What language is spoken in aviation?

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What is the most widely spoken language in the aviation world? In this issue we tell you how the industry works and how to improve your knowledge.

Written by: Mario Lara Orellana @vulturenglish

If we ask the internet, will respond with matching results in that the jargon of pilots and air traffic controllers is English. The why? For a start, Most of the companies involved in the innovation and technology of the aeronautical industry have their headquarters in English-speaking countries.. Thus compromising the other territories dependent on this means of transport, almost forced use, by establishing technical manuals and procedures in this language.

Not even the best imagination can deal with the fact of having to translate the manuals of a commercial aircraft as a Airbus A320 (one of the most used models worldwide) for each of the countries that want to use it! The reason is not the tediousness that could exist, but that this whole system speaks the same language in aviation and the exception to the same, represents a constant danger.

another reason, and this one is a little less known, but if you are involved or want to get involved in aviation, surely at some point you were going to hear about one of the worst accidents in the history of aviation that occurred in 1977 at Tenerife airport in the Canary Islands in Spain. Where there was an accident between two planes Boeing B747, yes the two-story!, one of the company KLM and another Pan Am that collided with each other when the first aircraft was taking off while the Pan Am aircraft was backing down the same runway. Generating an explosion and fire that took hours to extinguish, resulting 583 Dead people.

According to later research; one of the main causes was the improper use of non-standard language, mainly due to the ambiguous use of the word "Ok" between the communication of the aircraft crew and the air controllers.

This and other incidents stimulated the federal aviation agency of USA on 1995 establish to standardize the English language fluency requirements for all certificates and ratings issued by the FAA since the inability of pilots to communicate effectively by radio and to properly handle any situation with air traffic control poses a risk to flight safety.

Then, Why listening to the RT or Radiocommunications of international flights can be challenging to understand?

Even having knowledge of English and recognizing that it is the most widely spoken primary language in aviation, it does not necessarily have to be the primary language of the millions of people who are involved in the aviation industry. In fact, language proficiency levels vary dramatically among aviation professionals around the world. And there are few who really sharpen these requirements.

How to overcome this challenge?

To our luck! Existe el “Aviation English”, a method for developing aeronautical English.

Aviation English is more than the use of spoken or written English during communications between the people involved in this: pilots, air controllers, cabin crew to maintenance and administrative staff. So it's not just RTs; It also involves the transfer of relevant information in the industry, including sciences like physics, improvements in electronic and avionics technology, air regulations, meteorology, etc.

Reason why the International Civil Aviation Organization (OACI) established in the 2003 el manual “Implementation of ICAO language proficiency requirements (Doc 9835)”. Thus creating a standard level of language proficiency for all persons holding a certificate and/or aeronautical rating issued by the FAA..

what is the standard?

We will explore more about this in a future article.; However, we will mention the essential.

ICAO created a system in which six parameters are rated: pronunciation, structure, vocabulary, fluidity, understanding and interaction. These parameters are qualified by means of a test that determines the level of linguistic competence on a scale of 1 al 6.

If a pilot wants to have the opportunity to apply to an airline, he must have a minimum level of language proficiency equivalent to 4. Representing the intermediate command of the English language or "operational" as the ICAO calls it.

Advantage of studying aeronautical English

Every day they are created new airlines and routes because this means of transport is preferred by people. What causes an increase in the recruitment trained to do this type of work, and this is the keyword “trained”.

The correct handling of this tool is essential and decisive in hiring to belong to the system..

Finally, we give our opinion based on the experience that belonging to this system gives us.. It is increasingly noted that the development of this aeronautical jargon not only greatly facilitates and simplifies air operations. It also allows us to reduce the risks of fatal accidents or incidents caused by the human factor., especially those caused by communication problems, like the one mentioned above and from which a bitter lesson is created.

With information from ICAO, Skybrary y Aes.

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