The dreaded test
Hi everyone,
All pilots, according to the ICAO (PPL, CPL, ATPL- only glider and balloon pilots are exempt) must be level four or above in all six linguistic areas of English Language Proficiency (ELP), including "native tongue speakers of English". The issue Doc. 9835 from ICAO stipulates that even native speakers must be tested. The manner in which CAAs do so is up to them however staying within the requirements. (No pencil and paper tests, no academic tests, all aviation work-related, specific to the task, etc.) The manual goes on to aid in the standards' implementation and test design. It must be a test designed strictly following the guidelines.
JAA has issued the draft (now closed for comment) and should be put into the FCLs come September. The draft has said that CAAs must accredit a test or testing body. There are some other slight differences between the ICAO standards and those to be issued by JAA but the "gist" is the same.
Best to all,
PE