Listen to the audio recording and fill in the missing words and phrases. You can play the audio as many times as you like. Check your answers using the answer key and transcript below.
Before you listen — key vocabulary
These words appear in the recording. Knowing them before you listen will help you catch every word:
holding short (phrase)
Waiting at the edge of the runway, not yet on it, until air traffic control gives clearance to cross or enter.
crossing clearance (noun phrase)
Official permission from air traffic control to cross an active runway.
surface movement radar (noun phrase)
A radar system at airports that shows the position of all aircraft and vehicles on the ground.
go-around (noun)
A procedure where a landing aircraft abandons its approach and climbs away to try again.
runway incursion (noun phrase)
When an aircraft or vehicle enters an active runway without clearance from air traffic control.
Your dictation task
Fill in the missing words and phrases as you hear them.
Flight 4271, a _____ (1), was _____ (2) to _____ (3) at Frankfurt Airport. _____ (4), a _____ (5), callsign Sunrise 83, was _____ (6) of the same runway, waiting for _____ (7).
At 06:32 local time, the crew of Sunrise 83 _____ (8) without clearance from the tower. _____ (9) detected the incursion. The _____ (10) immediately issued a _____ (11) to Flight 4271.
The crew responded correctly and climbed to _____ (12). Sunrise 83 _____ (13) within seconds, and the two aircraft came no closer than _____ (14).
Flight 4271 _____ (15) and landed safely 15 minutes later. The incident was classified as a _____ (16). An _____ (17) was opened, and the crew of Sunrise 83 were suspended pending its outcome.
Commonly missed:holding short and crossing clearance (two words each, easy to truncate); Category C (easy to miss the classification letter); Surface movement radar (technical compound — write all three words).
Flight 4271, a Boeing 737, was on approach to runway 25 left at Frankfurt Airport. At the same time, a turboprop aircraft, callsign Sunrise 83, was holding short of the same runway, waiting for crossing clearance.
At 06:32 local time, the crew of Sunrise 83 crossed the active runway without clearance from the tower. Surface movement radar detected the incursion. The tower controller immediately issued a go-around instruction to Flight 4271.
The crew responded correctly and climbed to 3,000 feet. Sunrise 83 cleared the runway within seconds, and the two aircraft came no closer than 600 metres.
Flight 4271 repositioned and landed safely 15 minutes later. The incident was classified as a Category C runway incursion. An investigation was opened, and the crew of Sunrise 83 were suspended pending its outcome.
Flying towards the runway on a planned path in preparation for landing.
holding short (phrase)
Waiting at the edge of the runway, not yet on it, until air traffic control gives clearance to cross or enter.
crossing clearance (noun phrase)
Official permission from air traffic control to cross an active runway.
surface movement radar (noun phrase)
A radar system at airports that tracks the position of all aircraft and vehicles on the ground.
go-around (noun)
A procedure where a landing aircraft abandons its approach and climbs away to try again.
runway incursion (noun phrase)
When an aircraft or vehicle enters an active runway without clearance from air traffic control — one of the most serious safety events at an airport.
Category C (noun phrase)
A runway incursion in which aircraft separation was reduced but there was no collision risk — the third level in the ICAO four-tier classification.
Speaking follow-up
You are the controller in the tower at Frankfurt Airport. Five minutes after the incident, your supervisor asks you to give a verbal summary of what happened. Without referring to any notes, describe the sequence of events clearly and in the correct order.
Record yourself on a phone voice memo so you can play it back and self-review. There’s no single right answer — the goal is to produce a clear, structured response under time pressure.
Listen to the audio and read the transcript in the task section below. The transcript contains 6 deliberate errors — words or phrases that do not match what you hear. Identify each error and write the correct version. Replay the audio as many times as you need, then check your answers against the answer key.
Before you listen — key vocabulary
These words appear in the recording. Knowing them before you listen will help you spot the errors accurately:
cargo door caution indication (noun phrase)
A warning signal on the flight deck that alerts the crew that a problem has been detected at one of the aircraft’s cargo hold doors.
non-normal checklist (noun phrase)
A step-by-step procedure that flight crews follow when something abnormal occurs on the aircraft.
Pan-Pan (phrase)
The international urgency signal, used when a serious problem exists that requires assistance but is not yet life-threatening.
door seal (noun phrase)
A rubber or composite gasket that forms an airtight join between a door and its frame to maintain cabin pressurisation.
Your dictation task
The transcript below contains 6 deliberate errors. Listen to the audio and correct each one.
Meridian 614, a Boeing 787, was cruising at flight level 350 on a flight from Dubai to London. Three hours after departure, the crew received a cargo door caution indication on the lower forward cargo hold.
Finding no evidence of rapid pressurisation, the crew followed the non-normal checklist and declared a Mayday with Vienna Centre. As a precaution, they requested a descent to flight level 300.
Vienna Centre approved the descent and coordinated a diversion to Vienna International Airport. The aircraft landed without further incident. A ground inspection found that a door latch had degraded, allowing a minor pressure differential across the cargo door frame. The aircraft was removed from service pending repair.
“Three hours after departure” → Five hours after departure
“rapid pressurisation” → rapid decompression
“declared a Mayday” → declared a Pan-Pan
“flight level 300” → flight level 250
“door latch” → door seal
Commonly missed:rapid decompression (both “decompression” and “pressurisation” sound plausible — this tests precise vocabulary retrieval); Pan-Pan vs Mayday (a critical phraseology distinction — Pan-Pan is correct here because no immediate life threat was confirmed at the time of declaration); flight level 250 (a number error that tests whether you caught the exact descent level).
Meridian 614, a Boeing 777, was cruising at flight level 350 on a flight from Dubai to London. Five hours after departure, the crew received a cargo door caution indication on the lower forward cargo hold.
Finding no evidence of rapid decompression, the crew followed the non-normal checklist and declared a Pan-Pan with Vienna Centre. As a precaution, they requested a descent to flight level 250.
Vienna Centre approved the descent and coordinated a diversion to Vienna International Airport. The aircraft landed without further incident. A ground inspection found that a door seal had degraded, allowing a minor pressure differential across the cargo door frame. The aircraft was removed from service pending repair.
A standard altitude measurement used in aviation above a certain height, based on a standard atmospheric pressure setting; flight level 350 equals approximately 35,000 feet.
cargo hold (noun phrase)
A section of the aircraft below the passenger cabin where luggage and freight are stored.
cargo door caution indication (noun phrase)
A warning signal on the flight deck alerting the crew that a problem has been detected at one of the aircraft’s cargo hold doors.
non-normal checklist (noun phrase)
A step-by-step reference that flight crews follow when something outside normal operations occurs.
rapid decompression (noun phrase)
A sudden, significant loss of cabin air pressure that requires immediate crew action; can be caused by structural damage, a faulty door seal, or a broken window.
Pan-Pan (phrase)
The international radio urgency signal; used when a serious situation exists but does not pose an immediate threat to life; one level below Mayday in the aviation emergency hierarchy.
pressure differential (noun phrase)
The difference in air pressure between two areas; in aviation, this refers to the gap between cabin pressure and the outside atmosphere at altitude, which keeps passengers safe when flying at high altitudes.
Speaking follow-up
You are the first officer on Meridian 614. After landing at Vienna, your company’s operations centre calls for a brief verbal update. Without referring to any notes, describe what happened, the actions your crew took, and the current status of the aircraft.
Record yourself on a phone voice memo so you can play it back and self-review. There’s no single right answer — the goal is to produce a clear, structured response under time pressure.
Play the audio and write down everything you hear. Listen as many times as you need. Then use the transcript and answer key below to check your work. This is a full dictation — write every word.
Before you listen — key vocabulary
priority handling — an instruction from ATC that gives one aircraft preference over others in the sequence; the controller works to get the flight on the ground sooner than normal
localiser — the horizontal guidance component of an ILS approach; it keeps the aircraft aligned with the runway centreline
jump seat — a fold-down seat used by cabin crew, positioned near the aircraft exits; crew must be seated and strapped in for takeoff, landing, and periods of turbulence
expedited — done more quickly than normal; when ATC expedites a descent or approach, they sequence the aircraft ahead of others to reduce the time before landing
precautionary measure — an action taken to prevent injury or damage even when it is not yet certain that harm has occurred
Flight OZ four seven two, an Airbus A330 operating from Frankfurt to Dublin, encountered unexpected moderate turbulence on approach to runway two eight left. The turbulence began at around six thousand feet and lasted approximately ninety seconds. The cabin crew, who were preparing the cabin for landing, secured themselves in their jump seats immediately. The captain requested priority handling from Dublin approach, citing the need to assess the aircraft and check on the cabin crew. Dublin approach cleared the flight direct to the localiser and expedited the descent. The aircraft landed without further incident, but three cabin crew members were assessed by medical staff on the ground as a precautionary measure. The captain reported the turbulence as moderate to severe at times.
encountered — met or came across something unexpectedly; in aviation reports, used to describe an aircraft running into turbulence, icing, or other hazards
moderate turbulence — the middle category of turbulence severity; passengers may feel unsecured objects move, but the aircraft remains in control
priority handling — ATC preference given to an aircraft that declares an urgency or special need; does not require a full emergency declaration
jump seat — the fold-down seat used by flight attendants during takeoff and landing, typically at door positions; required by regulations for safety
cleared direct to the localiser — an ATC instruction shortcutting the normal arrival procedure; the aircraft proceeds straight to the final approach course
expedited — processed or carried out with extra speed; ATC expediting a descent means giving the crew immediate descent clearance without the usual stepdowns
precautionary measure — a defensive action taken as a matter of caution; medical assessment after turbulence is standard even when no injury is obvious
moderate to severe — a turbulence intensity classification; severe turbulence can cause large altitude deviations and briefly throws unsecured people off their feet
Speaking follow-up
The cabin crew in this scenario secured themselves when turbulence began during the pre-landing preparation phase. Imagine you are the captain preparing your post-flight report. How would you describe the event, the decisions you made, and the steps you would recommend to prevent passenger or crew injury in similar situations?
Record yourself on a phone voice memo so you can play it back and self-review. There’s no single right answer — the goal is to produce a clear, structured response under time pressure.
Level: CEFR B1–B2 / ICAO Level 4–5
For a related reading on a severe turbulence incident involving multiple injuries, see the Singapore Airlines turbulence article on this site.
You’re going to hear about an incident at a European airport involving an aircraft just after takeoff. Listen carefully for what happened, what the crew did about it, and how the situation ended.
Flight 728, an Airbus A320 with 152 passengers and 6 crew, was on a scheduled flight from Porto, Portugal, to Geneva, Switzerland. The aircraft departed runway 17 at Porto Airport at 06:48 local time on a clear morning.
About 30 seconds after takeoff, climbing through 600 feet, the aircraft flew through a flock of geese. The crew reported hearing several loud impacts. Shortly afterwards, the right engine began to vibrate and lose thrust. Engine instruments showed a compressor stall caused by birds being ingested into the engine.
The captain reduced power on the right engine to control the vibration and declared a Pan-Pan urgency call to air traffic control. The crew advised Porto tower that they would not continue to Geneva and requested an immediate return for landing.
The aircraft levelled at 3,000 feet and turned back towards the airport. Cabin crew prepared passengers for a possible emergency landing. The flight remained controllable on the left engine alone.
Eight minutes after takeoff, the aircraft landed safely on runway 17. Airport fire services met the aircraft on the runway as a precaution, but no fire was found. The passengers left the aircraft by stairs and were taken to the terminal by bus. No injuries were reported on board.
Later examination of the right engine found damage to several fan blades. The aircraft was withdrawn from service for repair. Three geese were recovered from the runway and the engine.
Speaking practice
You are the captain of the aircraft. The passengers are now off the aircraft and waiting in the terminal. A journalist from a local news website asks you what happened. Without saying anything you are not sure about, give a 30-second statement explaining the incident.
Record yourself on a phone voice memo so you can play it back and self-review. There’s no single right answer — the goal is to produce a clear, structured response under time pressure.
Level: CEFR B1–B2 / ICAO Level 4–5
For one of aviation’s most famous bird-strike outcomes, watch our video on the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ landing, when both A320 engines ingested geese on departure from LaGuardia and Captain Sullenberger landed in the river.
Play the audio and write the missing words. You can listen as many times as you need. When you’re finished, use the answer key and transcript below to check your work.
Before you listen — key vocabulary
wide-body aircraft — a large commercial jet with two passenger aisles; designed for high-capacity long-haul routes
flight-test programme — the official series of test flights an aircraft must complete before aviation authorities issue a safety certificate
GE9X engines — the new-generation turbofan engines made by General Electric, developed specifically for the Boeing 777X
folding wingtips — the outer sections of the 777X wings that fold upward after landing, allowing the aircraft to use standard airport gates
variant — a derivative version of an existing aircraft model; sharing the same type certificate can speed up regulatory approval
Your dictation task
Fill in the gaps as you listen.
Boeing's new _____ (1) aircraft, the 777X, completed its first flight over Everett, Washington, last month, marking the start of its _____ (2). The aircraft flew for _____ (3) before landing safely at Boeing Field. Engineers and test pilots evaluated the aircraft's handling characteristics, systems performance, and the performance of its new _____ (4) engines. The 777X features _____ (5) — a design solution that allows the aircraft to use standard airport gates despite its exceptionally wide wingspan of nearly seventy-two metres. Boeing plans to certify the 777X as a _____ (6) of the existing 777 family, a strategy that may help speed up the certification timeline. Airlines around the world have placed significant orders for the aircraft, and _____ (7) are expected within two years.
Boeing's new wide-body aircraft, the 777X, completed its first flight over Everett, Washington, last month, marking the start of its flight-test programme. The aircraft flew for three hours and fifty-two minutes before landing safely at Boeing Field. Engineers and test pilots evaluated the aircraft's handling characteristics, systems performance, and the performance of its new GE9X engines. The 777X features folding wingtips — a design solution that allows the aircraft to use standard airport gates despite its exceptionally wide wingspan of nearly seventy-two metres. Boeing plans to certify the 777X as a variant of the existing 777 family, a strategy that may help speed up the certification timeline. Airlines around the world have placed significant orders for the aircraft, and first deliveries are expected within two years.
wide-body — describes a commercial aircraft with a fuselage wide enough for two passenger aisles; twin-aisle aircraft such as the 747, A380, and 777 are all wide-body types
flight-test programme — the full sequence of test flights required before a new aircraft receives its type certificate; typically involves dozens of aircraft and thousands of flight hours
certification — formal airworthiness approval issued by an aviation authority (FAA, EASA, etc.) confirming an aircraft design meets all safety standards
GE9X — a high-bypass turbofan engine developed by GE Aviation; one of the most powerful commercial aircraft engines ever produced
folding wingtips — an engineering solution unique to the 777X; the wing folds upward by about 6 metres at the tip so the aircraft can use gates designed for narrower aircraft
variant — an aircraft model derived from an earlier certified type; sharing a common type certificate can reduce the time and cost of certification
first deliveries — the point at which the aircraft manufacturer hands over the first production aircraft to a paying customer; marks the formal entry into airline service
Speaking follow-up
Boeing marketed the 777X partly on its range and fuel-efficiency improvements over older wide-body types. If you were advising an airline's fleet planning team, what factors beyond range and fuel burn would you consider before recommending an order for a brand-new aircraft type?
Record yourself on a phone voice memo so you can play it back and self-review. There’s no single right answer — the goal is to produce a clear, structured response under time pressure.
Level: CEFR B1–B2 / ICAO Level 4–5
For more on the 777X and its distinctive wing design, try the 777X wing video activity on this site.
