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Pilot not familiar with airfield

Describe the photograph below.

Vocabulary

left hand circuits right hand circuits standard overhead join

live side dead side circuit height terminal building parking area
asphalt runway lights runway length runway width
work in progress runway elevation runway orientation
refuelling facility

When a pilot is unfamiliar with the airfield he may need to request information
from the control tower regarding joining circuits, runway orientation and
elevation.

You are a pilot flying to an unfamiliar airfield. What questions do you ask
the controller?

1. Cambridge Tower. Can you confirm runway in use?

CEL235 Runway in use 23.
2. Cambridge Tower. _________________________________________?
CEL235 Circuit height 1000ft.
3. Cambridge Tower. _________________________________________?
CEL235 Left hand circuits.
4. Cambridge Tower. _________________________________________?
CEL235 The right side is the dead side.
5. Cambridge Tower. _________________________________________?
CEL235 Parachute activity on the dead side between 12:45 and 13:30.

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Online Aviation English - English Teacher Oxford - www.englishteacheroxford.co.uk

6. Cambridge Tower. _________________________________________?

CEL235 Avoid flying over South Cambridge due to noise abatement
order.
7. Cambridge Tower. _________________________________________?
CEL235 What is the reason for your go-around?
8. Cambridge Tower. _________________________________________?
CEL235 The runway slopes -2 degrees .
9. Cambridge Tower. _________________________________________?
CEL235 The surface is asphalt.
10. Cambridge Tower. _________________________________________?
CEL235 Jet A1 and Jet A1 with icing inhibitor.

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Online Aviation English - English Teacher Oxford - www.englishteacheroxford.co.uk

Answers:

2. Cambridge Tower. What is the circuit height?

3. Cambridge Tower. What is the circuit pattern / direction?
4. Cambridge Tower. Which is the dead side?
5. Cambridge Tower. Is there any special activity at the airfield today?
6. Cambridge Tower. Is there any prohibited airspace?
7. Cambridge Tower. Not familiar with the airfield. Can we go-around?
8. Cambridge Tower. What is the gradient of the runway?
9. Cambridge Tower. What is the runway surface?
10. Cambridge Tower. What refuelling facilities do you have?

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