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:

Despite established ICAO and FAA English language proficiency standards for aviation, the evaluation and enforcement for flight students remain inconsistent and largely unregulated, posing a significant safety risk.
Current challenges include a lack of standardized assessment tools, unqualified assessors (non-language professionals), and commercial pressures on flight schools that can undermine robust language screening.
Experts advocate for a universally adopted, collaborative assessment tool for aviation English proficiency and better training for flight instructors on how to effectively teach second-language learners to 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.