Intro to Aviation PDF

CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -1 INTRODUCTION TO AVIATION  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -2 INTRODUCTION TO THE CABIN CREW PROFESSION Being a Cabin Crew can be exciting. The career offers a different way of life, allows you to travel to many...

CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -1 INTRODUCTION TO AVIATION  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -2 INTRODUCTION TO THE CABIN CREW PROFESSION Being a Cabin Crew can be exciting. The career offers a different way of life, allows you to travel to many places you otherwise might never go, and allows you to encounter the many different cultural and social aspects of the world you might otherwise never see. It can, however, be equally challenging, with its diverse job scope and unusual hours. In this module, we will take you through history to look how the career path as a cabin crew has evolved over the years. We will also look at the responsibilities and duties of today’s Cabin Crew, as well as the excitement and challenges that comes with it. The profession requires you to be Customer Service Oriented. ORIGIN OF THE CABIN CREW PROFESSON On December 17, 1903, the Wright brothers (Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright) built and successfully flew the first heavier-than-air, fully controlled flying machine. Since then, more people have improved on the original machine and within decades, the aviation industry was born. With it came the need for trained pilots and crew. Back then, travelling by air was considered a new idea. Companies dealing in commercial flights had much to work on, and providing safety and comfort to passengers, like today, was a priority back then. The role of a cabin crew has changed over the years, however, the duty of providing assurance and comfort to passengers has remained. KEY HISTORICAL MILESTONES The airline industry, since its birth in the 1920s, has gone through many changes and seen quite a few significant milestones. All of them have played a part in shaping the professions of everyone in the industry, including cabin crew.  Britain’s Daimler Airways provided the first in-flight service with air stewards when they began passenger flights in 1922.  Air steward’s original duties involved loading mail and luggage, checking passengers in, and offering general comfort and assurance.  In 1930, the first air stewardess, Ellen Church was hired by Boeing Air Transport (United Airlines), beginning the era of women in the cabin crew service.  The original air stewardesses were all registered nurses.  By the 1950s, air travel expanded so much that governments require all cabin crew on commercial flights to be trained in safety procedures. It became well known then that the capability of cabin crews in times of emergency situations were crucial in ensuring the safety of passengers.  Today, the cabin crew profession is governed by strict guidelines. Cabin Crew members play a large part in ensuring the safety and security of passengers today, in addition to rendering excellent service on the front line. This is so much different from the early day cabin boys, whose main duties were to load mail and luggage onto planes.  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -3 BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF THE CABIN CREW PROFESSION Rewards of the Profession Every profession has its own rewards, and being a cabin crew is no different. You, and other cabin crews, might view different aspects of the profession as its rewards, based on your individual perspectives. Here we cover some possible rewarding aspects of the cabin crew career. Schedule Flexibility As a cabin crew, you work in an industry that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Instead of reporting to work at 9am and leaving at 6pm daily, you work a great variety of hours.You may not begin with any control over your schedule, but as you progress on you learn how to manage your schedule, and even get to trade schedules with your colleagues. You get to choose if you prefer to work on many short flights in a row, or one long flight. You also get to choose if you work many days in a row followed by a longer period of rest, or work for a short period of time and rest for a short period of time daily. Geographic Flexibility As a cabin crew on international flights, you may find that you are away from home quite a lot. You may be temporarily located in another city for a few hours or days in a layover, or as much as actually being temporarily based in another city for weeks or months. This allows you to gain new perspectives and experience life in cities different from your own. Benefits Packages Just like in any other job, you will have your fair share of vacation and holiday time. While this may differ, and you certainly will not always get public holidays and weekends off, you definitely get either compensation or alternate time off. While specific benefits differ from airline to airline, and from country to country, major airlines offer health care plans as part of their standard employment benefits package. Travel Benefits One of the biggest lures to being an airline personnel is getting to travel for a nominal fee. Although this option is usually only available on a non-revenue basis, that is, you only get to fly if no one has booked that seat, it is a rare chance for you to see parts of the world that you otherwise might never visit. Airlines sometimes also have agreements with other airlines, hotels, cruises that allow cabin crew to book their facilities at reduced rates.  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -4 Cities, Cultures and Customs As a cabin crew you get to see many places while on the job. You could spend a few hours or days in a new flight destination while on a layover, without actually dipping into your precious personal or vacation time. You will also get to meet people from different places, and experience their cultures and customs on a first hand basis. Not only that, by providing service to passengers from all over the world you also get to understand the differences in their norms. Furthermore, there is always the chance that you will have an opportunity to serve dignitaries and celebrities around the world on your flight. These experiences can be very interesting. Challenges of the Profession Just as there are numerous rewards in the cabin crew profession, there are numerous challenges too. Some people may view a certain aspect of the profession as a rewarding experience, while others may view it as a challenging one. Schedule To some people, a flexible schedule is a reward. However, you might also find that it gets challenging to work on holidays and weekends, resulting in less available family time. You are also expected to be flexible in when you work and where you fly, especially when you are just starting out as a junior staff. There are also certain aspects that are not easily controlled by you. For example, when there is a delay caused by mechanical fault or bad weather, your schedule gets affected too. You could end up returning home much later than you were scheduled to. However, this allows you to be much better at empathising with a passenger who is also affected by the delays, and you will be in a better position to assist him/her. Finances It can be financially challenging to begin a career as a Cabin Crew. Most airlines do not provide compensation while you are in the training stage, although some may offer a bonus upon successful completion of training. It is thus essential to consider a few financial aspects before making the decision to join the profession. You may have to complete [4 – 10] weeks of training at the onset of your career, without a regular pay check. In addition, you may not even begin to receive your salary until you have actually completed a few flights. To ensure you do not get a financial shock, do your research carefully before embarking on the career with your airline of choice.  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -5 Sometimes, you will get short term housing during the training, especially if your training centre is far from where you normally reside. Some airlines will provide uniforms to their crew, while others will require that you pay for your first set. You should thus also take into account the expenses you will incur prior to beginning work as a cabin crew. Some of these expenses include your uniform, shoes, luggage, passport, watch, health care and vaccinations. It is also good to consider how you plan your finances. Airlines will arrange for and pay for the hotel and lodging on your layover stop, but you will have to pay for your own room service, internet, local phone, gym and other facilities you choose to use. The Work Another challenging factor, reward to some, is the work scope. You are a frontline service personnel, the first person a distressed passenger turns to for assistance. You will have to deal with different types of people every day, all day, which can be physically and emotionally draining. You will encounter irrational passengers and those who are intoxicated and hard to deal with. You will also sometimes have to work very long hours. It is thus very important to get a well-deserved rest whenever possible, and be well prepared for the unexpected. For example, you may be scheduled to have a layover in a tropical country, but end up being rescheduled for one that brings you to a wintry area. We hope that this module will give you a clearer insight into the daily life of a Cabin Crew, its benefits, rewards and challenges.  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -6 INTRODUCTION TO AVIATION INDUSTRY As a Cabin Crew, you will be an important part of the relatively new aviation industry. Unlike other industries, the aviation industry was born only after the first aircraft took flight in the early 1900s. Despite being new, however, the aviation industry is highly organized and heavily regulated, with service providers, crew members and regulatory authorities working together to ensure the safety of passengers, crew, and cargo. In this module, you will learn about the different types of air travel, a brief outline of some regulatory agencies that govern security standards of airlines and security standards of personnel and goods that airlines transport. REGULATORY AGENCIES AND AVIATION REGULATIONS ICAO The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) was created in November 1944, when the US government invited representatives of other states and authorities to attend an international conference in Chicago. These states formed the ICAO, to create rules and regulations for air navigation and the then fledging airline industry. ICAO has 191 member states. Its headquarters is in Montreal, Canada. It covers the following objectives:  Set rules and policies for the training and certification of aviation personnel.  Set standard for communication systems and emergency procedures.  Set requirements for the airworthiness of an aircraft. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN AVIATION SAFETY - CAAs, CAAP, FAA & EASA Every country that has an international airport will have a regulatory body.This regulatory body is usually called the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). It works towards a common international goal of providing safe and reliable air transport. Besides their own regulatory body, some states or countries come together to form a larger governing body. The regulatory body in the Philippines is the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is formed by the member states of the United States and is responsible for the safety of its civil aviation. It governs the rules and regulations regarding aircraft manufacture and use in the United States. It also operates the traffic control system within the US.  The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is an agency of the European Union (EU) with regulatory and executive tasks in the field of civilian aviation safety. Based in Cologne, Germany, the EASA was created on 15 July 2002 and it reached full functionality in 2008.  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -7 IATA – INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION Unlike the ICAO and the various CAA, the IATA is not a regulatory body. Instead, it is the aviation industry’s global trade organization. However, because of its international standing, it often contributes to the regulatory bodies and governmental aviation authorities. The original IATA was founded in 1919 in Hague, with 57 members from 31 nations, mostly from Europe and North America. In 1945, the modern IATA was founded in Havana, Cuba as the successor of the original IATA. Today, it has 258 members from 117 countries, spanning the entire globe. IATA works mainly to inculcate cooperation among airlines, with the ultimate aim of providing the highest standards of safety and service to passengers. This is achieved by simplifying processes and increasing convenience while at the same time improving efficiency and reducing cost. It seeks to improve understanding of the aviation industry amongst decision- makers worldwide, increase awareness of the aviation industry, as well as fight for sensible regulations on behalf of and in the interests of airlines across the globe. AIRLINES, CHARTERS, CORPORATE AND PRIVATE JETS Besides flying scheduled flights like commercial airlines, a chartered airline also caters to niche group of passengers by offering chartered flights. Let us look at some of the differences between a scheduled flight and a chartered flight. SCHEDULED AIRLINES AND ALLIANCES Scheduled / Commercial Flights  They have a fixed schedule that is usually published months before the flight is due to take place. Changes can occur due to a variety of reasons, such as weather or mechanical fault.  Tickets can be booked directly through the airline that offers the flight, via its reservation desk or their website.  The airline that offers a scheduled flight is fully responsible for the performance of their flight.  Scheduled flights usually have a higher frequency in terms of number of trips to and from a certain destination.  For delays and cancellations, the airline is responsible for arranging alternative options for the affected passengers. These options could include a seat on the next available flight to the desired destination, a seat on an alternative airline to the same destination, or interim accommodation while the passenger waits at the affected city for a few days.  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -8 Alliances An alliance is a cooperative arrangement that links the route networks of two or more scheduled airlines. By forming alliances, scheduled airlines are able to tap into the existing network of their alliance partners without actually having a presence in the network itself. This is accomplished by the practice of ‘code sharing’. Under code sharing, an alliance partner is able to sell tickets to a flight that happens in its partner’s network. The three major alliances in the world are: One World, Star Alliance and Sky Team. CHARTERS, CORPORATE AND PRIVATE JETS Chartered Flights  These are usually planned by tour operators or companies for a select group of individuals. For example, sports teams will charter flights for their players to compete in another city, governments will charter flights for military or rescue purposes, and tour operators will charter flights to promote special tour packages to certain destinations.  Tickets to chartered flights can only be booked via the tour operators who have chartered that flight.  The tour operator that charters a flight and then offers tickets to their clients is fully responsible for the performance of their flight.  Chartered flights usually have a lower frequency than that of scheduled flights, as they serve a specific purpose.  When a chartered flight is delayed and the passenger misses his or her connection to another chartered or scheduled flight, he or she will not be able to change the ticket and will most likely lose the money. Charter reservations are only good for one particular flight.  When a chartered flight is cancelled, the company that charters the flight is not obliged to arrange alternative options for you. Most reputable charter companies, however, will refund your ticket.  Some charter airlines only offer flights to certain vacation destinations. Corporate and Private Jets Like chartered flights, corporate and private jets are unscheduled forms of air travel. These flights are not available to the general public. Some companies have their own aircrafts, and they use these to send employees on business trips. As the nature of corporate and private jet travel is unpredictable, so is your schedule as a cabin crew. In some cases, corporations or private jet owners have strict on-call or standby policies established by the corporate owner or individual. Most companies outsource training for their cabin crew. You might also like to know that due to the private nature of such travel, the size of the aircraft, and the number of passengers on a trip, cabin crew for a corporate or private jet often works alone.  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -9 INTRODUCTION TO AIRCRAFT AND AVIATION FAMILIARIZATION As a Cabin Crew, you will spend a lot of time travelling to different destinations on board an aircraft. You will become part of a profession with its own vocabulary and means of communication, you will find that many of these new words are seldom, used outside the aviation industry. In this module, you will be introduced to some basic components of the aircraft, learn how an aircraft flies, as well as how to tell time using the 24 hour clock and calculate the time difference between your city of departure and city of arrival. You will also be introduced to aviation industry specific terms. AIRCRAFT TYPES In general, aircraft is divided into 3 broad categories, with many minor sub-categories under each. Here, we introduce you to the broad categories. COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT This is the most commonly used aircraft in commercial flying. As a cabin crew, you will be working in one of these. They are aircraft owned by airline companies, used for the purpose of transporting people or cargo. An aircraft that transports both people and cargo is known as an airliner. GENERAL AVIATION AIRCRAFT These are smaller than commercial transport aircraft and are mainly used for non-commercial use. They are small enough to take off and land at smaller airfields. Some of these aircraft are licensed for private use, while others are licensed for business use. Those licensed for business use are known as corporate aircraft, whose sole purpose is to fly the business’s own employees for business trips. Certain organizations use general aviation aircraft for emergency rescue, farming and agriculture. This type of aircraft is also used to teach new pilots the art of flying. MILITARY AIRCRAFT Sovereign countries have their own armed forces, and these armed forces have their own aircraft for military use. There are various types of military aircraft for different purposes, such as emergency rescue, bombing, spying, among others. As a Cabin Crew it is highly unlikely you will ever serve on one of these aircraft.  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -10 AIRCRAFT FAMILIARIZATION Basic Aircraft Parts In all aircraft, large or small, there exists 5 basic parts. a. Fuselage The fuselage is the main body of the aircraft. It is the part from the nose to the tail. It contains the aircraft controls, and space for the crew, passengers, and cargo. Most large aircraft have separate spaces for these, with specific names. The cockpit is for the flight deck crew, the cabin is for the passengers, and the cargo hold is for the cargo. Even larger aircraft have separate decks, or floors, for their passengers and cargo. b. Wing The wing of an aircraft extends out from each side of the fuselage. The shape of the wing is flat on the bottom and curved on top. This shape, the air foil, helps create lift as the aircraft moves through air, allowing the aircraft to get off the ground during take-off, and keep in the air during the flight. A wing consists of the root, tip, leading edge and trailing edge. It is intricately designed with moveable parts (ailerons, flaps and spoilers) that help control the movement of the aircraft as well as to help keep its balance. c. Tail The tail, also known as the empennage, is a part located at the rear of the aircraft. Its purpose is to maintain balance and guide the direction of the aircraft in flight. A tail consists of a rudder, stabiliser and elevator. d. Landing Gear The landing gear, also known as the undercarriage, is a series of wheels that helps support the weight of the plane when it gains contact with the ground upon touchdown. Most aircraft have their landing gear under each wing and under the nose. A larger aircraft has more to support its larger weight. The landing gear of an aircraft may be either fixed or retractable. High speed aircraft usually employ retractable landing gear that can be retracted into the wing and the nose after take-off, in order to maintain the streamlined shape of the aircraft (without the landing gear protruding under the aircraft) to achieve higher speeds. e. Jet Engine The airframe consists of the fuselage, wing, tail and landing gear, but not the engine. The engine’s purpose is to produce power that help move the aircraft at a speed fast enough for it to take off and keep in the air. Most commercial and private aircraft have jet engines, although some other aircraft are fixed with reciprocating or rocket engines. Rocket engines are the most powerful type of engines, but they are used mainly for research and not for commercial flying.  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -11 PARTS OF THE AIRCRAFT cargo hold AIRCRAFT INTERIOR AND SYSTEMS As a cabin crew, the interior of the aircraft will be more interesting to you. You will have to become very familiar with these terms as you will be using them regularly. When we work throughout the aircraft, direction can soon get confusing. Is your left the same as my left? When I tell you that a piece of equipment is located on the right, do I mean your right or my right? We clear these and other potential problems, with a list of terms and their definitions. Aircraft Left/Portside The left side of the aircraft from the perspective of a passenger seated facing forward. Aircraft Right/Starboard Side The right side of the aircraft from the perspective passenger seated facing forward. Wide-Body Aircraft An aircraft with fuselage wide enough to accommodate two passenger aisles with 7 or more seats abreast.  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -12 Narrow-Body Aircraft An aircraft with a single aisle Flight Deck (F/D) Also known as cockpit. The area of the aircraft where controls and navigational equipment are located.The pilots sit in the cockpit. On commercial aircrafts the cockpit has retractable windows that allow for a means of escape for the pilots during an emergency. There are ropes or straps in the cockpit to allow for a safe descent. Controls and Instruments These are mechanical and hydraulic devices utilized by the pilots to fly the aircraft. Emergency Doors/Aircraft Exits A way out of the aircraft during an emergency. Most aircraft doors have two modes of operation, the ‘disarmed’ mode for normal entry and exit into the aircraft during boarding and deplaning, and the ‘armed’ mode for emergency evacuation. When the ‘armed’ mode is activated, special features of the doors will allow for a quick and safe exit either to the ground or to water. These include slides that inflate when the exit is opened or when a handle is pulled. Emergency Exit Lights Exterior and interior aircraft lights that would illuminate during emergencies and loss of power supply. Placarded Exit Signs Clearly marked exit signs that will illuminate during emergency or loss of power supply. Located above doors, overwing exits, and spread throughout the cabin. Floor Proximity Lights Lights or markings that illuminates the aisles that will guide passengers to the exits during emergencies or from a smoke filled cabin. Cabin The interior section of the aircraft where the passengers are seated. Galley (G) This is an area of the aircraft where food and beverages are stored and prepared Bulkhead Partitions separating service classes and different zones of the same service class. Overhead Bins These are compartments installed above the seats in an aircraft, meant to store belongings of passengers.  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -13 Doghouse A small compartment, placed on the floor of the aircraft usually behind the last row of seats in every zone/section. Used for storage purposes. FA Jumpseat/Cabin Crew Station Retractable and foldable seat meant for the cabin crew during take-offs and landings. Crew Rest Area/Crew Bunks A section of a wide body aircraft dedicated for Cabin Crew during breaks and rest. Lavatory (LAV) Lavatory Components:  Mirror  Diaper Changing Table  Amenity Holders  Water Faucet (hot and cold) and sink  Trash Bin with Retractable Cover  Facial Tissue Dispenser  Toilet Paper Dispenser  Compartment for Airsickness Bag  Toilet Seat/Cover  Call Button  Flush Button  Toilet Seat Cover Dispenser  Some Alarm  Heat Activated Fire Extinguisher inside Trash Compartment  Panel for O2 Drop Out Mask Passenger Seat Components: Economy Class Seat Headrest *Tray Table at the Backrest back of the seat. Armrest Seat Control Bu on Seat belt Seat Pan Life Vest Stowage Baggage Bar  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -14 Passenger Service Unit (PSU) - This entire unit is located above a passenger seat. This contains all or part of the following: (PSU) COMPONENTS Seat Row Designator Air Vents Crew call bu on Reading light bu on Cargo hold Reading lights Speaker MRT hole No smoking & Fasten seat belt O2 drop out signs mask compartment Area Call Light Panel Colored lights attached to the wall or ceiling near jumpseats, doors and galleys which indicates who requires attention, whether a passenger, pilot or other cabin crew. Blue Light - Service/Pax Call Amber Light - Lavatory Call Pink Light - Crew Call Communications System These are audio systems, lights or chimes that allow crewmembers to communicate with each other or with passengers. The interphone network onboard consists of handsets in the flight deck, near every door/crew stations and crew rest area. Each handset can initiate and receive calls and make announcements from all points. CMS Display Panel The Cabin Management System Display Panel (CMS) is a computerized, touch sensitive screen designed to call for cabin services. Inflight Entertainment Equipment The equipment on board that allows passengers (IFE) to watch movies, listen to music or play electronic games.  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -15 Lighting and Electrical System These systems provide light and power to the cabin and the galleys. Cabin Crew have access to these controls and can adjust lighting accordingly. When the aircraft is on ground, power is often supplied by two sources, the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) and the Ground Power Unit (GPU). Air Systems These systems help provide breathable air to the cabin as well as keep cabin pressure at an appropriate level. They also provide heating and cooling to the cabin. There is also an emergency oxygen system available in the even of a cabin decompression, used to provide breathable air through an oxygen mask. Water Systems These systems help provide potable water for consumption, to the galleys, as well as hot and cold water for the lavatories. Aircraft Waste Systems A self contained waste disposal management system in the aircraft from its inception to its final disposal using vacuum flush technology or pressurized system. Cart Lift System Lift systems that transport food carts/trolleys and other supplies from the galley on the lower deck to the upper deck and vice versa. Found in wide body aircrafts with upper deck.  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -16 THEORY OF FLIGHT AND HOW AIRCRAFT FLY Since you will spend most of your working hours on board an aircraft, it is important that you understand and be able to explain how an aircraft takes off, cruises, turns, and lands. While this is interesting and not very crucial to your duties, there will be times when passengers may ask you specific questions so it is important to be ready when necessary. PHASES OF THE FLIGHT 1. Take-off 2. Climb 3. Cruise 4. Descent 5. Landing 4 BASIC FORCES THAT AFFECT THE FLIGHT There are four basic forces that affect the flight or movement of an aircraft and together they help the aircraft take off (lift off from the ground), climb (go up), cruise (go forward), descent (go down) and landing (touch the ground). They describe the theory of flight. 1. Gravity Gravity is a force applied by the earth to pull the aircraft towards the ground. 2. Lift Lift is a force caused by moving air. It is created by the shape of the wing that causes the force of moving air below the wing to be higher than that above the wing. When there is sufficient lift, the aircraft will be able to fly. 3. Drag Drag is caused by moving air going against the direction of movement. When the aircraft cuts through air, air that was originally in front of the aircraft has to make way for the aircraft. This air hits the nose of the aircraft and creates a resistive force that ‘pushes’ the aircraft backwards. 4. Thrust Thrust is a force created by propellers or engines. It helps push the aircraft forward. An aircraft is in level cruising flight (i.e. maintaining the same altitude and same speed) when gravity = lift and drag = thrust.  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -17 Imagine this: When the aircraft runs at high speed along the runway, moving air (wind) pushes against its wings. Due to the shape of the wing (curved on the upper surface and flat on the lower surface), air exerts a larger pressure upwards (pushing up against the lower surface) and a smaller pressure downwards (pushing down against the upper surface). This pressure difference generates lift. To get more lift, the pilot increases the angle of attack (angle between where the wing is pointing and where it is going) and lowers the flaps of the wings. Once the lift exceeds gravity, the aircraft leaves contact with the ground and takes off. In flight, the pilot will manage one or more controls to alter the forces that are acting on the aircraft. These changes will cause the aircraft change altitude, change direction, or change speed.When the aircraft is about to land, the pilot will decrease its speed by reducing the engine power. The aircraft slows down, causing less air to rush across the wings, and lift decreases. When lift decreases and gravity remains the same, more force is trying to pull the aircraft down than to push the aircraft up, so the aircraft goes down. However, in order to land gracefully, the pilot has to control this decrease in lift by increasing the angle of attack and lowering the flaps. When the aircraft approaches the airport, the pilot will then create a slow controlled descent by managing controls in the cockpit. During this time, passengers will hear, see and feel some significant changes. For example, they will hear that the engine noise has changed, see that the flaps on the wings are moving, and feel that the airplane is dropping.While these will become normal to you as you become more experienced, they can be frightening to a passenger who rarely travels. While some passengers may merely be curious of such experience, others may be fearful of them. You should sense this in their expression, demeanour, or by the questions they ask, and be ready to comfort, assist, or explain these strange aspects of flight to them. MOVEMENT OF AN AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT An aircraft is able to rotate about its centre of gravity. This means that the aircraft is in perfect balance on a certain point, no matter how it is turned or rotated about that point. This unit will discuss a little about what the pilot does and how he directs the aircraft. Imagine driving. You would use the steering wheel, accelerator and brakes to change the direction and speed of your vehicle. The pilot does the same with the aircraft, except he or she has to use 3 basic controls: the aileron, elevator and rudder. The rudder make up the vertical sections of the tail. The fin is fixed and stands upright. It prevents the aircraft from swinging from side to side. The rudder is a moveable part hinged to the fin and it can be moved from side to side. It is used to control a turn. The stabiliser and elevator make up the horizontal sections of the tail. The stabilizer is fixed and lies flat. It prevents the tail from going up or down and keeps the aircraft at a steady altitude. The elevator is a moveable part hinged to the tail and it can be moved up or down. It raises or lowers the nose of the aircraft, causing the aircraft to ascend or descend.  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -18 The aileron makes up the moveable section of the wing. It can be moved up or down to keep the aircraft balanced in flight. There are 3 basic movements of an aircraft in flight, controlling the aircraft’s movements in 3-dimensional space. Movement Description Pitch The aircraft’s movement on its lateral axis as the nose moves up or down. It is controlled by the elevators. Roll The aircraft’s movement on its longitudinal axis as one wing dips below another. It is controlled by the ailerons. Yaw The aircraft’s movement on its vertical axis as the nose turns left or right. It is controlled by the rudder. Movement of an aircraft in Flight AVIATION TERMINOLOGY, ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS Here is a non-exhaustive list of general aviation terminology, acronyms and abbreviations that you will come across on your day to day duties, whether communicating with the Captain, fellow Crew Members, and passengers, or when reading and following instructions and directions.  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -19 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ABP - Able Bodied Passenger/Personnel A/C - Aircraft AFT - Rear of aircraft AOG - Aircraft on ground ATA - Actual time of arrival ATD - Actual time of departure BLND - Blind Passenger BCL - Business Class CAPT - Captain CC - Cabin Crew CSA - Customer Service Agent CHLD - Child CIQ - Customs, Immigration and Quarantine DEPO - Deportee DH - Deadhead DOB - Death On Board ETA - Estimated Time of Arrival ETD - Estimated Time of Departure F/D - Flight Deck F/O - First Officer FP - Flight Purser FWD - Forward of aircraft INF - Infant INOP - Inoperative LAV - Lavatory same as toilet MAAS - Meet and Assist MEDA - Medical Case MISCON - Misconnect N/S - No Show PIC - Pilot In Command PA - Public Address PAX - Passenger/s PSU - Passenger Service Unit SEP - Safety and Emergency Procedures. STA - Schedule Time of Arrival. STD - Schedule Time of Departure. SNY - Supernumerary also known as a trainee. S/O - Second Officer SCC - Senior Cabin Crew STCR - Stretcher passenger WOV - Transit Without Visa UM - Unaccompanied Minor WCHR - Wheelchair Passenger YP - Young Passenger  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -20 AVIATION TERMINOLOGY A Airport/Aerodrome Location where an aircraft takes off and lands, loads and unloads passengers and cargo. Large airports have their own fire department law enforcement department, customs and immigration, medical facilities, and retail establishments. Airway A controlled pathway or corridor of flight. Alternate Airport An airport other than the originally scheduled destination airport The alternate airport is used in the event the aircraft cannot land at the original destination, usually due to weather. Altitude (ALT) The vertical distance in feet above sea level. Cruising altitude is the constant height maintained during flight. Air Traffic Control (ATC) Official authority in charge of the safe, orderly and quick flow on air traffic in flight or operating in the area of a runway. Approach Final part of the flight when the aircraft is about to land. Divided into “initial approach” and “final approach. When an aircraft is on final approach it is directly in line with the runway & ready to land. Arrival Area Passengers enter this area as they deplane. This area is where immigration, customs, and baggage claim are situated. Apron /Tarmac/Bay Area where aircrafts park for purposes of loading, unloading and servicing. Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) This is an alternate or back up source of power for the aircraft, to provide power to the aircraft while it is on the ground, located at the tail of the aircraft.  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -21 B Board/Boarding Process of loading passengers onto the aircraft. Boarding Pass A card given to the passenger upon check in. It must be presented before the passenger is allowed to board the aircraft. It contains the following information: passenger name, flight number, date, class of service, seat number, departure and arrival information. Baggage Claim A place in the airport terminal where passengers locate and retrieve their check-in luggage. Blocks/Chocs Rubber or wooden stops that are used to prevent an aircraft from rolling when it is parked. Block to Block The time from removal of the blocks at flight departure to placement of the blocks at flight arrival. Block in Time when blocks are placed at the aircraft wheels upon arrival. Block out Time when blocks are removed from the aircraft wheels for departure. Boarding stairs Steps used to enter or leave an aircraft. The stairs is a moveable unit placed at the aircraft door if the aircraft does not have access to jetway at the terminal. C Carry-On Baggage (COB) Items brought into the cabin by a passenger. This must be stowed in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front of passenger. Control Tower Airport building where air traffic controllers can oversee and direct aircraft movement. Customer Service Agent (CSA) Staff who assists the passengers and operations related functions of an airline at the airport. Also known as Passenger Service Agent (PSA)  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -22 D Disembark/Deplane Term used to mean that passengers are leaving the aircraft. Diversion When an aircraft is not allowed to land at its original destination and directed to land elsewhere, usually because of weather. Debriefing A meeting following an event that requires authorities to get information about what happened, what procedure were used and what could have been done differently. It is mandatory after an accident or critical incident. Departure lounge Area where passengers wait before boarding the aircraft. Dispatch The department responsible for providing flight plans, weather reports and other important information regarding the flight to the Flight Deck Crew. Deadhead (DH) Flight Crew and other authorized personnel accepted and non-working extra crew member. E Economy Class (ECY) The least expensive seats in an aircraft. Enroute On or along the way. Example: The flight is enroute from Singapore to Manila. Estimated Flight Time The estimated amount of time it takes to fly from one point to another. Estimated time of arrival (ETA) The time at which a flight is estimated to arrive at its destination. Estimated time of departure (ETD) The time at which a flight is estimated to leave a originating/particular city. E-Ticket An electronic ticket issued from a machine or via email that confirms a reservation or a booking.  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -23 F Ferry flight To fly an aircraft from one point to another without any passengers on board. Flight plan Information provided to the cockpit crew by the dispatch department prior to each flight. It includes the planned route, flying time, altitude, and amount of fuel on board. G Ground Power Unit (GPU) This is a source of power attached to the aircraft when it is on the ground, to provide power to the aircraft when the APU and the engines are not in operation. The GPU is a portable unit, not part of the aircraft. Gate The exit at the departure lounge that leads to the aircraft. Ground time Period of time an aircraft and/or its crew spends on ground between flights. H Hangar A building where aircrafts are sheltered. This is also where they are maintained and serviced by the maintenance crew. Holding pattern Describes the situation where an aircraft is near its destination, but unable to obtain clearance from ATC yet, usually due to weather or heavy air traffic. The aircraft will be told by ATC to fly in a pattern around the airport at a specified altitude while waiting. Hub/Home Base The hub is the base or home port of an airline. Passengers flying with this airline usually have connecting flights into and out of this airport. I Inbound Refers to the passengers or a flight coming into an airport. Intermediate Stop A city where a flight stops between its originating and terminating points.This stop usually occurs on long flights for refuelling, restocking the aircraft galley supplies, and changing the crew for the next part of the journey.  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -24 Incapacitated Passenger (INCAD) A person whose physical, mental or medical condition require individual attention and/or special equipment not normally extended to other passengers during embarking and disembarking, during flight in emergency evacuation, or during ground handling at airports. J, L,M Jetway/Jetbridge or Aerobridge An enclosed passageway brought to the aircraft from the gate. It look like a tunnel and is used to facilitate movement of passengers and crew to and from the aircraft. Landing Card A form to be completed by passengers and handed to the immigration officer upon arrival in a foreign country. Leg/Sector The flight from take-off to landing. MNL-SIN/-MNL is a 2-legs flight also called a turnaround flight. N Non-revenue passenger A person travelling on a free ticket or a service charge only ticket. Airline employees travelling as part of their employment benefit are referred to as non-revs or pass riders. P Passenger Manifest List of passengers on board. R Ramp Agent (RA) Refers to the people who handles and loads the aircraft with luggage and cargo. The work on the ramp where the aircraft is parked. Revenue passenger Refers to the people who pay full fare for the air transportation and its accompanying services. Runway The specially prepared concrete surface used for take-off and landing. Remain Over Night (RON) When the crew or aircraft stays overnight or longer at a non-domicile station.  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -25 S Scheduled flight time The total projected time of a flight, from take-off to landing. Seat assignment They refer to specific seats assigned to each passenger at the time they check-in prior to boarding. On some airlines the seat assignment is done during booking or reservation, usually directly via their website or indirectly via a travel agency. Security check A place in the airport where all passengers, crew and airport personnel will be screened before they gain access to the gate area and before boarding a flight. A basic security check includes scanning your carry-on baggage and a scan of your person, to ensure you do not carry unauthorised objects to board the aircraft. Slot Refers to the pre-arranged time that a flight is scheduled to take-off, fly, and land at the next destination. Stand-by passenger A passenger who does not have a confirmed reservation but arrives at the airport close to the time of departure, hoping to secure a place on the flight. Non-revenue travellers are also considered to be on stand-by. Standby/Reserve Crew To wait at home/airport/office ready to be called up for duty. T Taxying When aircraft is moving on the ground under its own power. Taxiway A specially prepared portion of land on which the aircraft will move to and from the runway or hangar. Terminating station The city where a flight makes its final stop for the day. Through Passenger/ Thru passenger or Transit Passenger A person continuing on through an intermediate stop to a further destination.  CABIN CREW HANDOUT PAGE -26 Thru passenger or Turn time The amount of time between arrival and the time of departure of the same aircraft. It is usually used by staff to tell the amount of time they have to get an aircraft ready for the next flight. Touchdown When the aircraft wheels come in contact with the runway. U, V, W, Y Unaccompanied Minor (UM) Referring to a child between 5 – 12 years old travelling alone without an adult companion. Weight and Balance A calculation done prior to departure. Used to ensure the aircraft’s stability and hence flight safety. This calculation takes into account load factor (total weight of passengers, cargo, fuel, equipment, etc) and other various conditions of the flight.