WP 09 Language proficiency for GA Vladimír Foltín ATM/ANS Standardisa5on Team Leader Flight Standards Directorate GA NAA Group & GA sub- SSCC Mee1ng 14 th April 2015 TE.GEN.00409-001
Aircrew requirements! ICAO Annex I 1.2.9 Language proficiency 1.2.9.1 Aeroplane, airship, helicopter and powered-lift pilots and those flight navigators who are required to use the radio telephone aboard an aircraft shall demonstrate the ability to speak and understand the language used for radiotelephony communications.! FCL.055 Language proficiency (a) General Aeroplane, helicopter, powered-lift and airship pilots required to use the radio telephone shall not exercise the privileges of their licences and ratings unless they have a language proficiency endorsement on their licence in either English or the language used for radio communications involved in the flight. The endorsement shall indicate the language, the proficiency level and the validity date, and it shall be done in accordance with a procedure established by the competent authority. 2
Aircrew requirements! FCL.055 Language proficiency (continued) (b) The applicant for a language proficiency endorsement shall demonstrate, in accordance with Appendix 2 to this Part, at least an operational level of language proficiency both in the use of phraseologies and plain language to an assessor or an approved language-testing body as applicable. To do so, the applicant shall demonstrate the ability to: (1) communicate effectively in voice-only and in face-to-face situations; (2) communicate on common and work-related topics with accuracy and clarity; (3) use appropriate communicative strategies to exchange messages and to recognise and resolve misunderstandings in a general or work-related context; (4) handle successfully the linguistic challenges presented by a complication or unexpected turn of events which occurs within the context of a routine work situation or communicative task with which they are otherwise familiar; and (5) use a dialect or accent which is intelligible to the aeronautical community. 3
Air Traffic Controllers requirements! Article 9 Air traffic controller licence 3. Applicants for the issue of an air traffic controller licence shall: (e) have demonstrated an adequate level of language proficiency in accordance with the requirements set out in Article 13. 4. The air traffic controller licence shall be validated by the inclusion of one or more ratings and the relevant rating, unit and language endorsements for which training was successfully completed. 4
Air Traffic Controllers requirements! Article 13 Language endorsement 1. Air traffic controllers and student air traffic controllers shall not exercise the privileges of their licence unless they have an English language endorsement. 2. Member States may impose local language requirements when deemed necessary for reasons of safety. Such requirements shall be non-discriminatory, proportionate and transparent and shall be notified to the Agency without delay. 5
Air Traffic Controllers requirements! Article 13 Language endorsement 1. Air traffic controllers and student air traffic controllers shall not exercise the privileges of their licence unless they have an English language endorsement. 2. Member States may impose local language requirements when deemed necessary for reasons of safety. Such requirements shall be non-discriminatory, proportionate and transparent and shall be notified to the Agency without delay. 6
Air Traffic Controllers requirements! Article 13 Language endorsement 3. For the purpose of paragraphs 1 and 2 the applicant for a language endorsement shall demonstrate at least an operational level (level four) of language proficiency both in the use of phraseology and plain language. To do so, the applicant shall: (a) communicate effectively in voice-only (telephone/radiotelephone) and in face-to-face situations; (b) communicate on common, concrete and work-related topics with accuracy and clarity; (c) use appropriate communicative strategies to exchange messages and to recognise and resolve misunderstandings in a general or work-related context; (d) handle successfully and with relative ease the linguistic challenges presented by a complication or unexpected turn of events that occurs within the context of a routine work situation or communicative task with which they are otherwise familiar and (e) use a dialect or accent which is intelligible to the aeronautical community. 7
Flight Information Officers Requirements! ANNEX I General requirements for the provision of air navigation services 1. TECHNICAL AND OPERATIONAL COMPETENCE AND CAPABILITY Air navigation service providers shall be able to provide their services in a safe, efficient, continuous and sustainable manner consistent with any reasonable level of overall demand for a given airspace. To this end, they shall maintain adequate technical and operational capacity and expertise. 5. HUMAN RESOURCES Air navigation service providers shall employ appropriately skilled personnel to ensure the provision of air navigation services in a safe, efficient, continuous and sustainable manner. In this context, they shall establish policies for the recruitment and training of personnel. 8
Airspace Requirements class B! SERA.6001 Classification of airspaces Member States shall, as appropriate to their needs, designate airspace in accordance with the following airspace classification and in accordance with Appendix 4: (a) Class A. IFR flights only are permitted. All flights are provided with air traffic control service and are separated from each other. Continuous air-ground voice communications are required for all flights. All flights shall be subject to ATC clearance. (b) Class B. IFR and VFR flights are permitted. All flights are provided with air traffic control service and are separated from each other. Continuous air-ground voice communications are required for all flights. All flights shall be subject to ATC clearance. 9
Airspace Requirements class C! SERA.6001 Classification of airspaces (continued)! (c) Class C. IFR and VFR flights are permitted. All flights are provided with air traffic control service and IFR flights are separated from other IFR flights and from VFR flights. VFR flights are separated from IFR flights and receive traffic information in respect of other VFR flights and traffic avoidance advice on request. Continuous air-ground voice communications are required for all flights. For VFR flights a speed limitation of 250 kts indicated airspeed (IAS) applies below 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL, except where approved by the competent authority for aircraft types, which for technical or safety reasons, cannot maintain this speed. All flights shall be subject to ATC clearance. 10
Airspace Requirements class D! SERA.6001 Classification of airspaces (continued)! (d) Class D. IFR and VFR flights are permitted and all flights are provided with air traffic control service. IFR flights are separated from other IFR flights, receive traffic information in respect of VFR flights and traffic avoidance advice on request. VFR flights receive traffic information in respect of all other flights and traffic avoidance advice on request. Continuous air-ground voice communications are required for all flights and a speed limitation of 250 kts IAS applies to all flights below 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL, except where approved by the competent authority for aircraft types, which for technical or safety reasons, cannot maintain this speed. All flights shall be subject to ATC clearance. 11
Airspace Requirements class E! SERA.6001 Classification of airspaces (continued)! (e) Class E. IFR and VFR flights are permitted. IFR flights are provided with air traffic control service and are separated from other IFR flights. All flights receive traffic information, as far as is practical. Continuous air-ground voice communications are required for IFR flights. A speed limitation of 250 kts IAS applies to all flights below 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL, except where approved by the competent authority for aircraft types, which for technical or safety reasons, cannot maintain this speed. All IFR flights shall be subject to ATC clearance. Class E shall not be used for control zones. 12
Airspace Requirements - class F! SERA.6001 Classification of airspaces (continued)! (f) Class F. IFR and VFR flights are permitted. All participating IFR flights receive an air traffic advisory service and all flights receive flight information service if requested. Continuous air-ground voice communications are required for IFR flights participating in the advisory service and all IFR flights shall be capable of establishing air-ground voice communications. A speed limitation of 250 kts IAS applies to all flights below 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL, except where approved by the competent authority for aircraft types, which for technical or safety reasons, cannot maintain this speed. ATC clearance is not required. 13
Airspace Requirements class G! SERA.6001 Classification of airspaces (continued)! (g) Class G. IFR and VFR flights are permitted and receive flight information service if requested. All IFR flights shall be capable of establishing air-ground voice communications. A speed limitation of 250 kts IAS applies to all flights below 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL, except where approved by the competent authority for aircraft types, which for technical or safety reasons, cannot maintain this speed. ATC clearance is not required. 14
Airspace Requirements RMZ! SERA.6005 Requirements for communications and SSR transponder! (a) Radio mandatory zone (RMZ)! (1) VFR flights operating in parts of Classes E, F or G airspace and IFR flights operating in parts of Classes F or G airspace designated as a radio mandatory zone (RMZ) by the competent authority shall maintain continuous air-ground voice communication watch and establish two-way communication, as necessary, on the appropriate communication channel, unless in compliance with alternative provisions prescribed for that particular airspace by the ANSP.! (2) Before entering a radio mandatory zone, an initial call containing the designation of the station being called, call sign, type of aircraft, position, level, the intentions of the flight and other information as prescribed by the competent authority, shall be made by pilots on the appropriate communication channel.! (c) Airspaces designated as radio mandatory zone and/or transponder mandatory zone shall be duly promulgated in the aeronautical information publications. 15
Conclusions! Not all pilots are required to demonstrate the ability to speak and understand the language used for radiotelephony communications (e.g. sailplane, balloon, microlights, paragliders, RPAS)! All Air Traffic Controllers are required to demonstrate the ability to speak and understand the language used for radiotelephony communications both in English and local language(s) if imposed! There are no specific EU requirements for Flight Information Officers to be able to demonstrate the ability to speak and understand the language used for radiotelephony communications (sometimes only in local language! Local languages are often imposed in Europe for both ATC and (A)FIS! Radio communication is not required for VFR flights in classes E, F, G unless designated as Radio Mandatory Zone! All controlled airspace and RMZs shall be duly promulgated in AIP 16
Possible ways forward! Proposal 1 To exclude the LAPL holders from the language proficiency requirement Rationales:! LAPL are not within the scope of ICAO! LAPL can be used in all Europe! LAPL are for non-commercial activities! LAPL Are limited to SEP aircraft up to 2000 kg 17
Possible ways forward! Proposal 2 Not to require demonstration of language proficiency for all VFR pilots in airspace where such communication is not required (classes E, F and G). Inclusion of Radio Mandatory Zone to be decided subject to safety assessment. Rationales:! Consistent requirement to all VFR pilots in the same airspace! Facilitation of cross border flights in E, F and G airspaces! Consistent requirement in whole Europe legal certainty! Removes the burden to obtain English or a local language endorsement for some international flights! At least a local language requirement would still need to be included in the licence (ability to use radio communication and phraseology) 18
Possible ways forward! Proposal 3 - Use both proposals in parallel Rationales:! All positives effects included in the two previous slides will be multiplied 19