equivalent, g vector
containing information about a flight for the ATCO
h shift
7 assigned departure time frame
8 fine rain i paving

9 place where aircraft stop before lining up on the runway j strip

10 parts of the apron, taxiways and runways which are in concrete or k glide path
bitumen
l slot
11 loss of engine combustion
12 form of delaying action by performing a 360o turn