Skip to content

English with Annie

Secure Your Future with Better English

English with Annie

Category: Aviation

Aircraft Connectivity

Aircraft Connectivity

Aircraft Connectivity

The Internet Comes to Airplanes

The advancement of wireless technology has spurred the development of the Internet of things, in which many devices are being connected to the Internet and are able to access information previously unavailable. Airplanes have joined this trend with the advent of servers and electronic flight bags (EFB). These devices allow the airplane to become a node in the operator’s network that is accessible and can exchange information in real time.

The Advantages of Having the Internet on the Aircraft

Systems on board airplanes produce significant amounts of data throughout each flight. However the data is confined to the airplane and downloaded through a labor intensive process only when needed. Today onboard servers and EFB allow the operators to quickly download the airplane data. Furthermore the connectivity to the Internet allows the crew to access real time information previously unavailable, from weather to updated flight planning information, giving them the capability to further optimize their routing and increase the comfort and safety of the passengers.

The Dangers of Internet Connectivity for the  Aircraft

The connectivity to the Internet is however a two-way pipeline and it carries security risks with it. Modern onboard servers allow the operator to firewall the airplane from external risks, diminishing the downsides of the onboard use of the Internet.

Questions

  • What do you think about the advantages of allowing the aircraft to connect to its operator via the internet?
  • What about the dangers of allowing on-board servers to talk to ground operators via the internet?
  • Do passengers think the airplane systems are already connected to the internet?

Vocabulary

  1. To spur: inciter
  2. Internet of things: internet des objets
  3. Devices: appareils ou dispositifs
  4. A node: un module
  5. Real-time: en temps réel
  6. Labor intensive process: processus qui demande un travail important
  7. Two-way pipeline: conduit à deux sens
  8. To firewall: établir un coupe-feu

Click here for the longer article from Astronautics Corporation of America

Author anniePosted on July 11, 2016March 25, 2021Categories AviationTags Aviation, Internet

Strange New Concept Plane

Strange New Concept Plane

Click here to read the CNN story on this strange new design for airplanes.

 

 

Author anniePosted on July 7, 2016March 25, 2021Categories Aviation

Why Are Jet Engines Getting Bigger?

Why Are Jet Engines Getting Bigger?

This is fast technical English. Can you understand it?

Answer these questions:

Why are jet engines getting bigger?

Show Answer
Because a bigger engine is more efficient.

What are the two parts of a jet engine?

Show Answer
The engine core and the fan.

What provides most of the thrust in a jet engine?

Show Answer
The fan.

What is the ideal size for a jet engine?

Show Answer
4 meters in diameter.

Will jet engines continue growing in size?

Show Answer
Yes, but not forever, 4 meters in diameter is the biggest they will get.

Author anniePosted on April 18, 2016March 25, 2021Categories Aviation, Listening Comprehension, Tests, Video

Drone #2

Drone #2

Drones

IMG_0410

IMG_0520

Author anniePosted on April 14, 2016March 25, 2021Categories Aviation

Jetpack

Jetpack

Man flies around the Statue of Liberty in a jetpack.

Author anniePosted on April 14, 2016March 25, 2021Categories Aviation

Cross Section of a Commercial Airplane

Cross Section of a Commercial Airplane

Cross Section of Commercial Airplane

Fuselage Terminology

frames = cadres
stringers = longerons
skin = fuselage

Author anniePosted on April 5, 2016April 7, 2016Categories Aviation

Stupid Person Working at the Airport

Stupid Person Working at the Airport

Stupid person working at the airport

Author anniePosted on April 5, 2016Categories Aviation

Empty UPS 747 Cargo Plane

Empty UPS 747 Cargo Plane

Empty UPS 747 Cargo Plane

Author anniePosted on March 31, 2016Categories Aviation

Aircraft and Square Windows

Aircraft and Square Windows

There was actually once a plane that had square windows: the De Havilland Comet. After a few fatal crashes resulting from breakups in midair, the aircraft had its certificate of airworthiness removed. A thorough investigation revealed that the crashes were caused by increased stress especially at the corners of the windows. As a result, the fatigue on the aircraft over many flights resulted in the stress points at the corners of the windows to give way. All windows on airplanes are structural weak points, even round ones. Each additional window is decreasing the structural integrity of the body of the aircraft.

Airplane with square windows

Square Windows on Airplane

Author anniePosted on March 29, 2016March 31, 2016Categories Aviation

Airbus Cockpit at Sunset

Airbus Cockpit at Sunset

Airbus Cockpit at Sunset

Author anniePosted on March 29, 2016Categories Aviation

Go Pro Photo of the Day

Go Pro Photo of the Day

Go Pro Photo of the Day

Author anniePosted on March 29, 2016Categories Aviation

Best Seat in the House

Best Seat in the House

Best seat in the house

Author anniePosted on March 29, 2016Categories Aviation

Military Aviation in the 50s

Military Aviation in the 50s

Military Aviation in the 50s

Author anniePosted on March 29, 2016Categories Aviation

Crew Rest Area

Crew Rest Area

This is the Crew Rest Area on an Emirates Boeing 777 aircraft used for long-haul flights. What do you think?

Crew Rest Area

Author anniePosted on March 8, 2016Categories Aviation

Jet Engine Test

Jet Engine Test
29,000 lbs of jet engine force
29,000 lbs of jet engine force
Author anniePosted on February 16, 2016Categories Aviation

Drone

Drone

Drone

Author anniePosted on February 15, 2016Categories Aviation

Eurocopter Air Rescue

Eurocopter Air Rescue

Eurocopter Air Rescue
What are the technical difficulties of air-lifting?
Have you ever needed to be air-lifted?
Do you know anyone who was air-lifted?
Have you ever needed a regular ambulance?

Author anniePosted on February 11, 2016March 3, 2016Categories Aviation

Propellers

Propellers

propeller parts

Propeller Terminology

Sketch of Propeller
1) Trailing edge
2) Face
3) Fillet area
4) Hub or Boss
5) Hub or Boss Cap
6) Leading edge
7) Back
8) Propeller shaft
9) Stern tube bearing
10) Stern tube

Author anniePosted on February 4, 2016February 4, 2016Categories Aviation

Explosion Rips Fuselage

Explosion Rips Fuselage

UPDATE: This was NOT caused by an oxygen tank but by a bomb smuggled inside of a laptop. Are the authorities going to forbid laptops in the cabin now?
Accident: Daallo A321 near Mogadishu on Feb 2nd 2016, explosion rips fuselage open.

A Daallo Airlines Airbus A321-100, performing flight from Mogadishu (Somalia) to Djibouti with 74 passengers and 7 crew, was climbing out of Mogadishu about 5 minutes into the flight when an explosion was heard. The crew stopped the climb and returned the aircraft to Mogadishu for a safe landing about 20 minutes after departure. A large hole was seen at the right hand side of the fuselage above the wing.

The airline confirmed an explosion on board, the cause is under investigation, an oxygen bottle is being suspected. Passengers report at least one person was blown out of the aircraft. One passenger was missing after landing, the body was recovered near Balad about 21nm northnortheast of Mogadishu.

One passenger reported he saw the explosion occur inside the aircraft a couple of seat rows ahead of him followed by an air rush and sudden drop of cabin pressure, the seat belt held him in his seat. He saw two injured people around him, one an elderly man from Finland and another one being a young Italian. The elderly man was severly burned.

Engine explosion rips fuselage open

 

Accident rips fuselage open

Ripped Fuselage

Author anniePosted on February 4, 2016February 7, 2016Categories Aviation1 Comment on Explosion Rips Fuselage

Airplane Under Water

Airplane Under Water

Airplane Under Water
This is probably a movie set under water and not an actual crash site, but can you recognize some of the airplane parts?

Author anniePosted on February 4, 2016February 9, 2016Categories Aviation

DC-10 Engine Assembly

DC-10 Engine Assembly

DC10-engine-assembly

English French
aft arrière
forward avant
pylon attach point point d’attache du mât
pylon attach fitting armature d’attache du mât
clevis manille
engine mount support du moteur
Author anniePosted on February 2, 2016February 3, 2016Categories Aviation

Concorde

Concorde

Concorde

Author anniePosted on January 28, 2016February 3, 2016Categories Aviation

Plane Hit by Lightning

Plane Hit by Lightning

plane hit by lightning

Author anniePosted on January 28, 2016February 3, 2016Categories Aviation

Name the Airplane Part

Name the Airplane Part

Name the Airplane Part

Show Answers...

A - Nose
B - Front Landing Gear
C - Cockpit
D - Door
E - Window
F - Main Landing Gear
G - Wing Leading Edge
H - Aileron
I - Wing Flap
J - Empennage
K - Elevator
L - Rudder
M - Vertical Stabilizer
N - Horizontal Stabilizer

Author anniePosted on January 28, 2016March 3, 2016Categories Aviation, Tests

Movements of an Airplane

Movements of an Airplane

movements of an airplane

Author anniePosted on January 28, 2016February 3, 2016Categories Aviation

Miracle on the Hudson

Miracle on the Hudson
Miracle on the Hudson
An Airbus 320 US Airways aircraft that went down in the Hudson River is seen in New York, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Edouard H. R. Gluck)

Read More Here

Author anniePosted on January 28, 2016February 3, 2016Categories Aviation

Basic Jet Engine

Basic Jet Engine

Jet_engine

Jet Engine

Author anniePosted on January 28, 2016February 3, 2016Categories Aviation

Helicopter Visual Dictionary

Helicopter Visual Dictionary

helicopter visual dictionary

Author anniePosted on January 28, 2016February 3, 2016Categories Aviation

Details of a Passenger Airplane

Details of a Passenger Airplane

Detailed aircraft parts

Author anniePosted on January 28, 2016February 3, 2016Categories Aviation

The Glory

The Glory

Glory or broken spectre CropperCapture[127]-2

Glory

  • What is this?
  • Have you ever seen anything like this?

This is called a glory or broken specter. It happens when the sun is behind you and creates a rainbow on the clouds (or mist) around your shadow.

Author anniePosted on January 28, 2016March 10, 2016Categories Aviation

Military Airplane

Military Airplane

Military Airplane

  • What are some things that you find in a military airplane that never appears in a commercial aircraft?
  • Can you also name parts of this aircraft that are common with commercial airliners?
Author anniePosted on January 28, 2016February 3, 2016Categories Aviation

Airplane Services

Airplane Services

Here are all the services that must happen for successful commercial flights.

Around the airplane

  • Do you like to look at airplane services when you are waiting for your flight to depart?
  • Have you ever lost your luggage?
  • What do you think about airline food?
  • What’s your favorite airport in the world? Why?
Author anniePosted on January 28, 2016February 3, 2016Categories Aviation

Basic Commercial Airliner Terminology

Basic Commercial Airliner Terminology

Basic Parts of an Airplane

Aircraft Visual Terminology

Airplane Parts General

  • When is the last time you flew in an airplane?
  • What is the longest flight you ever took?
  • Are you nervous when you fly?
  • How much do you pack when you fly?
Author anniePosted on January 28, 2016February 3, 2016Categories Aviation

Categories

  • Animals
  • Arts
  • Aviation
  • Business
  • Computing
  • Conversation
  • Crazy Things People Do
  • Food
  • Funny
  • Geeky
  • Grammar
  • Lifestyle
  • Listening Comprehension
  • Nature
  • Pronunciation
  • Social
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Tests
  • Tools
  • Travel
  • Video
  • Wedding

Recent Posts

  • Introductions
  • Wedding Reception
  • Family Tree
  • Wedding Cake
  • Bridesmaids
February 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728  
« Sep    
English with Annie Proudly powered by WordPress