Aviation English Language Training - A Perspective

All international aircraft operators, whether pilots or airEnglish-language course for aircraft operators,
traffic control officers (ATCOs), must meet minimumtherefore, trainers must consider where to place the
English language proficiency requirements specified byemphasis. Many trainers focus on R/T phraseology;
the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)however, whilst standard phraseology is an important
which come into effect on 5 March 2008. The aim ofaspect of aviation communications, it is merely one of
ICAO is to raise standards in 'Aviation English'many. Most aviators are familiar with standard R/T
communications globally, as a means of improvingphraseology; they use it every day. Language trainers
safety both in the air and on the ground.therefore need to place the emphasis on the many
Aviation communications in any language are highlyaspects of non-standard and non-routine phraseology
specialized. The term 'Aviation English' embraces athat might be used in emergency situations and that
considerably wider field of language knowledge andpotentially create difficulties for non-native speakers, ie
expertise than most native speakers of English utilize inthose aspects of English not necessarily covered in
their everyday lives. Moreover, a further importantaviation manuals.
consideration is that of the aviation environment and 2Often, language training is a requirement more often
significant factors of everyday life in that community:than not driven by budgetary constraints, operational
those of the emergency situation and of theconstraints and logistical considerations on the part of
non-routine situation. Aircraft operators learn verya client, who invariably lacks appreciation that Aviation
precise procedures, definitions, and rules andEnglish training takes time. Trainers are frequently
regulations, and all are presented in very formal,required to train sponsored groups of trainees, a
precise and unambiguous language. Introduce thescenario that works well only when the specializations
unknown, those frequent occasions when somethingof the individual trainees, their respective training needs
does not happen in the way it should, or in the wayand also the English-language levels of each are similar.
that those involved are expecting, and we can readilyIt must be stressed that the needs of pilots and
identify where many of the major communicationATCOs are very different: whilst the sponsored-group
problems lie.scenario generally works well with pilots of similar
Pilots and ATCOs are well trained to deal with therating, in the case of ATCOs training must take
unexpected; nevertheless, no organization or individualaccount of 3 very different professional specializations,
can cater for every eventuality in such a precariouseach of which has its own particular requirements:
operating environment. In such situations, therefore, yetAerodrome Control, Approach Control and Area
another factor comes into play: that of the degradationRadar Control.
of an individual's performance under stress and underProblems arise on those occasions when either a
duress. In a very difficult, ever-changing andparticular sponsor elects for, or the training provider
ever-challenging working environment, which is fraughtattempts the 'one-size-fits-all' scenario, an option that is
with danger and the unexpected, circumstances canall too frequently deemed the most practical on the
change within seconds, inducing both crises and panicpart of the sponsor, for operational reasons, or the
in those directly concerned. At that juncture, individualmost economic on the part of the training provider in
performance levels plummet and instinct takes over.terms of facilitation. The outcome is all too often
Effective communication becomes paramount andunsatisfactory, with single trainees, or small group of
must be instinctive. If one then considers the addedtrainees, being placed on courses where the group as
complication of a particular individual, if not 2, one in thea whole is totally mismatched - by far the least
air and one on the ground, operating in a secondeffective way of achieving a satisfactory result from
language, performance can degrade further. Hence,any viewpoint.
the importance and necessity of a high level ofProvided there is adequate compromise, understanding
English-language proficiency in all concerned.and agreement between the client and the training
English language trainers therefore face an enormousprovider, nevertheless, the sponsored-group scenario
task in facilitating the service necessary to meet thecan work well, so long as all the parties concerned
demands for effective training in Aviation Englishensure that each group selected for training comprises
worldwide. The ICAO impetus, quite rightly, is ontrainees of the same aviation specialization, individuals
general English-language comprehension, which has toof similar experience and personnel with comparable
be the basis for any training. However, to meet theEnglish-language proficiency skills. The real key to
minimum communication standards for safe aircraftsuccess, however, is that prior to course
operations internationally, trainers must also considercommencement, the training objectives and learning
the contextual issues. It is the enormous scope ofoutcomes are clearly defined and that, importantly,
English in the context of aviation that presentsthey are agreed in advance between the client and
language trainers with a significant challenge.the training provider. Within such a package,
Aircraft operators require an enormous range ofprofessional trainees can then negotiate their own
knowledge, terminology and phraseology to functionlearning programme and achieve precise and specific
effectively in their everyday roles. In a shortlearning outcomes both efficiently and effectively.