What are the consequences of the communication problems in air traffic control systems

Unit 6 Air traffic control system

Because they were few, underpowered, and only slightly engaged in commerce, airplanes before 1914 needed no communications between themselves or with ground-based stations. As World War I progressed, airships and specially equipped airplanes carried Morse code radio equipment for military purposes. It was not until the 1930’s, however, that civil aviation communications radio became a truly useful appliance. Fledgling airlines in the United States began to install radios aboard their airplanes and at their dispatch hubs to monitor each airliner’s progress.

This practice brought about the earliest, most rudimentary form of what has become the air traffic control (ATC) system. Early pilots considered radios an unwelcome intrusion in the cockpit, and some pilots refused to use them. Despite these protests, aviation communications provided undeniable benefits to safe and efficient operation, so the system expanded. Following World War II, aviation radios had become widespread in all but the smallest airplanes, as airspace around major cities became congested.

By the 1960’s, radios were familiar even in small airplanes. By the 1970’s, air travel had become sufficiently pervasive that medium-sized and smaller cities attracted enough air traffic to make communications important to safety. The number of control towers rose accordingly, and radio communication frequencies soon became congested.

Few pilots could realistically consider their airplanes as operating apart from the air traffic system, but standardization of communications procedures and phraseology lagged behind hardware technology. Air traffic control (ATC) uses technology and trained staff to assure safe movement of aircraft in airspace and at airports. ATC continually monitors every instrument flight rules (IFR) flight from takeoff to landing, as well as visual flight rules (VFR) flights upon pilot request and controller availability, enabling reliable, efficient transportation of people and goods by airlines.

Air transportation is essential to modern life, and it requires that passengers feel safe during air travel. The features of aviation that distinguish it from other transportation forms are its high speed and vertical operation.

The potential for severe injury or death to aircraft passengers has led to air traffic control (ATC) systems that have evolved from early traffic control with signal flags in the 1920’s to the sophisticated systems using advanced technology and specially trained staff of the twenty-first century. Current ATC assures the safe movement of virtually all aircraft operating in airspace and at airports. Its objectives include giving pilots all the data and control services needed to maximize safe, efficient aircraft operation; maximizing safe air traffic at airports; and minimizing unavoidable flight arrival and departure delays. It is ATC, a product of the National Airspace System, that makes air transportation the safest means of mass transportation in the United States.

Commercial airplanes generally travel airways, which are analogous to roads, although they are not physical structures. Airways have fixed widths and defined altitudes, which separate traffic moving in opposite directions.

Vertical separation of aircraft allows some flights to pass over airports while other processes occur below. Air travel usually covers long distances, with short periods of intense pilot activity at takeoff and landing and long periods of lower pilot activity while in the air, the portion of the flight known colloquially as the “long haul”. During the long-haul portion of a flight, pilots spend more time assessing aircraft status than searching out nearby planes. This is because collisions between aircraft usually occur in the vicinity of airports, while crashes due to aircraft malfunction tend to occur during long-haul flight.

All pilots wishing to utilize IFR must demonstrate their ability through detailed testing, and all aircraft must have adequate flight instruments. For each flight, a detailed flight plan must be filed with the Flight Service Station, part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); flight clearance must be received from Clearance Delivery or Ground Control (or from Approach Control if the pilot files while in the air); and ATC directions must be followed throughout the flight.

Exercises

1. Answer the following questions. Begin your answers with such introductory phrases as: as far as I know; as far as I remember; to my mind; certainly; it’s hard to tell; probably; of course; if I am not mistaken etc.

1) What purposes was Morse code radio equipment used for in time of World War I?

2) Why had aviation radios become widespread in all but the smallest airplanes?

3) What are the advantages of aviation radio appliances?

4) What are the features that distinguish aviation from other transportation forms?

5) What is meant by «long haul«?

6) Why do pilots spend more time assessing aircraft status than searching out nearby planes during the long-haul portion of a flight?

7) Where must flight clearance be received?

2. You should check the pronunciation of key words. Transcribe the words: appliance; equipment; fledgling; reliable; distinguish; feature(s); clearance

4. Find in the texts the English equivalents for the following expressions:

(1) приобрести широкое распространение (2) несмотря на, (3) для военных целей, (4) при взлёте и посадке, (5) дальние перевозки, (6) разрешение на полёт, (7) в противоположном направлении, (8) поблизости от, (9) надёжный, (10) Правила полёта по приборам, (11) авиадиспетчерская служба, (12) иметь важнейшее значение, (13) Федеральное управление гражданской авиации (США), (14) наземный центр управления

5. Match the words from the texts (1-10) with the definitions (A-J):

6. Complete the text with the words from the box

Air transportation is essential to modern life, and it requires that passengers feel safe during air travel. The features of aviation that … it from other transportation forms are its high speed and vertical operation.

7. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Во время первой мировой войны кабины самолётов были оснащены радиоаппаратурой, использовавшей азбуку Морзе для военных целей. 2. Несмотря на протесты первых пилотов, считавших радиоаппаратуру нежелательным инородным элементом в кабине пилота, эти устройства приобрели широкое распространение. 3. Авиаперевозки имеют важнейшее значение в современной жизни, а авиадиспетчерская служба использует технологии и подготовленный персонал для обеспечения безопасности в воздушном пространстве и аэропортах. 4. Авиадиспетчерская служба постоянно контролирует каждое правило инструментального полёта с момента взлёта до посадки, а также правила визуального полёта, что способствует безопасной транспортировке пассажиров и грузов. 5. Во время длительных полётов пилоты тратят больше времени на оценку состояния самолёта, чем на обнаружение находящихся поблизости самолётов, потому что столкновения между самолётами обычно происходят вблизи аэропортов, в то время как аварии, связанные с техническими неисправностями чаще случаются во время длительных полётов. 6. Каждый полёт должен быть согласован с Федеральным управлением гражданской авиации, разрешение на полёт выдаётся наземным центром управления или управлением заходом на посадку (если пилот находится в полёте).

8. FAA’s new air traffic system hits turbulence

а) The Federal Aviation Administration’s program is aimed at to replace the current air traffic control system with a system based on satellite technology.

The software program is the main tool air traffic controllers will use to identify and track aircraft, except when planes are immediately approaching and departing airports. The software program is expected to increase the number of planes controllers can handle by nearly two-thirds. That system is used by controllers to track planes as they approach and depart airports October 05, 2011 Air News Times

b) Look at some of program’s problems that have been made public and discuss them in pairs. Make notes of the potential problems andthe advantages of the modifications. In pairs, discuss the main precautions you think should be taken by software program’s developers with regard to the existing hazards. Mind the use of highlighted language in the text:

The FAA’s program is being held back by software problems that have delayed full deployment of a critical flight tracking system. The agency also hasn’t set deadlines for when key aspects of the new air traffic control system will be in place. Nor has FAA made clear to airlines and other air traffic system users exactly what benefits they can expect and when they’ll be achieved.As a result, airlines and others are being discouraged from spending money on cockpit equipment necessary to take advantage of the new air traffic system. Many of the new system’s benefits hinge on airlines equipping their planes with expensive new equipment to communicate with air traffic controllers and broadcast their location to other planes and controllers. The program’s persistent problems, including glitches that incorrectly identify planes and interfere with the ability of controllers to pass along responsibility for tracking a plane from one control center to another, have raised concerns about the overall design of the system.

c) Read the e-mail on the strategies for preventing and dealing with technical problems in aviation and discuss them. Mind the use of highlighted language in the text:

The FAA has focused much of its initial NextGen efforts on improving the flow of air traffic at congested airports in 21 major metropolitan areas. The agency’s NextGen modernization program will be as revolutionary for civil aviation as was the advent of radar six decades ago. It’s actually a collection of new programs aimed at moving planes faster and more efficiently that will markedly change almost every major aspect of today’s air traffic system. Those changes are considered critical to enabling the system to absorb substantial predicted increases in air traffic without becoming paralyzed by congestion.

However, the agency has been slow in developing the flight procedures that will allow airlines to save fuel and time by flying shorter, more direct routes. The FAA did a study that identified ways to streamline the process for deploying new procedures, but agency officials estimate it would take five years just to put the streamlining initiatives in place.

d) Student A is a safety officer. Student B is an engineering manager. In pairs, discuss suitable safety precautions and engineering works that should be carried out by software program’s developers. Swap roles and practices again. Use the words and expressions in the box.

LISTENING

A. Complete this talk by a communication expert with the verbs from the box.

listen digress interrupt explain engage clarify confuse ramble

“Good communicators really listen to people and take in what is said. They maintain eye contact and have a relaxed body language, but they seldom __________ l and stop people talking. If they don’t understand and want to ___________ 2 something they wait for a suitable opportunity.

When speaking, effective communicators are good at giving information. They do not _______ 3

their listener. They make their points clearly. They will avoid technical terms, abbreviations or jargon. If they do need to use unfamiliar terminology they ____________ 4 by giving an easy to understand example. Furthermore, although they may ____________ 5 and leave the main point to give additional information and details where appropriate, they will not ____________ 6 and lose sight of their main message. Really effective communicators who have the ability to ___________ 7

with colleagues, employees, customers and suppliers are a valuable asset for any business.”

² 1.1 Listen to the talk and check your answers.

B. Improving communications

² 1.2 Listen to the first part of an interview with Anuj Khanna, Marketing Manager of Netsize, a marketing agency for mobile media, and answer the questions.

1. According to Anuj Khanna:

a) why have communications improved in recent years?

b) how can they improve in the future?

2. What example does he give of banks improving communications with customers?

² l.3 Listen to the second part of the interview.

1. What are the consequences of the following communication breakdowns?

a) problems in air traffic control systems

b) delays in fixing communication systems

c) faults in cash machines

2. Which of the following developments in communication does Anuj Khanna expect to see in the future?

a) more privacy for customers

b) more freedom for companies to communicate with customers

c) more control by customers over the messages they receive

d) more communication between machines

C. How do you think business communication will change in the future?

Air Lines: Aviation Safety and Clear Communication

Clear communication and understanding are crucial in aviation. Air safety relies heavily on effective communication between pilots and air traffic controllers. Researchers of the School of Philological Studies and the Laboratory for Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Projects (HSE University) have prepared a report analyzing this type of communication and the barriers that can prevent pilots and controllers from understanding each other. They conducted their research as part of an HSE Big Project called ‘ Language Practices’ led by Professor Mira Bergelson.

Lingua Franca

Aviation English is the common language of pilots and air traffic controllers. It was established by the ICAO ( International Civil Aviation Organization ), a UN organization responsible for ensuring the safety of international flights. Everything in Aviation English is standardized, from vocabulary and phraseology (Standard Phraseology should be used) to phonetics. Air traffic personnel have to adhere to specific pronunciations of figures when speaking on the radio, which may be different from Received Pronunciation (a standard form of British English pronunciation). Figures are used to talk about flight and runway numbers, among other things.

Aviation English, Standard Phraseology, and clear and unambiguous messages are all vital to effective pilot-controller communication. All pilots of international flights and controllers at international airports must have at least Level-4 proficiency in Aviation English in accordance with the ICAO 2008 six-level scale. Level 4 is Operational, Level 5 is Extended, and Level 6 is Expert. Level 4 is a requirement for pilots hired to operate international flights. Moreover, pilots are required to prove their English language competence every three years by completing an international test.

The Value of Correct Speech

However, few people can speak perfectly over the radio. Pilots and controllers who are not native English speakers vary in their speaking skills and accents. Even native speakers may occasionally fail to comply with language norms, which can result in mid-flight communication failures: misunderstandings or erroneous interpretations of the other speaker’s words. This, in turn, causes mistakes which can lead to a disaster.

In March 1977, two passenger jets, a KLM flight and a Pan Am flight, collided on the runway at Los Rodeos Airport (Tenerife, Canary Islands). The disaster resulted in 583 fatalities. The fundamental cause of the accident is believed to be a misinterpretation of ATC instructions, leading to pilot error.

In another, fortunately non-lethal incident, a Polish Boeing 737 was heading from Heathrow Airport to Warsaw in 2008. The plane spent almost half an hour circling above the airport because the Polish crew couldn’t understand the controller’s directions due to the pilots’ poor English. Heathrow Airport is typically overcrowded, and such maneuvers could have led to disaster.

In reality, there are many factors that hinder radio communications between pilots and air traffic controllers: from radio interference noise and unintelligibly fast speech to linguistic factors like local accents, pronunciation mistakes (wrong sounds, stresses, intonations), incorrect phrasing, syntax, the use of slang, etc.

There can be all kinds of reasons for these problems. Some plane crews lack listening and speaking skills. Others are not very good at Standard Phraseology. Sometimes, Standard Phraseology is simply not enough because the situation itself is non-standard. But how can a pilot paint an accurate picture while talking on the radio? It becomes necessary to find a workaround, using synonyms or descriptive phases, which may have a critical influence on the situation as it can take much time to do so.

Aerial Brawls

English language skills in Russian aviation also leave much to be desired. There have been incidents where the pilots of international flights have switched to speaking Russian (or a mixture of Russian and English) as they couldn’t reply in proper English or wanted to speed things up. In other cases, controllers and pilots communicated too emotionally (which is also against the rules) and in too many words. The authors of the report detailed below provided an example of quite an expressive dialogue between the pilot of a flight to Bangkok and a Sheremetyevo-based controller.

Air traffic controller: ‘Aeroflot 273, if able, turn right to UBIBA, cleared ILS [Instrument Landing System] two four left [runway].

Пилот: Cleared ILS two four left ‘Aeroflot 273’ [pilots are supposed to repeat the instructions].

Air traffic controller: Turn right to UBIBA, ‘Aeroflot 273’.

Pilot: [switches to Russian] Ahem… a bit later ‘Aeroflot 273’.

Air traffic controller: [switches to Russian] What happened?

Pilot: [in Russian] Very small distance to Air France. They tend to … slow down and we wouldn’t want to circle after a ten-hour flight.

Air traffic controller: [in Russian] I feel for you. But what if everyone decided to direct the air traffic with their thoughts? Turn away, slow down and everything will be fine.

The dialogue was followed by another instance of communication from the same controller. The pilot of another flight was also hesitant about the controller’s instructions, who replied with irritation. ‘Are you telling me who and what directions to head for?’ he asked. The pilot, also unable to help himself, said, ‘You use too many words.’

This shows that communication failures do happen in the sky. These failures are the focus of studies by researchers from HSE University and other educational institutions, including Denis Zubalov, Head of the Language in Aviation project and Assistant Professor of the School of Philological Studies, Anna Akopova, Assistant Professor of Moscow State Technical University of Civil Aviation, and Research Assistants of the Laboratory for Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Projects Arina Andrievskaya, Madina Kade, and Elizaveta Kriukova.