My licence says I have 'English language proficiency' and TREs (and FEs and CREs) are allowed to confirm level 6 proficiency (valid for life) using Form 1199 during LPCs. So, I'm puzzled why an ATPL holder would not meet the IAA's requirements?

Because it doesn't state the level on the license which is suggested by ICAO.

I have been pulled in year 5 of my ATPL fixed wing and they stated that the min is IACO 4 which is 4 years which with no other indication they are going to presume it is that. And as I was in year 5 of my license it was now up and I was flying illegally.

It was a policy by the the CAA when it came in and who ever made the call refused point blankly to admit they were wrong.

They had to send out everyone a new license with the english pref on it and they don't want have to do it again to put the level on it. Now they can't send out new licenses without changing them to life time EASA ones which will mean a major drop in revenue because nobody will then have to pay them anything at the end of 5 years.

There solution I was told was to tell the NAA thats doing the inspect that they are worng and it only a suggestion by IACO and the EASA stuff wasn't in place yet. As if that is going to work!!!.

I now carry another none EU license which has my ICAO language level on it as level 6.

OK, I'm leaving myself open to being shot down in flames 'ere, but if that was English Level 6 then I'd hate to see what level 5 or below looks like.

Mad Jock,

Relax, have a large dram and try again..:ok:

Is there any level the Crats will not stoop to in order to generate revenue?:rolleyes:

I was sober at the time of posting and I got lifted in France as described on a friday after shutting at the CAA. It took three hours to sort out after I got my doctored last OPC form with level 6 "tick" on it faxed through by ops.

If they hadn't i was under hotel arrest until monday.

My FAA certificate doesnt have a ELP level, just the statement "english proficient", so if the French want to consider that as a 4 year validity, then Im sure that a lot of people are going to get caught the same as Mad_jock....

I would suggest requesting a new certificate from the FAA in order to have a more current date of issue.

Good Luck in those European skies :):)

Mutt

Had a similar experience when applying for a validation recently.

It was noted that my licence was not endorsed with "English Language Proficiency".

OK - no problem. Get hold of someone who can approve me as level 6 and get the licence re-issued.

This person was originally from North of Hadrians Wall although long since removed but still broad.

AFTER he issued the document as a joke I asked "And by the way, how did you pass?"

The reply (in jockanese) - "Don't you start pal - The person that examined me at the authority (in Oceania) was from the "Asian Continent" and said his English was "borderline".

His wife was with him at the time and he said he had to physically restrain her from committing assault!

902 Jon

Are you saying the caa inspector has the same rights as a police officer I know they employ a few failed police officers to police the ano

Why would I need a new date of issue? You would figure that once you were proficient you would stay that way...unless you moved to Texas then you would slip a bit.

You are proffecient its just that it can be interpreted that once your license is more than 4 years old you maybe outside the valid period of an ICAO 4. And as you don't have a level on yours they can only presume its a 4.

Its either that or you get another bit of paper which has ICAO english perf on it with level 6. I haven't been stopped since though so don't know if it will work.

Any other UK -issued JAR holders been ramp-checked and stopped for this?
And in which State?

As an Irishman, the irony of a fellow Irishman asking an Englishman to prove his level of English language competency isn't lost on me.

Did that make sense?

Hmmm, lets see, is an Eastender an Englishman? Or, for this subject only, a scotsman?

Cause they certainly do not speak English. But then the Irish do not either...

Getting hat and coat... :ok:.

The whole story sounds as if Ben Elton would have made it up for "the thin blue line"....

After 4 emails ignored by the CAA, and two periods listening to the Guff on their switchboard at international rates, I finally found by myself the info on their website that an examiner from a state whose native language is English (Eire, Canada, Oz ,NZ etc) can sign an 1199. The dippy one I spoke to at vast expense in the mad-house assured me only a UK licence holder could certify it, which (according to their own document) is bollox.
They screwed up, and they don't seem inclined to be helpful when you try to resolve it.
No change there then. Wonder how much they will want to fleece me to issue a confirmation letter? the 43 quid spent on a licence verification letter was a rip-off, it said nothing of any value I could see. The only good point was that it alerted me to the fact the 4years Level4 grandfather rights expired on 4th March, & here was me swanning around thinking I had Level 6 :rolleyes:.

I thought I said that already?

Yes, but the barking bit is that a CAA examiner can't tell the IAA that a pilot meets an English language competency. Examiners can flight test for the renewal and revalidation of ratings, present such information to the IAA on CAA paperwork (1119 etc), make entries in pilots' licences but woe betide if they present a 1199. :ugh: For that, the pilot needs to furnish the IAA wiith a wad of cash. Ask me if I'm proud to be Irish. :{

That is interesting!
 

I did a language test in the UK last summer and sent the paperwork for that along with the paperwork to renew my ATPL(A) after 5 years, expecting to see something like 'English Language Proficiency Level 6', since I scored that on the test. Instead it just read the same as on the old license. (I don't have it right here, but I think it just reads that one is 'proficient' without giving the numerical level.) I wanted the 6 so that I wouldn't have to do another test.

So the CAA have my '6' somewhere on the computer at the Belgrano?

Why worry so much ..???? I haven't even checked mine and I'm not going to either .
one thing to do is email the CAA with a query but say in the email that you will take no response to mean that you are all ok and legal . I really do not believe that not proving a 6 language proficiency will put you foul of the law to any real extent :ugh:

This attitude costs jobs, too. At least from the point of view of making it more awkward.

While being perfectly (or at least equally) qualified for a position abroad, the complete inflexibility displayed, coupled with their (CAA) complete lack of interest resulted in some silly shenanigans getting verifications, followed by silence on the job front.

The CAA response is that the verification/validation process will take care of it (kerching, £££ rolling in eyes, another £43 please. wait 10days)

I took time a couple of years ago to explain to a person (at UK CAA) of questionable english comprehension that they really are rather cr4p. I was referred to someone else who took umbrage at my impertinence!


On a slightly different note. Validations and verifications from UK CAA seem to me to be completely barking mad, also. They will not provide me (or any of us UK issued ) with a copy of said validation, quoting all sorts of rubbish relating to their interpretation of data protection. We pay the fee for them to release our details to others.
So. I carry a copy of the verification that UK CAA sent to the FAA, validating my license. The letter includes English level 6. The UK CAA cannot give me a copy of that letter due to UK regs, but the US FAA can give me a copy, because they aren't bound by them.