Aerospace English

Aerospace English offers a number of services to pilots and air traffic controllers. 

• Diagnostic testing of candidates for an ICAO compliant English Language Proficiency Test.
• Training Needs Analysis (TNA) and remedial tutoring support to ensure candidates will pass an ICAO compliant test on their first try.
• Arrangements for candidates to sit an ICAO compliant test.

Details of the ICAO English levels are here.

The value of good diagnostic testing and informed Training Needs Analysis (TNA) are particularly important.  In the aviation training context, remedial English tutoring must be flexible and take account of aspects such as flight or ATC training schedules which in a typical flying school are themselves subject to weather and other factors.

Diagnostic Testing

In the initial period of compliance with ICAO's newly released directive (March 2008) many flying and ATC schools and airline operators will at first be wondering what level of English their pilots are at.  Until this is established, the amount of remedial tutoring effort is unknown.  Sending candidates up for the actual ICAO test at this point is an expensive, logistically difficult exercise.  Particularly so given the critical shortage of IACO approved assessors.  Moreover all attempts (including failures) are likely to remain on pilots' records.  Finally, the ICAO test results will not give useful information for the planning of subsequent remedial tutoring.  A much better avenue is diagnostic testing, also referred to as pre-testing or placement testing.

Diagnostic testing is not subject to the stringent requirements laid down for ICAO compliant English Language Proficiency and is therefore far easier to administer.  Of course the diagnostic test must still be valid and reliable.  However an experienced English language teacher (also knowledgeable in aviation and the ICAO requirements) can quite quickly determine the approximate level of a candidate just through a short interview.  Adding further listening and writing test items will increase the scope and accuracy of the level assessment.

The client's choice then is a balance between economy and measurement reliability.  Aerospace English offers a variable balance here to suit the client's needs.  For example if an aviation school is quite near an approved ICAO English language test centre, then the logistics of sending candidates is less difficult.  So the diagnostic test may be simpler (and cheaper), with the measurement of language level being less precise.  Another example is where the client is happy to accept remedial tutoring such that their English level is boosted above the necessary ICAO level by a large margin (more than the measurement uncertainty in diagnostic testing).

In contrast if an aviation school is quite remote from a testing centre, as is common in Australia (with test centres only Brisbane or Melbourne at present), then the logistics of sending candidates is logistically very difficult and expensive.  Therefore the diagnostic test must be more reliable and precise.  While it may be technically possible to design and administer ICAO tests remotely (online or by video conference), having such tests validated and ICAO approved is exceedingly difficult leading to great expense.  Moreover the shortage of approved assessors is still an issue.

In summary then, having a flexible diagnostic test will save much logistical effort.  It also serves better as the foundation to design any necessary remedial tutoring.

Training Needs Analysis and Remedial Tutoring

As for any form or training, remedial English language tutoring must be focussed and have clearly defined start and end goals.  For aviation English the end goal is whatever ICAO level is required (minimum Operational level 4 - see here), and these are clearly described in word pictures.  This end goal is common to all candidates seeking a particular level.  However, and critically, candidates will have differing start levels and gaps in their English knowledge and skills, and they will also have differing learning characteristics.

In some cases, groups of candidates may be tutored as a class.  In other cases their different learning needs will require a one-on-one focus.  This must be identified and planned for in order to achieve greatest economy and minimum learning time. In a typical aviation training environment, flying time (subject to weather) is likely to also impact on learner availability and this added scheduling complication is something not normally seen in an English language learning environment.

Overall then, it is vital to comprehensively analyse the needs of the candidates, in the context of their environment.  This Training Needs Analysis (TNA) effort will lead to focussed remedial effort and optimum results for the learners and the client.

Once the needs are identified, and a plan agreed between us and the client, then the teacher may plan and commence the actual remedial tutoring.  Aerospace English teachers have at their disposal a wide variety of material which may be tailored to the local environment is desired.  Tutoring may be conducted onsite, or via distance learning methods, as the client prefers.

It is important to note that, although the ICAO requirements do not include a formal written component, remedial tutoring will often include written work for two important reasons.  Writing practice is the best way to improve language overall and will dramatically improve listening and speaking skills.  Written work clearly demonstrates level, allows assessment which may be validated, and forms a record of progress for the candidate.  These factors are crucial for a teacher's planning and the client organisation's resource management processes. 

For similar reasons, reading work is also a vital part of any remedial tutoring.  Reading skills play a critical part in exam preparation since the time given to answer questions is often affected by the time taken to comprehend them.  In fact specific exam strategies will also help a great deal, and this is where the teacher must be knowledgeable of both the ICAO standards and the nature and layout of the test.  

Arrangements for ICAO Compliant Testing

Aerospace English can arrange for candidates to take an ICAO compliant English Language Proficiency Test, whether by attending at an approved testing centre, or by arranging for an assessor to attend the client's school, or some intermediate location.

Candidates will be able to approach this test with far greater confidence after having been properly prepared.