New standards implemented
New English language proficiency standards were implemented on 5 March 2008. The initial phase of implementation has now ended.
From 1 June 2008, pilots wanting an updated copy of their flight crew licence including their language proficiency assessment will need to pay the standard fee of $25.00. Use form 1137 if making a payment.
How do the new language proficiency standards affect you?
Background
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has directed its member states, including Australia, to assess and certify that all flight crew and air traffic controllers are competent in radiotelephony communications. English language will be Australia's language to assess for proficiency. Also, for international operations, English is accepted as the standard international aviation language. These new standards are to be in place worldwide by 5 March, 2008.
Any licence applications (PPL or above) received by CASA on or after 5 March 2008 must comply with the new language proficiency standards.
As part of these new standards, ICAO has defined six levels of language proficiency, where only the top three levels (levels four, five and six) are acceptable for operational flight crew and air traffic control.
Australia already has an excellent standard for English proficiency in place. For this reason the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has carefully examined the new ICAO standards to determine their likely benefits and how they might be applied. CASA has found that the adoption of the ICAO standards will boost existing English proficiency levels in Australia, provide a better system of review and as a result, enhance overall safety. ICAO requires that anyone with English proficiency below level six should be formally assessed at regular intervals. For level four this is every three years and level five reassessed every six years. Once level six has been certified, no further testing of English proficiency is required.
CASA is working towards making these changes as easy as possible for the industry. One of these initiatives is that flight crew already with an Australian private pilot licence (PPL) or above before the cut off date of 5 March 2008 will not need to be reassessed if conducting domestic operations only. Their previous assessment is deemed as operationally proficient to fly domestically without any need for further action.
ICAO defined levels of English proficiency - acceptable for flight crew licences
Level six |
Expert |
No further testing required |
Level five |
Extended |
Testing to be conducted every six years |
Level four |
Operational |
Testing to be conducted every 3 years |
ICAO defined levels of English proficiency - unacceptable for flight crew licences
Level three |
Pre-operational |
Level two |
Elementary |
Level one |
Pre -elementary |
How do the new language proficiency standards affect you?
Flight crew with an Australian licence issued before 5 March 2008
If you hold an Australian private pilot licence (PPL) or above and only fly domestically you will not need to take any action as you were assessed under CAR (1998) 5.09(1) as English proficient. You will be deemed as operationally proficient in English which allows you to fly domestically without any further action.
If you hold an Australian student pilot licence (SPL) you will not be required to take a language proficiency assessment until you apply for a PPL. Your language proficiency would have been assessed at the time your licence was issued and each time you fly you are required to be authorised by a qualified flying instructor as competent to conduct that flight, which includes language proficiency.
Flight crew who fly internationally
If you intend to conduct international operations on or after 5 March 2008 you will require at least level four English proficiency rating which will need to be displayed on your licence. There are three ways of complying:
- Undergo a level 6 assessment conducted by a person accredited by CASA to conduct level 6 assessments. This include many Approved Testing Officer and some CAR 217 Check and Training Captains. Level six English language proficiency assessors are limited to rating at level six only as the subtleties of the lower levels are difficult to define without intensive training.
- Undergo a language proficiency assessment at an approved language testing centre. These centres can assess you at all levels.
- In limited circumstances CASA will issue a level four English language proficiency to pilots who hold an Australian flight crew licence issued before 5 March 2008 and certify on an Application forms that they are conducting international operations.
Be aware that once you have the level four proficiency on your licence, the same testing regime will apply to you as it does to all licence holders who are assessed at level 4 after 5 March 2008. As a level four you will need to be retested to check your proficiency every three years. CASA recommends that flight crew licence holders who are able to obtain a level six should seek this proficiency from a level six assessor. A level six English language proficiency is valid for the duration of the licence.
Obtaining a new flight crew licence after 5 March 2008
You will need to be assessed to at least a level four English proficiency to be issued a PPL or higher licence. You may be able to be assessed by an ATO if they have been accredited by CASA as a level 6 assessor. You should enquire at your flying school. Level six English language proficiency assessors are limited to rating at level six only as the subtleties of the lower levels are difficult to define without intensive training. However, an approved language testing centre will be able to assess you at all levels. If you are assessed by a centre to have a level four English language proficiency or above, you can give this certification to your ATO, which they will send with your flight test report and application form to CASA.
Applications received by CASA after 5 March 2008 from applicants who have not completed a language proficiency assessment and satisfied at least level 4 proficiency cannot be processed and will be returned to the applicant.
Obtaining a Student Pilot Licence (SPL) w.e.f 01 January 2009
English language proficiency assessment for student pilot licence holders comes into effect on 01 January 2009. Until then, student pilot licence holders will continue to be assessed against the current language standard for the issue of an SPL. From 01 January 2009, people applying for a SPL shall be assessed by the school's Chief Flying Instructor (CFI) as having at least the minimum proficiency to communicate orally in the English language, to enable the SPL holder to safely conduct flying operations. Additionally the CFI of the flying school will need to be satisfied that the applicant pilot meets one of the specified criteria listed below. The applicant needs to show the CFI a suitable document that gives evidence that one of the following requirements has been met:
- The applicant has undertaken or completed his/her secondary education in an Australian or New Zealand educational institution, or the equivalent of an Australian secondary education in a country where one of the principal mediums of instruction had been in English.
- The applicant is still receiving secondary education in Australia or New Zealand where the language of instruction at the school is English.
- The applicant has spent at least three in the past five years of employment in Australia, New Zealand or a specified country (UK, USA, Republic of Ireland, Canada*); or
* For Canada, proof of English language proficiency may still be required - The applicant meets or exceeds one of the General English Test criteria specified in Civil Aviation Order (CAO) 40.0, Appendix 3.
Level 6 assessors – Approved Testing Officers (ATO), CAR 217 Check and Training Captains
CASA is recommending that Approved Testing Officers (ATO) continue their important role in assessing English language proficiency. As well, CASA has recommended that Chief Pilots and Check and Training Captains (C&TC) of operators conducting international operations be trained to assess the English language proficiency of their company's flight crew. Level six assessors will be able to assess level six English proficiency only, as the subtleties of the lower levels are difficult to define without intensive training. If a flight crew licence holder does not reach level six English proficiency, they need to be assessed at a CASA approved language test centre.
To be a CASA accredited English language level 6 proficiency assessor, the ATO or Check and Training captain must have a level six English language proficiency rating. CASA has developed a package to both assess and approve them for the role of level six assessor. Such ATOs or Check and Training captains are then accredited by instrument.
Check and Training Captains in CAR 217 organisations, conducting international operations, who want to be accredited as a level 6 assessor should contact Flight Crew Licensing Section by email to clarc@casa.gov.au for more information on how to become an accredited Level 6 assessor of English language proficiency.
Further information
If you have any questions that can't be answered here, please email:
clarc@casa.gov.au