Icao Language Proficiency Check
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Not necessarily. It depends on a number of factors, including whether you're a native English speaker and whether your state of licence issue places specific requirements for the grant of a Level 6. Hence the reason I asked the question.
Many NAAs require non native English speakers to undergo a formal language assessment. The UK CAS were pragmatic enough to allow native English speakers to be assessed by an examiner in the course of a skill test.
Edit: damn iPad spelling.
Many NAAs require non native English speakers to undergo a formal language assessment. The UK CAS were pragmatic enough to allow native English speakers to be assessed by an examiner in the course of a skill test.
Edit: damn iPad spelling.
Last edited by S-Works; 2nd Jan 2012 at 18:22.
Mind you the original question is about an
(sic!) which might well indicate the poster is after a rough assessment of her/his chances for a level 6. Seeing (s)he left 2 typos in place even after a PM, that might be a wise idea.
informal evaluaton
Last edited by Jan Olieslagers; 2nd Jan 2012 at 19:22. Reason: typoes
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These guys from the UK offer level 6 testing in Germany and elsewhere: Cockpit Voices.
They offered me a quick chat on the phone to determine whether level 6 is a realistic option.
This ICAO language stuff makes me want to cry. I had a document from the FAA declaring that I was "English proficient" but the German CAA did not consider the FAA to be competent in this regard and required me to pass the test with a German examiner whose English was ... rather basic.
They offered me a quick chat on the phone to determine whether level 6 is a realistic option.
This ICAO language stuff makes me want to cry. I had a document from the FAA declaring that I was "English proficient" but the German CAA did not consider the FAA to be competent in this regard and required me to pass the test with a German examiner whose English was ... rather basic.
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@achimha... Cockpit Voices is at the moment no longer acredited to do Level 6, so I hear.
The FAA " English proficient" is only Level 4! Being proficient does not mean you are good enough for level 6. Besides, the remark on your FAA is not dated, which is required by ICAO, since level 4 is only good for 3-4 years (depending on country and/or IFR). Oh, and the German LBA does not accept tests done in other countries anyway, not even ones done in England, since the examiners are unknown to them.
The FAA " English proficient" is only Level 4! Being proficient does not mean you are good enough for level 6. Besides, the remark on your FAA is not dated, which is required by ICAO, since level 4 is only good for 3-4 years (depending on country and/or IFR). Oh, and the German LBA does not accept tests done in other countries anyway, not even ones done in England, since the examiners are unknown to them.
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The FAA " English proficient" is only Level 4!
disappears. In America, they haven't used it for years!"
Prof. HH
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This english proficiency requirement is an odd one. Take for example UK JAA PP and a Thai PPL licence.
- In Thailand: you need an English proficiency evaluation to fly outside Thailand on a HS-registered plane. You do not need one if you fly within Thai airspace on such a licence.
- UK licence: it states that the language proficiency is English. (Obviously so I would say as all the training and tests/exams are in English anyway). But does such a licence holder need an extra exam to fly outside UK's airspace, like in Thailand?
- In Thailand: you need an English proficiency evaluation to fly outside Thailand on a HS-registered plane. You do not need one if you fly within Thai airspace on such a licence.
- UK licence: it states that the language proficiency is English. (Obviously so I would say as all the training and tests/exams are in English anyway). But does such a licence holder need an extra exam to fly outside UK's airspace, like in Thailand?
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Your UK PPL should contain a statement about English language proficiency ICAO level 6, dated XXX. Otherwise there could be trouble when flying outside of the UK.
Without this entry, Germans aren't even allowed to fly to Austria although the only official language there is German. So don't be surprised if they ground you in Ireland and confiscate your plane
The ICAO language test is one of the most stupid things I've seen lately. At least in Germany, it was very hard to find someone that was accredited to do the exam and pretty much impossible to get to more than level 4 without having to travel hundreds of kilometers.
When you fly to France and want to land at an aerodrome where there is no tower or outside business hours, usually the official unicom language is French. Legally, one would have to get a ICAO language proficiency entry for French as well.
Without this entry, Germans aren't even allowed to fly to Austria although the only official language there is German. So don't be surprised if they ground you in Ireland and confiscate your plane
The ICAO language test is one of the most stupid things I've seen lately. At least in Germany, it was very hard to find someone that was accredited to do the exam and pretty much impossible to get to more than level 4 without having to travel hundreds of kilometers.
When you fly to France and want to land at an aerodrome where there is no tower or outside business hours, usually the official unicom language is French. Legally, one would have to get a ICAO language proficiency entry for French as well.
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[Grammar pedant hat on]
It is customary to insert an apostrophe into abbreviated words.
A "typo's" is an abbreviation of "typographical errors", the apostrophe has been used correctly.
[/Grammar pedant hat off]
It is customary to insert an apostrophe into abbreviated words.
A "typo's" is an abbreviation of "typographical errors", the apostrophe has been used correctly.
[/Grammar pedant hat off]
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The FAA " English proficient" is only Level 4! Being proficient does not mean you are good enough for level 6. Besides, the remark on your FAA is not dated, which is required by ICAO, since level 4 is only good for 3-4 years
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Your UK PPL should contain a statement about English language proficiency ICAO level 6, dated XXX. Otherwise there could be trouble when flying outside of the UK.
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@achima... The English exams allows you to do radio communication in English only. Since the primary aviation language IS English, the testing in English has priority.
You actually are not allowed to do radio communication in French unless you have a French level 4 (if it's being tested at all). Soon there will be the requirement for German level 4 within Germany for airfields that only communicate in German (listed in the AIP on the field charts)
And that regulation always existed. If a pilot could not communicate in German and an airfield only had German listed, then that pilot could not fly there.
I wouldn't call it stupid... ICAO set it up for a reason; and you can't have examiners for level 6 unless they themselves are good enough, and are professional language instructors or similar.
Some countries take it more serious then others. I heard that some German microlights were grounded in Denmark because they didn't have their English level 4 since there they are considered SEP's. And I also heard that soon after inforcement, the French had a fun time checking all incoming British pilots to see if they had their English level!
Sorry, I can't confirm any of those "rumors".... just like the rumor that all of Alitalia's pilot got the level 6 without an exam. 
You actually are not allowed to do radio communication in French unless you have a French level 4 (if it's being tested at all). Soon there will be the requirement for German level 4 within Germany for airfields that only communicate in German (listed in the AIP on the field charts)
And that regulation always existed. If a pilot could not communicate in German and an airfield only had German listed, then that pilot could not fly there.
The ICAO language test is one of the most stupid things I've seen lately. At least in Germany, it was very hard to find someone that was accredited to do the exam and pretty much impossible to get to more than level 4 without having to travel hundreds of kilometers.
Some countries take it more serious then others. I heard that some German microlights were grounded in Denmark because they didn't have their English level 4 since there they are considered SEP's. And I also heard that soon after inforcement, the French had a fun time checking all incoming British pilots to see if they had their English level!
Sorry, I can't confirm any of those "rumors".... just like the rumor that all of Alitalia's pilot got the level 6 without an exam.
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the French had a fun time checking all incoming British pilots to see if they had their English level!
with a license with less than a year to run and no level indicated on it. The frog saying that if there was no level indicated it meant that it was level 4 and as the license was 4.5 years old I was out of date. Of course it was the weekend and they were quite happy to throw me in Jail until the CAA opened up again.
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When you fly to France and want to land at an aerodrome where there is no tower or outside business hours, usually the official unicom language is French. Legally, one would have to get a ICAO language proficiency entry for French as well.
I can understand why it would make sense, but I've never seen any regulation with required it.
Indeed it would make French airfields in accessable to many foreign pilots even if they were fluent French speakers, simply because there is no facility to add French languange proficiency to their licence.
Imagine a Norweign pilot asking the Norweign CAA for a French Languange Proficiency test so that they could add it to their licence. It's very unlikely that they would have developed such a test, or have such an examiner.
Nobody other then the Norweign CAA can add any privlidges to a Norweign licence other than the Norweign CAA. Hence such a pilot could never visit such a French airfield.
I don't believe that there is any languange requirements in ICAO either other than needing either the local language or English.
Indeed many of these airfields can be used non-radio, making such a requirement simply silly.