English Language proficiency

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia (CASA) has promulgated two different English language proficiency standards for flight crew.

International Civil Aviation Organization standard (also known as ELP)

This a language proficiency standard required by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for flight crew and air traffic controllers. ICAO has directed its member states, including Australia, to assess and certify that all flight crews (and air traffic controllers) are competent in radiotelephony communications as well as proficient in the language used. Hence it is about aviation language.

The ICAO language proficiency standards became effective on 5 March 2008. CASA has implemented the ICAO standards to enhance safety in flight operations.

English is the aviation language used in Australia; it is also the standard international aviation language. Therefore the language used by CASA to assess flight crew language proficiency is (aviation) English. Its commonly used abbreviation in Australia is ELP (aviation English language proficiency).

ELP is mandatory for the issue of an operational licence, namely the Private Pilot Licence (PPL), Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) and Flight Engineer Licence (FEL).

General English Language Proficiency (GELP) standard

This is a uniquely Australian standard on ‘general’ English language proficiency. GELP is mandatory for the issue of a student pilot licence (SPL).

Important note: As ELP and GELP are different, an achievement in one standard cannot be used as a substitute to satisfy the other standard.

More information

The following pages provide all the information necessary to understand how these different standards (ELP and GELP) may affect you.

Language proficiency poster