Aviation technology

1. To what extent has computerization influenced the aviation? Express your idea in 4-5 sentences.

2. Listen to a discussion between an airline employee and a pilot (CD1, T15, Aviation English….), and answer the questions.

· Why does Jean want Mehmet’s opinion about two planes?

· What two aircraft are they talking about?

· What technology do both aircraft use?

· How does a pilot maneuver a fly-by-wire aircraft?

· Which plane does Mehmet think is safer? Why?

3. Read the text and compare different aircraft generations.

FLY-BY-WIRE

The Airbus A320, first airliner with digital fly-by-wire control

The speed of technological development was fully reflected in the aviation world. One of the most interesting changes is the development of automated systems.

For the earliest aircraft, flight control systems were solely mechanical (using rods, cables and pulleys). The pilot in the cockpit made use of a control stick and pedals to carry out roll, pitch and yaw. As aircraft got bigger, systems became hydraulic (using pumps, pipes, valves and actuators). As aircraft continued to grow in size and with the development of large passenger jets, the requirement to keep weight down led to the development of fly-by-wire systems. Fly-by-wire means that the aircraft is controlled by an electrical system. Nowadays fly-by-wire systems are digital and large aircraft are controlled by a computerized command system. The world’s first digital fly-by-wire aircraft was Airbus A320. Boeing was also developing digital fly-by-wire systems.

Large aircraft usually have at least four parallel computerized control systems to deal with situations where one or even two computers might be down.

4. Why do you think the fly-by-wire systems have developed? Can you think of any advantages/disadvantages of the new improvements in flight control systems? Using your knowledge and the information below discuss in pairs the fly-by-wire systems.

The Airbus A380fly-by-wirecontrolsystem.   New sophisticated flight control systems have developed to increase safety. On the one hand, computer doesn’t allow pilots to do anything

dangerous. So, a built-in protection can prevent an accident and make an aircraft safer. For example, there are protections to prevent overspeed or stall. The improvements in flight control have led to considerable reductions in the workload of pilots during cruise phase of flight. On the other hand, when the system is fully automated, it reduces the pilot’s capability, e.g. to miss another aircraft or the ground.

5.Look at the picture of the DatalinkControl and Display Unit. Tell the group what you know about Datalink communication system. 6. Work in pairs. Before you read the text Datalink, note down advantages and disadvantages of using messages rather than voice communication.

The Datalink Control and Display Unit on an Airbus A330, the pilot interface for sending and receiving messages.

7. Read the text. Then tell the group whether any of your ideas are mentioned there.

DATALINK

There is a new technology in radio communication called Datalink. A digital Datalink communication system is used for transmission of short, relatively simple text messages between aircraft (pilots) and ground stations (controllers) via radio or satellite instead of voice communication. These communications may include clearances, requests, reports, or any related ATS (air traffic service) information. For example, in many parts of the world, meteorological updates are now sent this way.

There are generally recognized advantages for both safety and efficiency. Clear text messages reduce communication errors, so there is no need to constantly check, confirm and clarify the information. It also reduces frequency congestion and makes communication fast and safe. The messages are delivered with higher reliability than voice transmission.

On the other hand, Datalink has its disadvantages. Pilots and controllers may use different words and abbreviations to write messages (especially when they do not speak the same language), and it may lead to misunderstanding. What is more, writing and reading text messages increase the crew’s workload, and in an emergency situation they don’t have time to read and write them. Finally, when both text and voice messages are used the crew’s attention is divided and it is easy to miss a call.

8. Work in pairs. Discuss the question. Would you like to use Datalink in your job? Why (not)? Think of your own idea of the perfect technology to solve the problems of pilot-ATC communication and describe it to the group.

9. Look at the picture. What type of cockpit is this? Prove your answer.

10. Look at cockpits A and B. Which one is a glass cockpit?What is the difference between the glass cockpit and a traditional one? Which one is newer / more advantageous? Read the text and answer these questions.

A

B

Дата добавления: 2015-10-24