ICAO ICAO Aviation Language Proficiency Aviation Language Proficiency

Requirements – Requirements – The BackgroundThe Background

Captain Daniel MaurinoCaptain Daniel Maurino Flight Safety and Human Factors, ICAOFlight Safety and Human Factors, ICAOASPA/ICAO CAR/SAM Regional Seminar ASPA/ICAO CAR/SAM Regional Seminar

on Safety Management Systems (SMS)on Safety Management Systems (SMS)Mexico City, 14 to 16 March 2005Mexico City, 14 to 16 March 2005

Resolution A32-16 (1998)Resolution A32-16 (1998)

“…“…Council & Commission… Council & Commission… strengthen provisions... strengthen provisions... obligatingobligating Contracting States to Contracting States to take take steps to ensure that air steps to ensure that air traffic controllers and flight crews traffic controllers and flight crews involved in flight operations in involved in flight operations in airspace where the use of the airspace where the use of the English language is required, English language is required, are proficient in conducting and are proficient in conducting and comprehending radiotelephony comprehending radiotelephony communications in the English communications in the English language”language”

Air-Ground CommunicationsAir-Ground CommunicationsA long standing safety concernA long standing safety concern Conventional wisdom – Two pillarsConventional wisdom – Two pillars

standardized phraseologystandardized phraseology development of R/T speech based on simplified Englishdevelopment of R/T speech based on simplified English

Moderate successModerate success

Pillar #1 – Standardized PhraseologyPillar #1 – Standardized Phraseology Insufficient to deal with the full range of situations requiring Insufficient to deal with the full range of situations requiring

R/T exchangeR/T exchange

Pillar # 2 – R/T Based Upon Simplified EnglishPillar # 2 – R/T Based Upon Simplified English

Annex 1, pre-1998Annex 1, pre-1998ATCO’s: ATCO’s: “… speak the “… speak the

languagelanguagess designated for designated for use in air traffic controluse in air traffic control without accent or without accent or impediment which could impediment which could adversely affect adversely affect communication”communication”

Pilots:Pilots: nothing nothing

Air-Ground Communications RevisitedAir-Ground Communications RevisitedA32-16 – The need for a fresh viewA32-16 – The need for a fresh view Development of StandardsDevelopment of Standards

strengthening the use of standard phraseology strengthening the use of standard phraseology clarifying usage of English in aviation operations clarifying usage of English in aviation operations establishing language proficiency requirementsestablishing language proficiency requirements

The Price SGThe Price SG

Linguistic Research, Linguistic Research, circacirca 1998 1998

Natural languages are most effective form of speechNatural languages are most effective form of speech Natural language is the only form of communication Natural language is the only form of communication

sufficiently sufficiently reliable reliable comprehensive comprehensive adaptable adaptable for international aviation operationsfor international aviation operations

PRICE Study Group – PremisesPRICE Study Group – Premises1.1. Make Standards acceptable to the target group(s)?Make Standards acceptable to the target group(s)?

2.2. Allocate responsibility to airline operators and air Allocate responsibility to airline operators and air navigation service providers?navigation service providers?

3.3. Optimize interface between Standards and input from Optimize interface between Standards and input from commercial training & testing providers?commercial training & testing providers?

4.4. Frame Standards that can be easily integrated into Frame Standards that can be easily integrated into State regulatory frame works?State regulatory frame works?

PRICE SG conclusions (1)PRICE SG conclusions (1) Standardized phraseology – First line of defenceStandardized phraseology – First line of defence Plain language – Second line of defence [for the full range Plain language – Second line of defence [for the full range

of aeronautical R/T communication]of aeronautical R/T communication] Exchange of critical operational information requiresExchange of critical operational information requires

understanding of the fundamentals of linguisticsunderstanding of the fundamentals of linguistics appreciation of the susceptibility of language to appreciation of the susceptibility of language to

misapprehensionmisapprehension commitment to standards of discipline and care commitment to standards of discipline and care

PRICE SG conclusions (2)PRICE SG conclusions (2) Universal availability of one Universal availability of one

means of radiotelephony means of radiotelephony communication – important for communication – important for safety and efficiency safety and efficiency

Lack of a language common to Lack of a language common to flight crew and ground stations – flight crew and ground stations – safety concernsafety concern

Need to retain the language used Need to retain the language used by stations on the groundby stations on the ground

PRICE SG conclusions (3)PRICE SG conclusions (3) Similar proficiency requirements for pilots and Similar proficiency requirements for pilots and

controllers controllers A single minimum standard for the entire target groupA single minimum standard for the entire target group Airline operators/ATS providers responsible for ensuring Airline operators/ATS providers responsible for ensuring

target group proficiency requirementstarget group proficiency requirements

PRICE SG conclusions (4)PRICE SG conclusions (4)Heavy impact of the Standards in the aviationHeavy impact of the Standards in the aviation ““Do-able” if Do-able” if

extensive guidance materialextensive guidance material education & awareness programs worldwideeducation & awareness programs worldwide staff support activities by operatorsstaff support activities by operators increased compliance with ICAO standardized increased compliance with ICAO standardized

phraseologyphraseology commitment commitment

Clarifying Usage of “Aviation” EnglishClarifying Usage of “Aviation” English No silver bullet for all R/T communication problemsNo silver bullet for all R/T communication problems

blocked transmissionsblocked transmissions not all aircraft on frequencynot all aircraft on frequency controllers hand-over blocks of airspace to third partiescontrollers hand-over blocks of airspace to third parties crews workload disallows constant monitoringcrews workload disallows constant monitoring

Enhances management of the immediate operational Enhances management of the immediate operational contextcontextIf everyone is English-proficientIf everyone is English-proficient

Over blowing the potential of English – boomerang effectOver blowing the potential of English – boomerang effect

““Aviation” EnglishAviation” English Does not Does not belong belong to a to a

particular cultureparticular culture A A tooltool for controllers & pilots for controllers & pilots

[as a matter of convenience] [as a matter of convenience] Has no Has no specialspecial inherent inherent

qualities qualities Most Most accessibleaccessible of all of all

second languages second languages can be successfully can be successfully

integrated into training integrated into training programs in common programs in common English English

Language proficiency requirementsLanguage proficiency requirements

Annex 1 – Personnel LicensingAnnex 1 – Personnel Licensing Annex 6 – Operation of AircraftAnnex 6 – Operation of Aircraft Annex 10 – Aeronautical CommunicationsAnnex 10 – Aeronautical Communications Annex 11 – Air Traffic ServicesAnnex 11 – Air Traffic Services

Annex 1Annex 1

Demonstrate the ability to speak and understand the Demonstrate the ability to speak and understand the language used for radiotelephony communications language used for radiotelephony communications

The Rating Scale and Holistic DescriptorsThe Rating Scale and Holistic Descriptors The “speak and understand” ability shall be The “speak and understand” ability shall be

demonstrated to level 4 of the ICAO rating scale demonstrated to level 4 of the ICAO rating scale

Personnel LicensingPersonnel Licensing

Annex 1Annex 1

Language proficiency requirements apply to pilots Language proficiency requirements apply to pilots engaged in international flights engaged in international flights

Recurrent testing shall be required for those below level 6 Recurrent testing shall be required for those below level 6 every 3 years for level 4 every 3 years for level 4 every 6 years for level 5every 6 years for level 5

Grandfather clause for Grandfather clause for licences issued before 5 March licences issued before 5 March 20042004 5 March 20085 March 2008

Implementation NotesImplementation Notes

Annex 1 Annex 1

Manual on the Implementation of ICAO Language Manual on the Implementation of ICAO Language Proficiency RequirementsProficiency Requirements (Doc 9835) (Doc 9835)

Review of progress in the implementation of the Review of progress in the implementation of the Language proficiency Standards in 2006Language proficiency Standards in 2006

ConsequenceConsequencess of non-compliance with the language of non-compliance with the language proficiency Standardsproficiency Standards

Other AspectsOther Aspects

Annex 6 –Annex 6 –

Operators shall ensure that flight crews speak and Operators shall ensure that flight crews speak and understand the language used for radiotelephony understand the language used for radiotelephony communicationscommunications

Operation of Aircraft, Parts I and IIIOperation of Aircraft, Parts I and III

Annex 10Annex 10

Plain language shall be used only when Plain language shall be used only when standardized phraseology cannot serve an intended standardized phraseology cannot serve an intended transmissiontransmission

Communications shall be conducted in the language Communications shall be conducted in the language normally used by the station on the ground or in the normally used by the station on the ground or in the English languageEnglish language

English shall be available, on request from any English shall be available, on request from any aircraft station, at all airports and routes used by aircraft station, at all airports and routes used by international air servicesinternational air services

Aeronautical TelecommunicationsAeronautical Telecommunications

Annex 11Annex 11

Air traffic service providers shall ensure that air Air traffic service providers shall ensure that air traffic controllers speak and understand the traffic controllers speak and understand the language used for radiotelephony communicationslanguage used for radiotelephony communications

English shall be used for communications between English shall be used for communications between air traffic control units except when another air traffic control units except when another language is mutually agreedlanguage is mutually agreed

Air Traffic ServicesAir Traffic Services

ICAO AuditsICAO AuditsThe ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit ProgrammeThe ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme Language proficiency Standards in Annexes 1, 6, Language proficiency Standards in Annexes 1, 6,

10 and 11 starting in 2005 10 and 11 starting in 2005

Language Proficiency: The Trail of WreckageLanguage Proficiency: The Trail of Wreckage Trident/DC-9 mid-air collision, Zagreb -1976Trident/DC-9 mid-air collision, Zagreb -1976 Double B747 runway collision, Tenerife - 1977Double B747 runway collision, Tenerife - 1977 B707 fuel exhaustation, JFK - 1990B707 fuel exhaustation, JFK - 1990 B757 CFIT, Cali - 1995B757 CFIT, Cali - 1995 IL-76/B747 mid-air collision, India - 1996IL-76/B747 mid-air collision, India - 1996 MD83/Shorts 330 runway collision, Paris/CDG -2000MD83/Shorts 330 runway collision, Paris/CDG -2000 MD80/Citation runway collision, Milan - 2001MD80/Citation runway collision, Milan - 2001 ……

Source: ADREPSource: ADREP

The common element: The common element: EnglishEnglish language proficiency language proficiency

From an SMS Perspective: A HazardFrom an SMS Perspective: A Hazard

WeatherWeather

MaintenanceMaintenance

GroundGround CrewCrew

CabinCabin CrewCrew

Passenger managementPassenger management ATCATC

TerrainTerrain

SimilarSimilar callcall signssigns

TimeTime pressurepressure

HeavyHeavy traffictraffic

UnfamiliarUnfamiliar airportsairports

AutomationAutomation eventsevents MissedMissed approachesapproaches

FlightFlight diversionsdiversions

SystemSystem

malfunctionsmalfunctions