Organizing your speech to report situations

HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR SPEECH TO REPORT EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

Cybele Gallo

Source : AvWEB (http://www.avweb.com/ ) – Checklists and Flow

Have you ever heard about "cockpit flow " ?

“A flow is a structured habit pattern that reflects a printed check list. In other words, it is a memorization aid , and can be used for normal, abnormal and emergency procedures.”
“In the figure below you will see a translation of the flow concept into a single-pilot Beech Baron for the task of engine fire.”

Can you match the numbers in the figure with the sentences ?

____ Ignition and alternator switches (failed engine): OFF
____ Fuel selector (failed engine): OFF
____ Mixture control (failed engine): IDLE CUTOFF
____ Propeller (failed engine): FEATHER
____ Auxiliary fuel pump (failed engine): OFF


Now, check the correct sequence :

1.Fuel selector (failed engine): OFF
2.Mixture control (failed engine): IDLE CUTOFF
3.Propeller (failed engine): FEATHER
4.Auxiliary fuel pump (failed engine): OFF
5.Ignition and alternator switches (failed engine): OFF

This technique can help you to memorize things that can not be forgotten or missed, and to develop a discipline to perform other manouvers and tasks that are required in your profession. Why don’t you try to use flow references to better organize your ideas before reporting the situations you will listen to during your test?

Let’s give it a try.

This is a suggestion on how to organize your speech.

1.The context (During a flight from… to … / At the airport/ Flying over the ocean )
2.The main problem (The pilot had a problem with/ A passenger suffered a heart attack/ ATC informed)
3.Any subsequent problem (The engine failed/ The plane depressurized/ The alarm went off )
4.The action/decision/solution (The pilot diverted/ The ATC vectored the pilot to)
5.The outcome ( The pilot landed safely/ the plane skidded off the runway/ The passengers were evacuated)

Now, try to identify in the text below the flow elements numbered above:

The crew of an Avianca Fokker 100, registration HK-4488 performing flight AV-181 from Bogota to Ecuador with 91 passengers and 5 crew, reported landing gear trouble shortly after takeoff from Bogota and entered a holding to trouble shoot the problem. The airplane subsequently returned to Bogota for a safe landing on runway 13R about one hour after departure. 5 passengers needed medical attention due to anxiety attacks.

Check :

Context : During a flight from Bogota to Ecuador, with 91 passengers on board
Problem : The pilot reported landing gear problems shortly after take off
Subsequent problem : No subsequent problem
Action /decision :The pilot entered a holding to check . Then he decided to return to Bogota.
Outcome : He landed and 05 passengers needed medical assistance.

Now, try to the same with the text below:



An Air Canada Jazz de Havilland Dash 8-300, registration C-GTAT performing flight QK-8206 from Prince George ,BC to Vancouver, BC (Canada) with 51 people on board, was climbing through FL180 out of Prince George, when the crew reported smoke on board and decided to return to Prince George. The airplane landed safely 14 minutes later.The Canadian TSB reported that the number 1 cabin pack temperature began to rise steadily as the airplane climbed out of Prince George, then the flight attendant advised there was smoke in the cabin. The crew declared emergency and returned to Prince George. During the descent the smoke cleared. The airplane landed without further incident .

Let’s check

Context : Air Canadá was flying from Prince George to Vancouver with 51 people on board.
Problem: While the plane was climbing ,the number 1 cabin pack temperature began to rise
Subsequent problem : There was smoke in the cabin.
Action/decision :Flights attendants advised the pilots that there was smoke on board. The pilots declared an emergency and decided to return to the airport.
Outcome :The smoke cleared during the descent and the plane landed safely.