CASA's introduced the English standard test this year, and while it isn't watertight, at least they're doing something. Has anyone heard of any students failing the test?
Haven't heard of any failures, but it wouldn't surprise me. The accents are shocking (I wonder if they have used the same voice actor who did those ads for New Caledonia with the half-French half-Ocker (Frocker?) accent a while back?), and the bulk of it seems to be simulated communications between commercial jets under the IFR and tower. Because that is the sort of communication that a GFPT holder will be engaged in...
If they want to latch on to a safety issue, might I suggest AFRUs that insist on beeping over the top of calls. Once was in the circuit with a few other aircraft, and the damn thing kept beeping in the middle of everyone's calls. It was a wonder anyone could work out what anyone else was trying to transmit.
TT