English for Aviation

For pilots and air traffic controllers to communicate clearly and efficiently around the world, a universal aviation language had to be established. Both parties work closely together to exchange crucial information about the aircraft, flight, crew members, and passengers as well as other external factors and situational awareness that help ensure safe and efficient operations.

Since miscommunication and language barriers are human errors that could gravely impact flight safety and put those on board at risk, ICAO established English language proficiency requirements for pilots and air traffic controllers serving and operating international flights. Though English was chosen as the language of the skies at the Chicago Convention in 1944, ICAO first began addressing language proficiency for pilots and air traffic controllers in September 1998. In 2008, an English language proficiency test was established as part of the requirements for pilots and air traffic controllers to be fully qualified.

Aviation English is known globally for the phonetic alphabet, specific terminology and phraseology, and the universal jargon that we’ve likely heard in films or onboard a flight. It is actually a lot more complex. While much of the language is technical, functional command of English is necessary to pass along essential messages as clearly, fast, precisely and as naturally as possible, particularly when there is an emergency. Another advantage of having a standard language for pilots and air traffic controllers to communicate in is that pilots flying in the same airspace can monitor air traffic transmissions and increase situational awareness.