Aviation Intermediate Conversation Lesson: Airlines – Flight Operations
Before your trial lesson, listen to the audio recording whilst reading the text. Additionally, study the 5 questions to gain an understanding of the topics and themes that will be covered during your online trial conversation lesson.
The flight operations department, often referred to as ‘flight ops’, is essentially the nerve centre of the airline. In short, its main responsibility is to manage aircraft and flight crews, composed of pilots and cabin crew members. Furthermore, it is responsible for support personnel such as crew control planners, dispatchers and meteorologists.
Another function of flight ops is to ensure that aircraft and flight crews are in the right place at the right time to operate flights. The department also ensures that aircraft have been well maintained according to the maker’s maintenance schedules so that the aircraft are fully serviceable and safe to operate.
Flight ops also has an important responsibility to ensure that pilots are current, or up to date, with their government-issued Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) in Europe, or Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) in the USA. One major requirement is that all pilots must undergo refresher training every six months in a ‘ground simulator’ where, in a lifelike flying environment, they practise many emergencies such as how to handle engine failure during take-off and landing.
With regard to cabin crew members, every twelve months they are required to take and pass an exam on ‘Safety and Emergency Procedures’ (SEP) for each type of aircraft on which they operate. If pilots or cabin crew fail their various exams, they are allowed to retake them but if they fail again, their licences are suspended and they are unable to work in the airline as flight crew. Safety is paramount in the airline industry both from the viewpoint of governments and companies, and of course the passengers too!
5 Key topics for discussion in the conversation lesson
1. Summarise the main responsibilities of the ‘flight ops’ department and your initial reaction to the article.
2. Detail the legal requirements for flight crews.
3. Explain what ‘ground simulators’ are and their importance in aviation.
4. Describe ‘flight ops’ training responsibilities for cabin crew members.
5. Suggest why safety might be the most important aspect of flight operations.
https://www.iberiaexpress.com/
