🛫Do you know that the phrase "take off" means not only "leaving the ground"( about a plane)? 

❗️❗️❗️It may mean something that starts successfully , something that gains success quickly! It can refer to business, careers, ideas, or trends that rapidly become successful 🚀✈️

Е.g.

"After years of training, his career as an airline pilot finally took off when he got hired by a major airline."

"After strict regulations were introduced, the new safety procedures took off, leading to a significant drop in incidents."

"Becoming a pilot isn’t easy—it takes years of training, dedication, and countless hours in the sky. But once you earn your wings, your career truly takes off!"

How did your aviation career take off? Share your story below! 👇

Today we will discuss medical examinations. Sometimes pilots and ATCs come across the issues with naming the doctors in English. 


As we know pilots and air traffic controllers must undergo regular medical check-ups to confirm they are both physically and mentally fit for duty. The specific tests and specialists they visit depend on the class of medical certification and the requirements set by their respective aviation authorities.

1. Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) (председатель мед. комиссии)
To begin with, every pilot and ATC must visit a certified Aviation Medical Examiner. This specialist serves as the main point of contact for medical certification and oversees the entire assessment process. If all requirements are met, the AME issues the official medical certificate, which is essential for maintaining operational status.

2. General Physician  ( терапевт)
The next step is a visit to a general physician who performs a full-body check-up. He/she
•  Measures blood pressure, heart rate, and overall fitness levels.
•  Reviews medical history to identify any chronic conditions that might interfere with safe performance.

3. Ophthalmologist (Eye Specialist) ( офтальмолог)
Clear vision is non-negotiable in aviation. That’s why every pilot and ATC must undergo a comprehensive eye examination, covering:
•  Visual acuity (to ensure sharp and accurate sight).
•  Color vision (to correctly interpret cockpit indicators and signals).
•  Depth perception and peripheral vision, both of which are crucial for situational awareness.

4. Otolaryngologist (Ear Nose Throat Specialist) ( ЛОР)
An assessment of the ears, nose, and throat  is vital, particularly for detecting any issues that could impact hearing, balance, or sinus health. He/she
•  Examines the ears, nose, throat to ensure normal hearing and balance.
•  Conducts audiometry tests to check hearing thresholds, which is critical for both pilots and ATCs.

5. Neurologist ( Невролог)
A neurological evaluation is essential to confirm proper reflexes, coordination, and cognitive function. This doctor checks for conditions such as:
•  Epilepsy or seizure disorders, which are disqualifying in most cases.
•  Vertigo or balance disorders, which could be dangerous during flight.

6. Cardiologist ( Кардиолог)
Since cardiovascular health is a major safety factor, pilots and ATCs—especially those over 40—must see a cardiologist for:
•  An Electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor heart function.
•  In some cases, a stress test (treadmill test) to assess endurance and cardiac response under exertion.

7. Psychiatrist / Psychologist (Психиатр/Психолог)
Mental resilience is just as important as physical health in aviation. Therefore, a psychiatric evaluation is often part of the examination process. This assessment focuses on:
•  Cognitive function and emotional stability under high-pressure situations.
•  Screening for depression, anxiety, or other psychological conditions that might affect performance.

Depending on aviation authority regulations, additional imaging tests may be required:
•  Chest X-rays to check lung health, particularly for those with respiratory concerns.
•  In specific cases, CT or MRI scans may be necessary to investigate deeper medical concerns.

Lastly, a series of lab tests help identify any underlying health conditions. These typically include:
•  Blood and urine tests to check for diabetes, liver/kidney function, and cholesterol levels.
•  Drug and alcohol screening, which is a strict requirement in aviation safety compliance.

✈️ Word of the Day: BINOCULARS 🧐
📸 [bIˈnɒkjələz]

👥 Plural only!
“Binoculars” is always plural, like “scissors” or “glasses.” There’s no “a binocular”!


Don’t say “Where is my binocular?”
Say:
👉 “Where are my binoculars?”
👉 Or: “Where is my pair of binoculars?

"It was a real wake-up call..."
👉 ✅ USE IT WHEN:
You want to describe a situation that opened your eyes or taught you a valuable lesson — in the sky or on the ground..

👉 ✅ Wake-up call — Это событие, которое заставляет пересмотреть свои действия, подходы или отношение к чему-то.

🛬"When we had that hydraulic failure during climb-out, it was a real wake-up call for me to refresh emergency memory items more often."

🛬 When we almost bust the altitude due to a distraction in the cockpit, it was a wake-up call for me to manage cockpit discipline better.

🎙 Question: What is a positioning flight?          

So, have you ever seen a plane take off with no passengers on board and wondered, What’s the point of that? Well, chances are, it was a positioning flight.

Now, in simple terms, a positioning flight is when an airline moves an aircraft from one airport to another, just so it’s in the right place for its next scheduled flight. There are no paying passengers, no cargo — just the aircraft, sometimes the crew, and maybe a few staff on board. It’s kind of like moving a bus to the right depot before it starts its route.

Let’s say a plane finishes in London, but tomorrow morning it needs to fly passengers from Paris. It has to get to Paris somehow, right? So, the airline schedules a positioning flight — also known as a ferry flight or repositioning flight — to move it overnight.

Perishable goods (скоропортящиеся товары) refer to any cargo that has a limited shelf life (cрок годности) and requires temperature-controlled environments to maintain their quality and freshness.

Perishable goods can be divided into several categories, including:
Fresh produce (свежие продукты) (fruits, vegetables)
Flowers and plants
Live animals
Pharmaceuticals
Seafood
Meat and poultry (домашняя птица)
Dairy products(молочная продукция)
Chocolate and confectionery (кондитерская продукция)
Wine and spirits (спиртные напитки)

Transporting perishable goods via air freight is a highly time-sensitive ( срочный) and specialized process that demands meticulous (дотошный) attention to detail. If airlinrs ship delicate food products, they  need to maintain their freshness; life-saving (жизненноважные) pharmaceuticals will require strict temperature control; other temperature-sensitive goods have to be carried properly.

TO RIP OFF means "to detach something forcefully or suddenly“.

"The pitot tube cover wasn’t removed before taxi, so it got ripped off during takeoff.”
“Strong crosswinds almost ripped off the access panel on the apron.”
“A GPU cable was ripped off when the aircraft started moving too early.” 

After landing in heavy crosswinds, the crew reported a loud noise near the right wing. Upon inspection, engineers discovered that a section of the flaps had been ripped off. The aircraft was grounded for repairs, and a full damage assessment was initiated.

Are you just tired or absolutely exhausted? 😴

Let’s level up your vocabulary!
Here are 6 powerful synonyms you can use instead of just saying boring “tired” .

Exhausted – totally worn down

“After that 10-hour flight in turbulence, I was absolutely exhausted.”

Worn out – physically drained

“Double rotation today. I feel worn out.”

Fatigued – formal, safety-critical word

“The FO reported feeling fatigued, so,the captain suspended him before the flight.”

Drained – energy gone

“That emergency landing left me emotionally drained.”

Burnt out – long-term exhaustion, often from stress

“You could tell the authorities the captain was burnt out. He hadn’t taken leave in months.”

Drowsy – dangerously sleepy

“Watch out! Drowsy pilots can miss critical ATC calls.”