FAA’s English Language Standards Leave Gaps for Learners

Newly graduated flight students enter a global industry with varying levels of English proficiency.

Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 12:12 PM ET

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In the safety-critical field of aviation, miscommunication and/or misunderstanding can lead to a runway incident or accident, or worse, a midair collision. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Miscommunication due to English language proficiency issues has caused numerous aviation accidents and fatalities, underscoring its critical role in safety.
Despite international and national standards for English proficiency in aviation, their assessment and enforcement are largely inconsistent and unstandardized, particularly for student pilots, and often conducted by personnel lacking language assessment expertise.
There is an urgent need for a universal, professionally developed aviation English language assessment tool, combined with improved language training for flight instructors, to ensure consistent proficiency levels and enhance global aviation safety.

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Language and comprehension skills are necessary for successful communication in nearly every field, but in the safety-critical field of aviation, miscommunication and/or misunderstanding can lead to a runway incident or accident, or worse, a midair collision.

Studies indicate that more than 2,000 people have died in aircraft accidents as a result, at least in part, from language-related/communication issues—mostly between air traffic controllers and pilots—since 1973. And, researchers suspect that many more aviation incidents and accidents—including in general aviation and pilot training environments—are the result of miscommunication and/or lack of English language proficiency.