Level: Intermediate (ADFELPS Level 6)

Helo pilots all aboard

Objectives
At the end of the tasks you will be able to:
•  read for general meaning (gist)
•  scan to identify key information
•  predict the meaning of vocabulary,
using contextual clues and word attack skills
FLTLT Hurley, centre, and FLTLT Jeffery,
right, with a navy colleague during their
Seahawk helicopter training.
Picture courtesy of “Air Force News”
Task 1
Reading for the main idea

Skim the article to decide what it is about.

Click on one of the alternatives given.

Click on 'See Text' to see the article.

Click on 'Check Your Answers' when you have finished.

Helo pilots all aboard

Two Air Force helicopter (helo) pilots – including the Service's first
woman helo pilot – have embarked on their first shipboard postings
as Seahawk tactical captains. Flight Lieutenant (FLTLT) Hurley is the
first woman to become a Seahawk pilot for the Royal Australian Navy
(RAN). She has been posted to HMAS Stuart and FLTLT Jeffery to
HMAS Darwin. (paragraph 1)

The pair are on a five-year posting to the Fleet Air Arm. They began
helicopter conversion training 2 years ago. Both had put this option
down as one of their top choices and were accepted as they thought it
would be a unique opportunity to experience both rotary and fixed-
wing flying during their Air Force careers. Part of their training
involved hovering a helicopter. This was testing at first, but once
they got the hang of it , it was fun and satisfying. Especially
demanding were the confined area landings “where you descend into
a small opening in the trees with only 10 feet between obstacles and
the rotor disc,” FLTLT Hurley said. (paragraph 2)

The pair have undergone training on both Squirrels and Seahawks,

and have had opportunities to operate with different types of Navy
vessels. They experienced the day-to-day operations of many non-
flying aspects of shipboard life, including watch keeping, during these
deployments. Both felt it was a great way to gain confidence handling
a helicopter and experience life at sea. Flying on a pitch-black night at
low level over the ocean to land on the flightdeck of a moving ship is
the most difficult training the two pilots say they have done. As well,
the officers were posted to No. 816 Squadron where they learned
aviation-related aspects of anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare,
vertical replenishment and blue water transport. (paragraph 3)

Both pilots say helicopter flying is great hands-on experience and the
tasking is always varied. They believe they will return to the Air Force
with excellent flying skills and captaincy experience and their
understanding of naval operations will be a great asset in future joint
operations in which they are involved. (paragraph 4)

Adaptation courtesy of “Air Force News”

    a. FLTLT Hurley is the first woman to become a helicopter pilot and undergo training
in the RAN.

    b. FLTLTS Hurley and Jeffery are training to be helicopter pilots in the RAN.

    c. FLTLTS Hurley and Jeffery have gained confidence in both helicopter flying and
sea board life.

    d. FLTLTS Hurley and Jeffery have gained experience in non flying tasks, such as
watch keeping.

Task 1
Reading for the main idea

B
Task 2
Vocabulary development

Focus on the words or phrases in bold in the article.

Click on the correct meaning for each word or phrase from the drop down
box.

Click on 'See Text' to see the article.

Click on 'Check Your Answers' when you have finished.

1. understood
2. refill
3. began
4. difficult
5. assigned
6. challenging
7. practical
8. flying but suspended over
a point
9.obstructions

Task 2
Vocabulary development

1.Got the hang 2.replenishment 3.embarked 4.testing

5.posted 6.demanding 7.hands-on 8.hovering 9.obstacles

Task 3
Reading comprehension – matching sentence parts

Match the beginning and ending of the statements to reflect the meaning in
the article.
Type the correct letter in each box.
There are more endings than beginnings.
The first one has been done for you.

Click on 'Check Your Answers' when you have finished.

Click on 'See Text' to see the article.
Look at “Answer Feedback” if any of your answers were incorrect.
a. in combined
1. Two helicopter pilots have d exercises with
begun _________________ the Air Force.

2. Both pilots had chosen b. understand

helicopter training _________ life at sea.
3. They had some difficulty at
c. 2 types of
first keeping
helicopters
_________________
4. A difficult skill was d. training in
_________ the RAN.
5.The pilots have been trained
to fly e. to land in a
______________________ small area.
6. Landing on a ship in the
dark f. to become
________________________ familiar with 2
types of flying.

g. was the
most
challenging
part of their
7. Their experience working in training.
the RAN will assist _________
h. the
helicopter
stationary
above an
identified point.
Task 4
Reading for detail – short answers

First read the following questions about the article.

Then write each answer in the gaps provided.
It is not necessary to use complete sentences.

Click on 'See Text' to see the article.

Click on 'Check Your Answers' when you have finished.

1. For how long are the 2 pilots attached to the

Fleet Air Arm?

2. Why did the helicopter pilots choose to be sent

to the Fleet Air Arm?

3. Why was it difficult for FLTLT Hurley to land in

small areas?

4. How did the 2 pilots gain more experience in

rotary flying?

5. What other skills will the 2 pilots gain from their

new postings?

6. Why is their training in other skills important?