Newsroom
Pilots to take new English test for safer skies
14 April 2008
All international pilots must now take a test to prove they can speak English – the international language of air traffic control – adequately to deal with unforeseen emergencies.
The new test requirement, introduced by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (the United Nations regulatory aviation agency) follows incidents where more than 1,500* passengers and flight crew lost their lives in accidents where inadequate English language proficiency on the part of a controller or pilot had been a contributing factor.
Philip Shawcross, President of the International Civil Aviation English Association, presented a paper on the new exam at the international conference of the Association of Language Testers in Europe, held at Cambridge University (Saturday April 12).
He said most communications between pilots, and air traffic control were carried out in ‘standard ICAO phraseology’ - internationally recognised expressions used unfailingly to address routine situations, such as:
“Cleared for ILS approach Runway 1-3 Right.”
“Request holding instructions”
“Leaving Level 3-1-0 for Level 3-5-0.”
However, when unexpected events happen, pilots need to be able to communicate quickly and clearly in English – often under extremely stressful situations.
Accident investigations revealed it was the use of non-standard phraseology and inadequate proficiency in plain language which were contributing factors in a significant number of aircraft accidents and incidents.
As a result, ICAO, which legislates on every aspect of commercial aviation operations, set in motion a process to study how the level of radio communication could be improved and led to the new requirement being introduced.
From 5 March 2008, all pilots and air traffic controllers working in an international environment are required to have their professional licenses endorsed to prove that they have successfully passed an approved test demonstrating that they are at least at ICAO Operational Level 4. Without this endorsement, they are unable to work legally in an international environment. The test will have to be periodically re-taken.
There is a three-year period of grace to allow the 189 countries which belong to the ICAO to comply, with the provision they have a detailed implementation plan outlining how they will achieve compliance and what measures are in place to ensure safety in the interim period.
Mr Shawcross said: “This will certainly act as a powerful force driving up standards of spoken English in the aviation community world wide. Indeed, in Europe and elsewhere, as regional legislation is brought into line with ICAO requirements, the trend is to aim at higher levels of proficiency.
“This will mean that pilots and controllers will be better prepared to deal effectively with the potentially hazardous situations and there will be greater awareness in the industry of the essential part played by language in the communication-technical-human factors of aviation safety.
“These standards represent the first language testing policy affecting a global industry, and naturally present a very complex set of consequences and requirements. It may go on to be a benchmark used by other tests of English in critical environments, such as policing, the medical profession and international military actions.”
* between 1970 and 1995
