hello all, I thought you all might be interested in this.
Aviation English or “plain language” has been stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as the language in which pilots must have a proficiency level 4 or above on the scale issued in Doc 9835 AN/453. This is the dialogue in which pilots and air traffic controllers must use when the standard phraseologies issued in previous annexes are insufficient.
ICAO formed The PRICE Study group to investigate the theory that lack of language proficiency had an effect on events in civil transport. After consideration of over 27,000 incident and accident reports This group of experts determined that low English language proficiency was a predominant factor in many of them. Therefore, ICAO has put forth these amendments to these following annexes.
Annex 1:
1.2.9.4
As of 5 March 2008, aeroplane and helicopter pilots, air traffic controllers and aeronautical station operators shall demonstrate the ability to speak and understand the language used for radiotelephony communications to the level specified in the language proficiency requirements in the Appendix.
Annex 6, Part 1:
3.1.6
Operators shall ensure that flight crew members demonstrate the ability to speak and understand the language used for aeronautical radiotelephony communications as specified in Annex 1.
Appendix 1
The language proficiency requirements are applicable to the use of both phraseologies and plain English.
See here...
http://www.icao.int/icao/en/trivia/peltrgFAQ.htm
Best to all,
PE
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=233246