English for Aviation

Ih Cape Town is a registered ELP testing centre with the South African Civil Aviation Authorities ( ATO# CAA/0370) and therefore all tests conducted are valid for international licensing. ICAO, a division within the United Nations, regularly reviews and strengthens its language proficiency requirements.
ICAO stipulates that all pilots operating on international routes and all air traffic controllers who communicate with foreign pilots must be able to communicate using both ICAO phraseology and plain English, and must have their English language proficiency formally assessed.

• ICAO Level 6: Expert
• ICAO Level 5: Extended
• ICAO Level 4: Operational
• ICAO Level 3: Pre-Operational
• ICAO Level 2: Elementary
• ICAO Level 1: Pre-Elementary

The minimum language level for licensing purposes is ICAO Level 4. To be assessed at ICAO Level 4 or above, a pilot or air traffic controller must achieve Level 4 in all six of the ICAO skill areas:

• Pronunciation
• Structure
• Vocabulary
• Fluency
• Comprehensive
• Interactions

Local civil aviation authorities determine how long test scores remain valid. ICAO recommends that:

• Level 4 is valid for license endorsement for 3 years from the test date
• Level 5 is valid for license endorsement for 6 years from the test date
• Level 6 is valid for license endorsement for an indefinite period from the test date

This course has been designed with the new language regulations in mind which have been introduced by ICAO for all concerned to reach Level 4 and higher on the Language Proficiency Scale.

The English for Aviation covers a range of subjects associated with flying and the Aviation Industry. The course is organised in the sequence of a flight, starting with an introductory unit, followed by pre-flight, ground movements, departure, cruising, en-route events, contact and approach, landing and end-of-flight ground movements.

Pilots and air traffic controllers will find the course useful for improving their Standard English, but anyone working in aviation ground staff, emergency services, or administrators, for example – who want to improve their English ability will benefit from the English for Aviation course as well.