Originally Posted by B737NG
If you hear Chinglish, Japlish, Konglish or something similar in the radio and both cannot articulate themselves on the radio then you agree that the test is needed. Who test´s the other 4 ICAO languages? Chinese, Russian, Spanish and French???? Fears are within some far east operators that they may cannot "pass" 20% of the present pilots they have into the minimum level required. More Expats to fill the gaps? What a mess, you are not welcome as you "take" a Job of another Buddy....
Fly safe and land happy
NG
Dear B737NG,
Studies show it takes about 200 study hours to advance one level in language proficiency. By putting pilots and air traffic controllers in the language learning environment years ago (Sept. 2004 was the first of just a series of ICAO symposiums dealing with the test and implementation of the applied 2008 standards) this would have been adequate time for these 20% you mention to raise their proficiency levels. Many countries have been working on implementation and much progress has been made. It boils down to money in many situations. Many, many waited or kept their heads in the sand saying that the date would be extended, the application to certain licenses or air space would change and so forth. The fact is that since 2004 the standards and help in implementation have been there, it has taken this long for the "word" to get out.
As for hearing Chinglish, Japlish, Konglish you can also hear German English, Italian English, Spanglish etc, etc. The standard is in "plain language". I am a big supporter of International English, but aviation English is an English that leaves out idioms and idiomatic phrasal verbs. It focuses on certain structures (grammar) and vocabulary (including, but certainly not limited to, technical vocabulary) and teaches exactly the language needed when radiotelephony phraseologies do not suffice. If the people who are on the radio every day who speak English fluently would use only this type of language it would help that 20% (if not more) communicate too.
As for who will test the French, Russian and Chinese; there is a Russian test in the making and it is very good. The Chinese have been deciding on the test they will use as well as a training solution. I am not sure what the French have planned.
Pilots and ATC are motivated learners, nothing like thinking your job will be given to the first Ex-Pat that passes to get you studying. No, it won't be nice to take the place of someone else simply because they speak English at a higher proficiency level, but it is not nice to think that an airplane falls out of the sky due the flight deck couldn't communicate. Not nice at all when incidents and accidents are due to miscommunications.
The ICAO operational level 4 isn't native-like English. It is a proficiency level that insures one understands and can make himself understood to an international aviation community. (ICAO's words, not mine)
Best,
PE