Aviation English

Aviation English is the de facto international language of civil aviation. With the expansion of air travel in the 20th century, there were safety concerns about the ability of pilots and air traffic controllers to communicate. In 1951, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommended in "ICAO Annex 10 ICAO (Vol I, 5.2.1.1.2) to the International Chicago Convention" that English be universally used for "international aeronautical radiotelephony communications."[1] Despite being a recommendation only, ICAO aviation English was widely accepted.

Miscommunication has been an important factor in many aviation accidents. Examples include the Tenerife accident in 1977 (583 dead) and the 1996 Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision (349 dead). The crew of Avianca Flight 52 failed to impart their critical fuel emergency to air traffic controllers which led to their fatal crash (73 dead). The ICAO has acknowledged that "communications, or the lack thereof, has been shown by many accident investigations to play a significant role".[1] In 2003, the organization "released amendments to annexes of its Chicago Convention requiring aviation professionals involved in international operations to demonstrate a certain level of English language proficiency."[1] Cheating on exams, corruption and inadequate tests were key problems that affected pilots' English level.[2]

Although native English-speaking aviation professionals are automatically awarded level 6 ICAO status, they may also be sub-standard communicators in Aviation English, prone to the use of non-standard terms, demonstrating impatience with non-native speakers, and speaking excessively, and too quickly. Such native speaker failings tend to worsen in emergency situations.[3]

Aviation English is a type of English for Specific Purposes, with several specific idiosyncratic structures: for example, any correction of a misspoken word must always be conveyed using the word "correction".[4]

Tests

The need of standardization has led to the creation of the Test of English for Aviation. Eurocontrol, in partnership with ZHAW (the Zurich University of Applied Sciences) and ENOVATE,[5] has developed the ELPAC (English Language Proficiency for Aeronautical Communication) test[6] which is the only test recognized by ICAO as meeting all of the ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements and following good language testing practices.[7] The ELPAC test for air traffic controllers is fully recognised by ICAO for being in compliance with ICAO Doc 9835,[8] while the pilots' version is being reviewed.[6] Both TEA and ELPAC are designed to test listening comprehension and oral interaction only (there are no writing or reading parts).

Language assessment bodies

The testing of the Aviation English for pilots and air traffic controllers is provided by the so-called Language assessment bodies. The name Testing service provider is also being used with the same meaning. The language assessment bodies are appointed by the National aviation authorities (NAA) within the Europe for the purpose of the testing of Aviation English and language proficiency. Aero Language is one of the few LAB organizations providing the Aviation English testing in the region of Central Europe.[9]

References
  1. "Status of English Language Standard for Use in Civil Aviation" (PDF). International Civil Aviation Organization. April 2003. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  2. Poor English skills among pilots could cause air disaster, report finds, Daily Express, 2017-04-03
  3. "Aviation English Research Project: Data analysis findings and best practice recommendations An independent research report commissioned by CAA" (PDF). Civil Aviation Authority (UK). March 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  4. Li, Yuting (2016-05-20). "Civil Aviation English for Pilots: An English Air-ground Communication Course Based on Simulating Videos". Master's Projects and Capstones.
  5. "ELPAC. English Language Proficiency for Aeronautical Communication leaflet" (PDF). Eurocontrol. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  6. "ELPAC. English Language Proficiency for Aeronautical Communication". Eurocontrol. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  7. "ICAO Recognized Tests". International Civil Aviation Organization. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  8. "Manual on the Implementation of ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements (Doc 9835)" (PDF) (2 ed.). International Civil Aviation Organization. 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  9. , Aero Language, 2019-12-06
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