How to do this dictation
Listen to the recording and fill in the missing words as you go. Replay as many times as you need. When you’re ready, type each answer into the boxes and click Check for instant feedback, then read the full transcript to see the complete text.
Before you listen — key vocabulary
| intersection (noun) | a point where a taxiway meets the runway, allowing the aircraft to join mid-runway rather than at the very beginning — joined the runway via an ___; stress: in-ter-SEC-tion |
| runway length (noun phrase) | the total distance available on a runway from threshold to threshold, measured in metres — calculated using the full ___; stress: RUN-way length |
| performance data (noun phrase) | the calculated figures for a specific takeoff — including speed targets and distance required — based on aircraft weight, temperature and runway available — configured using incorrect ___; stress: per-FOR-mance DA-ta |
Gist listen first: listen once and answer — what was the main problem on this flight?
Your dictation task
Listen again and type each missing word or phrase into the boxes below. Each numbered gap in the text has a matching numbered box — type your answer and click Check for instant feedback. Replay as many times as you need.
An Airbus A320 was preparing for departure from (1). The crew received (2) to enter (3) via a (4). This meant that only (5) of the runway was available, giving them around (6) for takeoff. The crew had already calculated their (7) based on the (8) of (9). During the (10), the aircraft was (11) than expected. The crew noticed that their (12) were not being reached in time, but continued and managed to get the (13) just before the end of the runway. No one on board was injured. The (14) later opened an investigation into how the (15) was not (16) in the (17).
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An Airbus A320 was preparing for departure from Amsterdam Schiphol. The crew received taxi instructions to enter runway 18 Left via a mid-field intersection. This meant that only sixty per cent of the runway was available, giving them around 1,800 metres for takeoff. The crew had already calculated their performance data based on the full runway length of 3,000 metres. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft was slower to accelerate than expected. The crew noticed that their speed targets were not being reached in time, but continued and managed to get the aircraft airborne just before the end of the runway. No one on board was injured. The aviation authority later opened an investigation into how the intersection entry was not accounted for in the takeoff calculations.
Connected-speech pointer: notice how “takeoff roll” flows as a single rhythmic chunk — “TAKEoff-ROLL” — with the final /k/ of “takeoff” linking directly to the /r/ of “roll”. Also notice how “not being reached” collapses in natural speech: the /t/ at the end of “not” is barely released before “being” begins, and “being” is a very short, weak syllable — your ear may want to hear it as “n’t-b’ing”. You still write both words in full.
| departure (noun) | the act of leaving an airport by aircraft; the takeoff phase — preparing for ___; stress: de-PAR-ture |
| taxi instructions (noun phrase) | ATC routing directions telling a crew which taxiways and runways to use when moving on the ground — received ___ to enter the runway; stress: TAX-i in-STRUC-tions |
| mid-field intersection (noun phrase) | a taxiway junction that meets the runway part-way along its length, reducing the available takeoff run — entered via a ___; stress: mid-FIELD in-ter-SEC-tion |
| takeoff roll (noun phrase) | the distance an aircraft accelerates along the runway before leaving the ground — during the ___; stress: TAKE-off roll |
| speed targets (noun phrase) | defined airspeeds — such as V1 (decision speed) and VR (rotate speed) — that a crew must reach at specific points during the takeoff roll — ___ not being reached; stress: SPEED tar-gets |
| aviation authority (noun phrase) | the national body that regulates civil aviation safety and investigates accidents — the ___ opened an investigation; stress: a-vi-A-tion au-THOR-ity |
| accounted for (phrasal verb) | included and correctly calculated in a plan or set of figures — not ___ in the takeoff calculations; stress: ac-COUNT-ed for |
Speaking follow-up
You are the first officer on this A320. You have just landed safely at your destination after the takeoff incident. Your chief pilot calls you for a verbal debrief. Explain what taxi instructions you received, how you realised during the takeoff roll that something was wrong, and what you would check before the next intersection departure. Speak for about 60 seconds.
If a word won’t come, describe around it or use a filler and keep talking — staying fluent matters more than the perfect word. Record yourself on a phone voice memo and play it back; there’s no single right answer — aim for a clear, structured response under time pressure. Then record it once more, keeping going for the full time with fewer long pauses, and compare the two takes.
Record your answer, then play it back and rate yourself on each of the five ICAO skills. For each line, mark Yes, Almost or Not yet, then re-record to improve your weakest area.
- Pronunciation — Can I say “mid-field intersection”, “performance data” and “takeoff roll” so a listener could write them down? (B1 target: clear enough to be understood without effort)
- Structure — Did I explain the events in order: what ATC instructed → what happened on the takeoff roll → what I would do differently next time?
- Vocabulary — Did I use words like “intersection”, “speed targets”, “takeoff roll” and “aviation authority”?
- Fluency — Did I keep going for about 60 seconds without long pauses? (B1 target: a few natural pauses are fine; long silences of 3+ seconds are not)
- Comprehension — If a colleague heard only my recording — no other information — could they understand exactly what happened and what the crew should have done differently?
Level: CEFR B1 / ICAO Level 4
If you’d like more practice with runway safety scenarios, try Listening: Rejected Takeoff at Lisbon — a similar dictation on a high-stakes decision during the takeoff roll.