Aviation English: a review of the language of International Civil Aviation

Abstract

English has been chosen as the official language of flight in the United States and continues to be the recommended lingua franca for international use. In some cases, a lack of English proficiency in pilots or controllers has led to disastrous and even fatal catastrophes. While miscommunications between flight crews and air traffic control (A TC) personnel may have been only one aspect of these incidents and accidents, the lack of ability for all parties involved to understand crucial directions via a common English may have been the most important contributing factor leading to these tragedies. Without agreed upon standards for English proficiency and common phraseology, the aviation industry continues to be at risk for future language-related accidents. Air traffic communications often deviate from standard phraseology in emergency situations towards a more conversational style. English proficiency beyond the basic understanding of aviation phraseology may be necessary. In addition, a cultural awareness of the variety of English spoken in countries encountered during flight may help avoid misunderstandings and miscommunications. This work addresses the historical decisions about English language use, language related miscommunications, incidents, and accidents, and current International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) initiatives for revision of language policies.