The challenge

• Students need a good level of language proficiency to cope successfully with flight training delivered in English.

• Poor language proficiency causes problems for students and their instructors, and can lead to costly disruption and/or training failures. To reduce risk, airlines, flight schools and universities need to be confident that students have the right level of English before beginning flight training.

• Aviation-specific language training may not be available locally.

• Courses which address ICAO language proficiency are inappropriate for students because:

  • They are designed for licensed professionals, not for students

  • They do not train the skills that students need (for example, listening to instructors in the classroom and reading training manuals)

  • They assume professional knowledge of aviation operations that students do not have.

• General English training alone is inappropriate for students because it focuses on subject matter, language content and skills which are irrelevant to the needs of the students.