Phrases & Expressions

To send a mayday call saying that a ship or aircraft is in serious danger.

• The ship captain was forced to declare mayday.
• The pilot declared mayday after both engines lost power.

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.

An air traffic control instruction to descend to a given altitude and stay there.

• The controller told us to descend and maintain flight level 120.
• Pilots must read back the altitude when told to descend and maintain.

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.

To put on an oxygen mask, especially in an emergency.

• In case of emergency, don mask immediately.
• The pilot instructed passengers to don their masks.

To put on oxygen masks, typically in an emergency.

• In case of depressurization, don oxygen masks immediately.
• The pilot instructed everyone to don oxygen masks.

Said to report that the emergency slides of the aircraft doors are set to inflate automatically.

• The purser reported 'doors armed' to the captain before pushback.
• Only after the call 'doors armed' may the crew take their seats.

A cabin crew call meaning the doors are set so that the escape slides will not inflate when opened.

• After landing, the purser announced, "Doors disarmed and cross-checked."
• The crew must confirm doors disarmed before the boarding bridge is attached.

EU rules determining which member state is responsible for asylum applications.

• The Dublin Regulation aims to streamline asylum procedures.
• His case was rejected under the Dublin Regulation.