Phrases & Expressions

To make an aircraft descend more quickly or more steeply.

• The controller asked the pilot to increase descent to reach the new level sooner.
• We need to increase descent to stay below the clouds.

A financial ratio comparing a company's market price to its book value per share.

• The stock trades at a low price-to-book ratio.
• Value investors often look for stocks with a price-to-book below 1.

To stop the engine start sequence before it is complete.

• Abort start if temperatures exceed limits.
• The pilot decided to abort start due to a warning light.

To set an aircraft's emergency slide to deploy automatically.

• The flight attendant will arm the slide.
• Cabin crew arm the slides before the aircraft pushes back.

To separate the edge (bead) of a tire from the wheel rim, a necessary step when removing a tire.

• You need a special tool to break the bead on this tire.
• It's hard to break the bead on old, stiff tires.

Small chocolates placed on a guest's pillow, often as a nightly turndown service amenity.

• We were delighted to find chocolates on pillow.
• The chocolates on pillow are a nice touch.

To remove a gap or break in the programmed flight path on an FMS.

• Clear the discontinuity in the FMS before reaching the next waypoint.
• The first officer cleared the discontinuity after loading the new route.

Flying at cruise with the cabin not pressurized, usually at or below 10,000 feet.

• Depressurized cruise is used in specific emergency situations.
• The crew prepared for depressurized cruise.

To set an aircraft door so that its emergency slide will not inflate when the door opens.

• Disarm the slide if there is no emergency.
• We must disarm the slide after landing.

An exercise in which crew or passengers practise an emergency landing on water.

• The flight crew practised a ditching drill in the pool.
• A ditching drill is part of the yearly safety training.