scholarly journals The Main Air Traffic Controllers’ Language Proficiency Requirements

2019 ◽  
pp. 195-199
Author(s):  
Lilia Zelenska ◽  
◽  
Svitlana Tymchenko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers

Zagreb and Tenerife

2009 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 22.1-22.14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Cookson
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Native Speaker ◽  
Decisive Role ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Civil Aviation ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers ◽  
Swiss Cheese Model ◽  
Accident Causation ◽  
Airline Accidents ◽  
Cheese Model

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is currently implementing a program to improve the language proficiency of pilots and air traffic controllers worldwide. In justifying the program, ICAO has cited a number of airline accidents that were at least partly caused by language factors. Two accidents cited by ICAO are analysed in this paper: the mid-air collision above Zagreb in 1976, and the runway collision at Tenerife in 1977. The paper examines the linguistic factors involved in each accident, such as code switching and L1 interference, and uses the ‘Swiss cheese’ model of accident causation developed by Reason (1990) and adapted by Wiegmann and Shappell (2003) to put these factors into a broader aviation context. It is shown that, while linguistic factors were in each case significant, both accidents occurred as the result of multiple causal factors, many of which were non-linguistic. Furthermore, stress and fatigue played a decisive role in exacerbating the linguistic factors in each accident. Finally, the paper suggests lessons that may be drawn from the analysis for the training of pilots and air traffic controllers, both nativespeaker and non native-speaker.

scholarly journals CLARITY AND PRONUNCIATION OF AB-INITIO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER

Aviation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 252-261
Author(s):  
Haryani Hamzah
Keyword(s):  
Ab Initio ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
First Language ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Conversational Analysis ◽  
Air Traffic Controller ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers ◽  
Aviation Training ◽  
Language Proficiency Test ◽  
Communication Errors

The increasing number of aircraft flying around the world has led to the requirement for air traffic controllers to improve their communication skills to face high demand traffic in the future. The paper examines the communication errors in the pilot-controller communication of six ab-initio air traffic controllers during simulation training. More than three hours of conversation were collected and analyzed qualitatively using conversational analysis. The transcribed data yielded a total of 62 instances of communication errors. The data revealed that clarity and pronunciation of ab-initio controllers contributed to problematic communication and reduced the efficiency of the air traffic controllers in communicating. In contrast, pronunciation errors rarely diminished comprehension amongst the controllers and pilots who share a similar first language and are familiar with the use of English in a lingua franca setting. The study also describes other instances of communication errors in pilot-controller communication. The results indicate that ab-initio air traffic controllers need to be proficient in three main areas in pilot controller communication to improve their performance: aviation phraseology, aviation English, and aviation knowledge. The findings suggest that pilots and air traffic controllers should achieve level 4 (operational) in aviation language proficiency test, before proceeding to aviation training that requires them to be proficient in their language skills.

scholarly journals Zagreb and Tenerife

2009 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 22.1-22.14
Author(s):  
Simon Cookson
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Native Speaker ◽  
Decisive Role ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Civil Aviation ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers ◽  
Swiss Cheese Model ◽  
Accident Causation ◽  
Airline Accidents ◽  
Cheese Model

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is currently implementing a program to improve the language proficiency of pilots and air traffic controllers worldwide. In justifying the program, ICAO has cited a number of airline accidents that were at least partly caused by language factors. Two accidents cited by ICAO are analysed in this paper: the mid-air collision above Zagreb in 1976, and the runway collision at Tenerife in 1977. The paper examines the linguistic factors involved in each accident, such as code switching and L1 interference, and uses the ‘Swiss cheese’ model of accident causation developed by Reason (1990) and adapted by Wiegmann and Shappell (2003) to put these factors into a broader aviation context. It is shown that, while linguistic factors were in each case significant, both accidents occurred as the result of multiple causal factors, many of which were non-linguistic. Furthermore, stress and fatigue played a decisive role in exacerbating the linguistic factors in each accident. Finally, the paper suggests lessons that may be drawn from the analysis for the training of pilots and air traffic controllers, both nativespeaker and non native-speaker.

scholarly journals Addressing air traffic controllers’ English language proficiency needs: Case of Zenata Airport

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-183
Author(s):  
Ghania Mekkaoui ◽  
Noureddine Mouhadjer
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Aviation Industry ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Listening Skills ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers

The current paper is a contribution to the field of ESP in aviation industry in an Algerian context. It was conducted in Zenata –Messali el Hadj Airport. It was a case study research that is intended to explore the English language deficiencies and problems Algerian air traffic controllers may face in their work, as well as to identify their lacks, needs and wants. To overcome their    difficulties a needs identification and analysis was conducted thanks to various instruments: interviews, a questionnaire, classroom observation. The results indicated that all informants involved in the current research were aware of the importance of the English language in aviation industry, as low proficiency in this language might lead to misunderstanding, and dangerous situations. Air traffic controllers reveal their need to develop their language proficiency namely in speaking and listening skills with special focus on vocabulary and grammar. To conclude English language is important in aviation industry. A good mastery of this language helps avoid misunderstanding and keep aviation safety. Thus, Algerian air traffic controllers need to enhance their English language ability thanks to appropriate English courses and well trained ESP teachers. Keywords: ESP; English Language Proficiency; Air Traffic Controllers; English for Aviation.

scholarly journals Designing the Radiotelephony Plain English Corpus (RTPEC): A specialized spoken English language corpus towards a description of aeronautical communications in non-routine situations

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 113-128
Author(s):  
Malila C.A. Prado ◽  
Patricia Tosquil Lucks
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Regulatory Agencies ◽  
Radio Communications ◽  
Technical Problems ◽  
Spoken English ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers ◽  
Language Corpus ◽  
Shed Light

Pilots and air traffic controllers need to undergo a specific English test in order to be granted a license for international operations. A language proficiency scale was developed to serve as a parameter to all aviation regulatory agencies throughout the world by targeting the language produced specifically by air traffic controllers and pilots in radio communications when non-routine situations (such as technical problems, bird strike, changes in weather, health problems on board, etc.) occur (ICAO 2010). However, there is a lack of empirical investigation which could shed light upon this particular register helping the users of the scale with its understanding. In an attempt to fill this gap, this paper outlines a compilation of the Radiotelephony Plain English Corpus (RPTEC), a spoken corpus of aeronautical communication consisting of transcriptions of exchanges between pilots and air traffic controllers in non-routine situations for research and pedagogical purposes. By presenting steps taken during the process, we intend to provide fellow researchers with data which may suit other purposes and yield further analyses, as well as enlighten similar investigations in the field of English for Specific Purposes.

scholarly journals O efeito retroativo do EPLIS nas percepções de professores

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 24
Author(s):  
Paula Ribeiro e Souza
Keyword(s):  
Training Program ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Civil Aviation ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers ◽  
Aviation English

The Aviation English Proficiency Exam for the Brazilian Airspace Control System (EPLIS) was developed in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) language policy regarding the assessment of English language proficiency for air traffic controllers and aeronautical station operators. A high-stakes test by any account, EPLIS was delivered only to in-service air traffic personnel for the first 7 years. In 2014, however, pre-service air traffic controllers started sitting EPLIS in the last semester of their two-year training program. This study aimed at investigating the washback effect of EPLIS on the English teachers’ perceptions in an Air Traffic Control Initial Training Program. Teachers responded to a questionnaire about the influence of EPLIS on different aspects of language teaching and learning. A descriptive statistical analysis was carried out and the results showed that Aviation English teaching experience andknowledge about the exam interact with washback intensity.

Quantitative indicators of air traffic controllers’ attitude to the danger of errors

2020 ◽  
pp. 68-78
Author(s):  
O. M. Reva ◽  
V. V. Kamyshin ◽  
S. P. Borsuk ◽  
V. A. Shulhin ◽  
A. V. Nevynitsyn
Keyword(s):  
Human Factor ◽  
Differential Method ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Professional Activity ◽  
Aviation Accidents ◽  
Air Traffic Controllers ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Level Of Significance ◽  
The Individual ◽  
High Level

The negative and persistent impact of the human factor on the statistics of aviation accidents and serious incidents makes proactive studies of the attitude of “front line” aviation operators (air traffic controllers, flight crewmembers) to dangerous actions or professional conditions as a key component of the current paradigm of ICAO safety concept. This “attitude” is determined through the indicators of the influence of the human factor on decision-making, which also include the systems of preferences of air traffic controllers on the indicators and characteristics of professional activity, illustrating both the individual perception of potential risks and dangers, and the peculiarities of generalized group thinking that have developed in a particular society. Preference systems are an ordered (ranked) series of n = 21 errors: from the most dangerous to the least dangerous and characterize only the danger preference of one error over another. The degree of this preference is determined only by the difference in the ranks of the errors and does not answer the question of how much time one error is more dangerous in relation to another. The differential method for identifying the comparative danger of errors, as well as the multistep technology for identifying and filtering out marginal opinions were applied. From the initial sample of m = 37 professional air traffic controllers, two subgroups mB=20 and mG=7 people were identified with statisti-cally significant at a high level of significance within the group consistency of opinions a = 1%. Nonpara-metric optimization of the corresponding group preference systems resulted in Kemeny’s medians, in which the related (middle) ranks were missing. Based on these medians, weighted coefficients of error hazards were determined by the mathematical prioritization method. It is substantiated that with the ac-cepted accuracy of calculations, the results obtained at the second iteration of this method are more ac-ceptable. The values of the error hazard coefficients, together with their ranks established in the preference systems, allow a more complete quantitative and qualitative analysis of the attitude of both individual air traffic controllers and their professional groups to hazardous actions or conditions.

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