Conversation

Is ETA an abbreviation for estimated time of arrival? Is ETA the exact time of arrival? What is ETA? Who wants/needs to know the ETA of a flight? Why would you want to know the ETA of a flight? When a plane has a full load (1) is it heavy? Can a plane with a full load travel fast? Does a plane arrive early with a full load? What can make a full load on an aeroplane? Do all planes have a full load? How does an airline know the plane has a full load?

Do planes measure their speed in knots? (2) Is a plane travelling at 500 knots going fast? What type of plane travels at 500 knots a 747 or a Cessna? If a barometer measures the atmospheric pressure, is it useful in aviation? Does a meteorologist use a barometer? Does a mechanic use a barometer? Who uses a barometer? What does a barometer measure?

The difference between the temperature and the dew point (3) is called the spread. (4) Could a narrow spread between the temperature and the dew point bring fog? Poor visibility? Does a pilot need to know the spread between the temperature and the dew point? The meteorologist? The navigator? Who needs to know the spread between the temperature and the dew point?

Do controllers sometimes have a hectic (5) time with the traffic? Do they always have a hectic time? When do they have a hectic time?

A controller vectors (6) a pilot when he says turn left 20°; turn right 25° etc. Who vectors a pilot? Does he use radar to vector a pilot? Can he vector a pilot from the tower cab? What controller vectors a pilot? Why does a pilot need to be vectored?

Is wake turbulence (7) dangerous? Does wake turbulence form behind large aircraft? At take off? At landing? Where is wake turbulence to be found? What type of aircraft leave wake turbulence behind them?

Do local flights (8) take off and land at the same airport? Does a flying school have local flights? Does a local flight pilot need a flight plan? Does a local flight travel far? Does a local flight need much fuel? From where does a local flight take off and land?

The holding pattern

Does a pilot use his instruments to make a procedure turn? (9) Does he use his rudder to make a procedure turn? His undercarriage? What does a pilot use to make a procedure turn?

Is the holding pattern (10) above an airport? Can many planes take their turn to land in a holding pattern? Is it always necessary to hold in the holding pattern? When is it necessary to hold in the holding pattern? What turn does a pilot make in the holding pattern?

Does a pilot crossing the Indian Ocean intercept (11) an airway? Crossing Africa? Does a controller tell a pilot to intercept an airway at 35,000 feet? What does a controller actually say to a pilot when he wants him to intercept an airway at 35,000 feet? 39,000 feet?

Does an inbound (12) aircraft head towards an airport? Does an inbound aircraft head towards a VOR? DME? ILS? What does an inbound aircraft do? Who sees an inbound aircraft from the tower? What traffic pattern does an inbound aircraft join?

Where does an inbound aircraft join the holding pattern? In what direction is an inbound aircraft heading? What is the opposite of inbound? Is a fix another word for navaid? Is VOR a fix? Tell me the other navaids that are a fix. Does a radial lead to a fix?

When a pilot follows a VOR radial, does he home-on (13) the VOR? The DME? The ILS? What navaid does he home-on on a VOR radial? A DME radial?