Aviation English

ICAO has specified English Language Proficiency Requirements and no pilot may exercise the privileges of his/her licence without a valid language proficiency rating.

Language Proficiency Interviewing/Rating is considered to be extremely “high stakes” testing as it impacts on aviation careers and the critical issue of aviation safety.

To ensure validity of such assessments, it is imperative that the interviews and ratings shall only be conducted by professionals registered as CAA Language Proficiency Interviewers/Raters.

Our raters who are registered with the CAA to comply with the critical characteristics of testing methodology as set out in ICAO Document 9835, make use of the ICAO Rating Scale, and holistic descriptors to rate candidates accordingly.

The interview process shall consist of a thirty to forty minute interview with a Linguistic and a Subject Matter Expert (pilot or ATC).

During this interview, the candidate shall be evaluated in the use of the plain language and aviation related language. Oral and listening skills shall be rated in accordance with the full set of ICAO descriptors.

There are six levels of language proficiency:

1. Pronunciation
2. Structure;
3. Vocabulary;
4. Fluency;
5. Comprehension;
6. Interaction.

The process shall determine the candidate’s actual proficiency level.

An applicant who can provide evidence of Expert English Language Proficiency will be awarded Expert Level 6.

This evidence is indicated, but not limited to the following options:

• Certified copy of either a school-leaver’s certificate or a statement of results indicating Matric, O or M Level, with a pass in English first language with a minimum symbol of D or its equivalent.
• Certified copy of a SAQA-recognised 2-year tertiary qualification with English either as a subject or English as the language of tuition and examination.
• Proof of being a present or past native of a nation where English is the first language; e.g. UK, USA, Australia or New Zealand.

An applicant who can provide evidence of Operational English Language Proficiency will be awarded a Level 4.

This evidence is indicated, but not limited to the following options: either

a school leaver’s certificate or a statement of results indicating Matric, O or M Level, with a pass in English second language with a minimum symbol of C or

A candidate applying for such exemption from this test are required to submit a declaration that he or she does not suffer from a significant speech impediment or have a heavy accent that would make the spoken English language difficult to understand.