Crew Resource Management (CRM)

[audio:https://aviationenglishblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/15crm.mp3|titles=CRM]TOPIC: Crew Resource Management (CRM)

GOAL: To learn about the importance of CRM and how it’s vital to safety

Level: Easy

Exercise #1: Read about CRM and then proceed to Exercise #2

Crew Resource Management (CRM) training originated from a NASA workshop in 1979 that focused on improving air safety. The NASA research presented at this meeting found that the primary cause of the majority of aviation accidents was human error, and that the main problems were failures of interpersonal communication, leadership, and decision making in the cockpit. Originally, this concept was called Cockpit Resource Management because issues and communication among pilots was the core focus. However, over time, the name was changed to Crew Resource Management after the aviation industry realized that safety lies with everyone that is involved with flight.

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The Romance of Aviation

The romance of aviation

This is an originally produced article and audio by Global Aviation English

Aim

• Practice English skills in an aviation context
• Discuss the idea of the romance of aviation and practice listening skills
• Have fun!

Once, flying was about brave feats and privilege, and it carried an air of glamour and mystique. In the early days of both airplanes and cinema, wealthy aviators dated Hollywood starlets, and Hollywood continues to romanticise flying with films that glamorise the life of pilots, crew and even military aviators. But is the aviator/flight attendant lifestyle as romantic as it looks?

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Depressurization

[audio:https://aviationenglishblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/16depressurization.mp3|titles=Depressurization]Depressurization – The Need, Types and Management

Depressurization is the reduction of air pressure in the cabin of an aircraft. Sudden depressurization can result from a failure in the pressurization system, a structural failure or can be initiated deliberately by a crew member of the aircraft.

Failure of the pressurization system is the most common cause of sudden depressurization. Malfunction of the engine or compressor, structural failures like incomplete or faulty sealing of doors, windows or cabin wall follow.

It is necessary to know why the cabin is pressurized in the first place to appreciate the importance of the task. Aircrafts fly at high altitude to avoid bad weather and turbulence. The air pressure at such high altitudes is extremely low and can make the human body uncomfortable. As the air pressure reduces, the pressure of the blood in the veins tends to rise and cause headaches, ear aches and other issues. It is essential to control the air pressure at such high altitudes to ensure that the human body stays comfortable. During landing the pressure is gradually lowered to match the air pressure outside.

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The story of a flight attendant

The story of a flight attendant

Aim

• Practice English skills in an aviation context
• Test your reading skills (level: easy)
• Have fun!

There’s a certain mystique about flight attendants, isn’t there? Watch heads turn as cabin crew walk by. They’re elegantly uniformed, immaculately turned out, on their way to somewhere far away and seemingly having the time of their lives. You can almost hear everyone wondering, ‘What’s it like for them?’

The average person is usually quite curious about what life is really like for flight attendants, what it feels like to wear that uniform, what really goes on among cabin crew, how many languages the flight attendant can converse in and how glamorous the lifestyle really is.

Click here to receive the REAL definition of a flight attendant!

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Airline Customer Service

[audio:https://aviationenglishblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/19airlinecustsvc.mp3|titles=Airline Customer Service]TOPIC: GRADING AIRLINE SERVICE

LEVEL: EASY

Read the introductory text about the National Airline Quality Rating. Pay attention to the key criteria used to evaluate airline service performance.

The National Airline Quality Rating  – a joint research project shared by Wichita State University and Purdue University – shows that airline performance is steadily improving. The results of the research made public in April 2010 (read article)  were based on several performance criteria: on-time arrivals, involuntary denied boardings, mishandled baggage and a combination of 12 customer complaint categories, such as oversales, refunds, discriminations, handling of pets, etc.

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Aviation Business: Competition

TOPIC: COMPETITION

Read the introductory text about competition in the airline industry.

The aviation industry is a highly competitive market and is a true rollercoaster ride for some airlines. While industry majors are used to competing on a large scale, there are successful low-budget carriers, like JetBlue or Southwest, that trigger a competitive mode even with the big guys.

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In-flight medical problems and emergencies

In-flight medical problems and emergencies

Aim

• Practice English skills in an aviation context
• Become familiar with relevant medical terminology
• Have fun!

“Is there a doctor onboard?!” It’s a familiar scene from movies – Hollywood loves a medical emergency. So does the media. A woman giving birth on a plane, for example, is a great news story – and it happens.

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Green Airlines (Environmentally friendly Airlines)

[audio:https://aviationenglishblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/17greenairlines.mp3|titles=Green Airlines (Environmentally Friendly Airlines)]TOPIC: “GREEN” ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AIRLINES

Type of lesson: Reading Comprehension

Level: Easy

I. Read the small paragraph about aviation industry giants operating in environmentally responsible ways and pick out words in bold that have the same meaning as the following:

1. a. forward-thinking
2. b. recycling policies
3. c. sustainable aircraft
4. d. environmentally conscious
5. e. emissions trading
6. f. a global economic downturn
7. g. zero-emission
8. h. recycling program

It seems as though the recent bad economics of the airline business and the 1.global economic recession have contributed to more 2.environmentally responsible behavior and have caused some industry associations, airports and major airlines to be more 3.progressive and concerned about going green both, in the air and on the ground.

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Meteorology

TOPIC: Meteorology

GOAL: To learn about aviation meteorology and its role in aviation safety

Exercise #1: Read about aviation meteorology and then proceed to Exercise #2

Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and short term forecasting (in contrast with climatology). Aviation meteorology (MET) deals with the impact of weather on Air Traffic Management (ATM). It is important for air crews to understand the implications of weather on their flight plan as well as their aircraft.

Weather conditions concern all aspects of ATM operations, for example, by variations in head and tail-wind components, through changes in pressure and temperature values at airports, and in imposing low visibility operating conditions. Adverse meteorological conditions have the greatest impact on the ATM system creating disruption and the consequent problems of disturbed flow rates, lost capacity and induced additional costs

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Stress Management for Flight Attendants

Stress management for flight attendants

Aim

• Practice English skills in an aviation context
• Improve vocabulary while learning stress management tips (difficult)
• Have fun!

By now everyone has heard or read about the flight attendant who made his own emergency exit upon landing, when a bad day at work became too much.

Link to article Raging flight attendant makes his own emergency exit

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