All 3 Graded Readings
Airplane pilots fall asleep instead of landing
PRINT ALL READINGS (PDF)Being Asleep - Level 4
Two pilots fell asleep while flying a Boeing 737 from Khartoum, Sudan to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The plane was at an altitude of 37,000 feet. It was due to begin its descent to Addis Ababa's airport. Air traffic controllers said their radar showed the plane had overshot its destination. The pilots woke up after the autopilot disconnected and the alarm sounded. They turned around and landed the plane safely. No one on board was hurt.
The airline said: "We…received a report which indicates the Ethiopian flight…temporarily lost communication with air traffic control." It said the pilots "have been removed from operation pending further investigation". It added: "Appropriate corrective action will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation. Safety…will continue to be our first priority." An aviation analyst said pilot fatigue was one of the biggest threats to air safety.
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Being Asleep - Level 5
Two pilots fell asleep at one of the most crucial parts of their flight. They were flying a Boeing 737 from Khartoum, Sudan to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The plane was at a cruising altitude of 37,000 feet and was due to begin its descent to Addis Ababa's airport. Air traffic controllers were shocked when their flight radar showed the plane had overshot its destination. The pilots woke up after the autopilot disconnected and the alarm sounded. They did a loop of the skies above the airport and landed the plane. None of the crew or passengers on board were hurt.
The airline made a statement about the incident. It said: "We have received a report which indicates the Ethiopian flight…temporarily lost communication with air traffic control.…The flight later landed safely." It said the pilots "have been removed from operation pending further investigation". It added: "Appropriate corrective action will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation. Safety…will continue to be our first priority." An aviation analyst said the incident might have been because of pilot fatigue. He said this was "one of the most significant threats to air safety".
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11 online activities | 8-page printable (PDF)
Being Asleep - Level 6
Two pilots fell asleep on the job during one of the most crucial parts of their flight. The pair were in charge of a Boeing 737 that was travelling from Khartoum, Sudan to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The airliner was at its cruising altitude of 37,000 feet (11,278 metres) and was due to begin its descent to Addis Ababa Bole Airport. Air traffic controllers at the airport were shocked when their flight radar showed the plane had overshot its destination. The pilots woke up after the autopilot disconnected and the alarm sounded. They quickly did a loop of the skies above the airport and successfully landed the plane. None of the concerned crew or passengers on board were hurt.
An airline spokesperson made a statement about the incident. She said: "We have received a report which indicates the Ethiopian flight…temporarily lost communication with air traffic control.…The flight later landed safely after communication was restored." The airline said the pilots "have been removed from operation pending further investigation". It added: "Appropriate corrective action will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation. Safety has always been and will continue to be our first priority." An aviation analyst said the incident might have been the result of pilot fatigue. He said this was "nothing new, and continues to pose one of the most significant threats to air safety".
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