Épisodes

  • 14 - The Return of Air Malta KM-478 - Why Professionalism Means Turning Back

    14 - The Return of Air Malta KM-478 - Why Professionalism Means Turning Back
    Apr 26 2026
    In this episode, I explore a real-world operational event involving Air Malta Flight KM-478, where a crew rostering issue led to a mid-flight decision to return to departure shortly after reaching cruise altitude. You’ll learn:
    ✈️ how terms like crew composition, significant discrepancy, and instructor rating are used in an operational context
    ✈️ why crew qualification and regulatory compliance are critical — even when a flight is already en route
    ✈️ how phrases like discontinue the flight and correct the crew lineup reflect real-world decision-making at ICAO Level 5–6 This episode goes beyond a simple incident description. It’s about understanding how administrative systems, human factors, and operational standards interact — and how to describe those interactions with clarity and precision. Because in aviation, safety isn’t only about systems and weather.
    It’s also about ensuring that every role on the flight deck is exactly what it needs to be — before the flight can continue.
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    7 min
  • 13 - Runway Incursion at LaGuardia - ICAO Aviation English Case Study

    13 - Runway Incursion at LaGuardia - ICAO Aviation English Case Study
    Apr 12 2026
    In this episode, I break down a runway incursion accident at LaGuardia Airport that occurred on March 22nd, 2026, involving an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 and an airport fire vehicle. You’ll learn:
    ✈️ how operational phrases like runway incursion, crossing clearance, and rollout phase are used in real-world context
    ✈️ why factors such as emergency traffic, high workload, and compressed timing can rapidly reduce safety margins
    ✈️ how expressions like dispatch emergency vehicles, consecutive rejected takeoffs, and reduced visual acquisition elevate your ICAO Level 5–6 communication This episode goes beyond describing what happened. It’s about understanding how multiple elements — timing, workload, weather, and human factors — combine in high-pressure environments, and how to reflect that accurately in your aviation English.
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    10 min
  • 12 - Newark Close Call - How to Describe a Near Mid-Air (ICAO Level 5 and 6)

    12 - Newark Close Call - How to Describe a Near Mid-Air (ICAO Level 5 and 6)
    Mar 22 2026
    In this episode, I break down a real-world near midair event over Newark Liberty International Airport, where an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 and a FedEx Boeing 777 came within just 300 feet of each other on intersecting approaches.You’ll learn:
    ✈️ how terms like near collision, loss of separation, and converging traffic are used in operational context
    ✈️ why terminal airspace congestion and high controller workload play a critical role in incident development
    ✈️ how phrases like descend through, call off the approach, and hand off to departure elevate your ICAO Level 5–6 fluency.
    This episode goes beyond describing what happened. It’s about understanding how timing, pressure, and precise communication shape the outcome — and how to reflect that in your language.
    Because in aviation, it’s not just what you say.
    It’s how accurately you say it when it matters most.
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    9 min
  • 11 - Tail Strike versus Tail Scrape - Aviation English Beyond The Checklist

    11 - Tail Strike versus Tail Scrape - Aviation English Beyond The Checklist
    Jan 1 2026
    In this episode, I explore the subtle but operationally critical distinction between tail scrape and tail strike, inspired by a real-world Boeing 737-800 departure from Milwaukee.
    You’ll learn:
    ✈️ how aviation English reflects severity and operational consequences
    ✈️ why tail strike appears in safety reports, MEL considerations, and official documentation
    ✈️ how terms like incur, tail skid system, and skid shoe elevate your ICAO Level 5–6 precision
    This episode goes beyond vocabulary lists and checklists. It’s about choosing words that match reality, responsibility, and risk — exactly what ICAO examiners listen for.
    Because in aviation, one word can turn an event into an accident.
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    4 min
  • 10 - 5 Spooky Idioms - Flight Log of Lost Words

    10 - 5 Spooky Idioms - Flight Log of Lost Words
    Dec 7 2025
    🎙️ Flight Log of Lost Words — Episode 10: 5 Spooky Idioms at the Edge of Transmission
    Some aviation stories never make it into manuals. Some words drift through the air like echoes. And some idioms sound as though they were lifted from the crackling static between far-off transmissions.
    Tonight, Aviation English specialist Emilia Barska guides you into the linguistic twilight — where English becomes atmospheric, eerie, and unmistakably skybound.

    In this Halloween edition, we explore:
    ✈️ Ghost flights and the idiom fly under the radar
    ✈️ Disappearances like Flight 19 and MH370 behind vanish into thin air
    ✈️ Fragile emergencies through hang by a thread
    ✈️ The haunting quiet of Denver International Airport and the calm before the storm
    ✈️ Airplane graveyards wrapped in silence and stories laid to rest

    For extras, behind-the-scenes notes, and more skyborne language:
    revisebeforeflight.com
    Fasten your harness and listen in — because in the sky, as in language, what disappears is never truly gone.
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    8 min
  • 09 - From Takeoff To Return The China Eastern Bird Strike Flight MU-2701

    09 - From Takeoff To Return The China Eastern Bird Strike Flight MU-2701
    Oct 19 2025
    What happens when a plane, just minutes into its climb, is suddenly grounded by a bird? On October 2nd, a China Eastern A321 operating Flight MU-2701 was forced to stop its ascent and return to Wuxi after a suspected bird strike at 8,900 feet. Join Aviation English specialist Emilia Barska as she breaks down the crew's textbook response, the resulting 7.5-hour passenger delay, and the damage that kept the aircraft on the ground for days.This is a deep dive into safety protocols and essential aviation vocabulary.
    Boost your ICAO Level 5/6 skills with the definitions for Occurrence Aircraft, Replacement Aircraft, and To Enter a Hold.Fly safe, and tune in for more essential Aviation English!
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    5 min
  • 08 - Luggage, Baggage, and Beyond: The Skybound Glossary

    08 - Luggage, Baggage, and Beyond: The Skybound Glossary
    Aug 31 2025
    Welcome to Episode 8 - Luggage, Baggage and Beyond - The Skybound Glossary. It is your ultimate guide to decoding travel terminology. I'm clearing the air on the subtle but important differences between "luggage" and "baggage," including their regional uses and figurative meanings. You'll also get an essential glossary of bag types, from "carry-ons" and "garment bags." Check my "luggage lingo" to make your next journey smoother and hopefully, entirely baggage-fee-free! ✈️🧳
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    10 min
  • 07 - The Unseen Turbulence: Navigating Mental Health in Aviation

    07 - The Unseen Turbulence: Navigating Mental Health in Aviation
    Jul 24 2025
    What happens when a pilot's identity is grounded for mental health? This episode exposes the "unseen turbulence" of aviation's re-certification process, revealing why the current system can hinder recovery and compromise safety. I make a compelling case for universal counseling as the missing piece in aviation's safety puzzle.
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    20 min