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ICAO ’s Air Navigation Commission (ANC) in recognizing the importance of improving communication between pilots and air traffic controllers in order to avoid accidents, reviewed the existing provisions for air-ground and ground-ground voice communication in the international civil aviation context. The ANC made changes to strengthen language proficiency requirements for pilots and air traffic controllers.

By 1 March, 2011 pilots, as well as experienced air traffic control officers (ATCO), according to ICAO’s Level 4 standard, will have to be able to make themselves clear in basic English and have the certificate proving this in order not to lose license for international operations.

In that date all speakers of English must demonstrate a minimum English language proficiency at ICAO Level 4 (Operational) in order to be fully licensed internationally.

While examining special attention is paid, whether pilots are able to explain a problem or ask for help in specific situations. This is done in order to avoid disasters, which can be managed communicating clearly.

In three accidents (one collision on the ground, one accident involving fuel exhaustion and one controlled flight into terrain), over 800 people lost their lives. What these seemingly different types of accidents had in common was that, in each one, accident investigators found that insufficient English language proficiency on the part of the flight crew or a controller had played a contributing role in the chain of events leading to the accident. In addition to these high-profile accidents, multiple incidents and near misses as a result of language problems are reported annually, instigating a review of communication procedures and standards worldwide.

Although ICAO announced the requirement two years ago a lot of the airlines did nothing that their pilots would reach necessary level of the language knowledge. Due to this English language training becomes more and more topical and relevant. One part is interested at language improving, but there are still the others that are concentrated only on reaching the level 4 needed for certification.