For most of us, Cambridge University Press needs no introduction. Their name is synonymous with innovation and quality. When they decide to publish a book to improve aviation communications you can be sure it will be something special.
Roger-Wilco was granted an exclusive opportunity to review a pre-production version of Flightpath, Cambridge University Press’ brand new take on a communications study course that will be published around May 2011. Flightpath is comprised of a Student’s Book with audio CDs and DVD and a Teacher’s Book. Our review now covers the Student’s Book without the electronic material. We will bring you a supplementary review of the complete package once it is on the marker, so stay tuned. In the meantime, this is what we think about this pre-production gem.
First of all let me say that as a former air traffic controller who has also done quite some work on analyzing the causes of runway incursions, I am especially sensitive to the importance of using proper phraseology in all circumstances. Many incidents and serious accidents could have been avoided had the pilots and controllers concerned adhered to the prescribed way of expressing things. It is therefore always welcome when I come across a publication that tries to improve the communications scene on both sides of the cockpit/control unit divide.
The task is not easy! People can learn to express themselves in the formal way ICAO has prescribed but in order to continue using the proper phraseology and avoid falling back on colloquial speech, they need two things: first and foremost, they must understand the deadly danger inherent in not using correct phraseology. Second, proper communictions must be the subject of constant supervision via official means as well as via peer pressure.
An often overlooked aspect of communications is the non-verbal kind. The signs, lights and markings on an aerodrome are in fact means of communicating vital information that enables safe ground movement. But, like in verbal communications, misreading a sign can lead to disaster. Hence the need to learn their meaning as thoroughly as phraseology itself.
A textbook aimed at improving communications in this wider sense of the word cannot simply be a language book as such. It must present the phraseology and other means of communications in such a way that the student picks up the necessary phrases, meanings, rules and procedures AND at the same he or she is made aware of the most common mistakes, dangers and the means to avoid them Creating a really effective book like that is a tall order and it is not for nothing that there are so few of them around.
This will all change when Cambridge University Press’ “Flightpath” hits the shelves later this year.
This is a serious bit of writing, the Student Book alone is almost 200 pages! As the author states in the introduction, “Flightpath” is intended to assist pilots and air traffic controllers in reaching and maintaining a robust ICAO Operational Level 4, keeping in mind that language proficiency is soon eroded over time and considerably reduced in stressful situations. Flightpath had been written not only for initial training but also with a view to recurrent training… life-long learning.
My kind of book!
The first thing I did was dive into the pages to check whether they cover signs and markings (you know… that is also communications) and they do indeed! What is more, the graphics used and even the casual illustrations are perfectly in line with ICAO Annex 14. This is an aspect often neglected in works with less attention to detail.
OK back to the more general things. Even 200 pages are not too many of you want to cover such a vast area of knowledge properly. This shows up in the pages being a bit crowded but readability is not affected. Bold typefaces and boxed text helps the eye navigate and the messages are clear. You always know where you are and what you are supposed to be doing, what you must learn and what the dangers are.
The book is divided into three Parts, each named after something you want to avoid. Part One is called Hazards on the Ground while Part Two brings you En-route Threats. This is a cute way of constantly reminding the student that we are dealing with a subject that has all kinds of dangers embedded in it even while it is disguised as just communications… The parts are subdivided into Units and these are numbered consecutively from 1 to 10, cutting right through the Parts. This is a good idea and makes finding what you want much easier. For each Unit you have operational topics, corresponding communications functions and language content that ties in with the former two. All very logical and bundling things in an easy to follow way.
Once in a Unit, navigation is easy and the content truly instructive. The titles are simple and descriptive and the ICAO focus boxes provide vital supplementary information. I would suggest that even the most proficient among us should, if nothing else, browse through those ICAO focus boxes… I certainly spent a lot of time with them learning a few new things and being reminded of some others… like the double meaning of “say again” which can stand for “repeat” or “clarify” depending on the circumstances.
The book is amply illustrated throughout although it is a pity that most airline liveries were removed on the photos used, making them look a bit boring.
This is a book for learning and so, not surprisingly, it concludes with a set of pairwork exercises and reviews, followed by the key to the questions in the main part and finally the audio script for the CD. The inevitable glossary of abbreviations and acronyms is at the very end.
Although the main material does highlight common communications mistakes I would have liked a summary of the most common usage and understanding anomalies put somewhere after the last Unit. Once you chew yourself through this wealth of information, such a summary could be very useful as a quick reference for future use. Cross indexing the summary with the Units would save a lot of searching later on when you want to find a particular element you remember seeing… but where?????
Judging by this Student Book, the audio CD and the DVD with video material will no doubt also excel in its category. I know that the DVD will contain three video clips designed and produced by DeZine Services, a member of the BluSky Services Group (the parent company of Roger-Wilco), recreating real runway incursion incidents and those are unique in themselves and no doubt the rest will be even better.
Stay tuned, we will be back with a review of the complete package once it is available.
1 comment