ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY FOR THE CONTROLLERS

by aryama Sanyal  

 

The Air Traffic Controllers world over are debating the "TO BE OR NOT TO BE" question on account of English Language proficiency level that is to be achieved as proposed by ICAO by March 5th 2008. Many of the Air Traffic Controllers from non-English speaking countries like ours had been doing with minimum to medium level proficiencies in English language during our duty rounds for most of the Controllers, and maximum level proficiency in a few cases too. The language English which we inherited in a normal hands down procedure and as a matter of inheritance from the British is not our mother tongue. But over the years English language has become the base language for Radio Telephony communication between the ATC and pilots .It is the language of all aviation communication. Initially when Radio Telephony began in the year 1908 it was decided to do with minimum English and the language to be used primarily would be the language of the state over flown. But many incidents and accidents later it dawned upon everyone that the requirement of knowing just phraseology in English was not good enough. More so when an unusual critical or emergency situation arose wherein every body incuding the pilot and controllers needed to communicate more with each other.

 

In order to reduce the impact of inadequate English language proficiency among the ATC and Pilot fraternity ICAO decided in the year 1998 to review the adequacy of  English languge proficieny in aviation and its impact on aviation safety. In the year 2003 new standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS) concerning  English language proficiency requirements were adopted. ICAO also introduced the following measures:

1. Introduction of an ICAO langage proficiency rating scale ranging from pre-elementary (Level 1) to Expert (level 6) which would be applicable to both English and non-English speaking state speakers.

2. Establishment of minimum skill level requirements for English language proficiency for flight crews and Air Traffic Controllers.

3. Clarifications of the requirement of knowledge of phraseology and plain English language.

4. Standardization of the use of ICAO phraseologies.

5. Intoduction of recommendation of a testing schedule to demonstrate language proficiency.

6. Provision for service provider oversight of proficiency compliance.

The year 2008 is not far away and our duty to comply to this new requirement is urgent. We need to infuse ourselves with a sense of urgency. NOW. IATA has come foreward to help the aviation community. It has partnered with world renowned language srevice provider-BERLITZ. The motto is to develop a complete Aviation English Solution in compliance with ICAO's requirements. The solution aims at first providing assessment service to determine the current proficiency level ,then impart language training and later on holding a proficiency Testing.

 

Let us take action today on this count as the deadline of March 5th 2008 is not far away. Each of us whether we belong to the ATC or the flying fraternity can take a few steps on our individual basis to sharpen our English language proficiency before we are formally put on the training rigmarole by the ATS service provider. We should never ever forget that our level of English language proficiency will decide the level of Aviation Safety.