CASA media release - Friday 30 November 2007
New aviation language standards
Australia is moving to adopt international language standards for pilots and air traffic controllers to ensure all communication in the air is clear and accurate.
Proposed new rules issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority set out English language proficiency standards.
Existing holders of Australian flight crew licenses who fly domestically within Australia do not need to take any action.
However, holders of Australian flight crew licenses who fly internationally will need to obtain at least a level four English language proficiency.
CASA will make this as easy as possible for the aviation industry by providing approved language assessors at or close to where pilots work or train.
The new language standards are proposed to take effect from March 2008. Under the international standards there will be six levels of English proficiency, ranging from pre-elementary to expert.
It is proposed that all flight crew applying for a private pilots licence or above from 5 March 2008 will need to obtain at least a level four proficiency in English.
People applying for a student pilot licence will need to prove their general English proficiency under the proposed requirements.
The International Civil Aviation Organization has directed all member nations to assess and certify that all flight crew and air traffic controllers are competent in radiotelephony communications by 5 March 2008.
CASA is supporting these international standards and is committed to making the changes as simple as possible for the aviation industry.
A notice of proposed rule making has been issued putting forward details of the changes and people in the aviation industry are being invited to provide comment.
Read the notice of proposed rule making and submit comments: http://www.casa.gov.au/newrules/fcl/nprm0714fs.htm
For more information go to: http://www.casa.gov.au/fcl/language/index.htm
Media contact:
Peter Gibson
mobile 0419 296 446
Ref: MR0773