Phrases & Expressions

To announce the decision height or minimum descent altitude during an instrument approach.

• The pilot will call minimums when reaching the decision height.
• It is important to call minimums clearly.

Constantly making small, often unnecessary, adjustments to stay on course.

• Stop chasing the needle; make a small correction and then wait.
• He was chasing the needle during the final turn.

Measured from the moment an aircraft leaves its chocks until it stops at the chocks after the flight.

• The flight time from chock to chock was 4 hours.
• Many airlines pay pilots for the hours from chock to chock.

A TCAS resolution advisory telling the pilot to climb immediately to avoid another aircraft.

• The TCAS warning 'Climb, climb' means the crew must climb at once.
• When TCAS called 'Climb, climb', the pilot started climbing immediately.

To complete the financial accounts for a month or year.

• We need to close the books by Friday.
• Accountants work late at the end of the year to close the books.

The main body of an aircraft made from strong, lightweight composite materials.

• The A350 features a composite fuselage.
• Its composite fuselage is very strong.

Aircraft wings made from strong, lightweight composite materials.

• The A350 has a composite wing design.
• This composite wing reduces weight.

Vertical movement of air in the atmosphere, often leading to showers and thunderstorms.

• There is a risk of convective activity this afternoon.
• Convective activity can cause sudden changes in weather.

To falsify financial records, usually illegally.

• The accountant was accused of cooking the books.
• They cooked the books to hide their losses.

Efforts to prevent people from being drawn into violent extremism and to counter the appeal of extremist ideologies.

• Countering violent extremism requires a multi-faceted approach.
• Community leaders are key in countering violent extremism.