Part 3: Listening comprehension

My courses Downwind Unit 4 – Aircraft Part 3: Listening comprehension

Part 3: Listening comprehension

Listening Practice 1

Audio file

Listen to these pilots talking about their favourite aircraft

Pilot A:

Pilot B:

Pilot C:

Pilot D:

Now match the statements below with the correct pilot (A, B, C or D). If the statement doesn’t match any of the pilots, put “none”

  1. My favourite aircraft is the 747 ER version.
  2. I don’t have a favourite aircraft.
  3. I’m looking forward to starting simulator training for the B777-9.
  4. I’ve been flying 747s for 10 years.
  5. The plane I like best is the Piaggio P118 Avanti 2.
  6. I prefer flying helicopters.
  7. I have flown aerobatic stunt planes.
  8. On long haul flights my favourite plane weighs 400 tonnes. This makes it very stable and the controls lighter and easier to use.
  9. My favourite aeroplane has luxury interiors.
  10. I have never flown a float plane.
  11. My favourite aeroplane is a turboprop.
  12. My favourite aircraft is technically very pilot friendly.
  13. At the moment, there are none of my favourite aircraft in the UK.
  14. My career is also my hobby.
  15. May favourite plane is not good in turbulence.
  16. I have flown many different types of aircraft.

Transcript

Pilot A
The Piaggio P180 Avanti II. It has all the interior luxuries of a jet but is far cheaper to run and requires less distance for take-off and landing. There aren’t any in the UK at the moment, but I think we’ll start to see more of these as the years progress.

Pilot B
the B777. I’ve been flying it exclusively for the last 12 years, so it’s become like an old friend and after flying it for so long, you become so comfortable with it and with what it can do. I’m also excited for the B777-9 which has folding wing-tips and Heads-up-display (HUD); the first simulator comes on line this month.

Pilot C
any aircraft. Flying is my passion and I consider myself very fortunate that my career is also my hobby and that every day I get to do what I love. During the course of my career I have flown everything from passenger jets to ski planes, float planes, helicopters and aerobatic stunt planes – I love them all.

Pilot D
The 747 ER version when it is heavy, at close to 400 tonnes on the long-haul routes. The controls are actually lighter and easier to use and very stable, and it rides through turbulence with comfort. It is also technically a very pilot-friendly aircraft.

Listening Practice 2

Before listening

Make sure you are familiar with the following terms:

  • range
  • maximum take-off weight (MTOW)
  • cruise speed
  • wing span
  • cabin height
  • payload

Audio file

Listen to these pilots talking about their favourite aircraft

Aircraft type

Piaggio P-180

–

Bombardier Challenger 300

Maximum range

1364nm

14685km

–

Maximum take-off weight

–

299,370kg

–

Normal cruise speed

346kts

–

–

Wing span

46ft1in

–

–

Cabin height

–

Not given

–

Maximum payload

–

–

1,588kg

Number of passengers

–

–

–

Transcript

Aircraft type

Piaggio P-180

Boeing 777-300

Bombardier Challenger 300

Maximum range

1364nm

14685km

5,741km

Maximum take-off weight

12100lb

299,370kg

17,622kg

Normal cruise speed

346kts

892km/h

Mach 0.8

Wing span

46ft1in

64.8m

19.46m

Cabin height

5ft8in

Not given

Not given

Maximum payload

1300lb

24,500kg

1,588kg

Number of passengers

6

Up to 299

8-9

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