Importance of English Language in Aviation Maintenance: A Malaysia Case Study

Abstract

There have been many aviation maintenance incidents that are linked to miscommunication and misinterpretation of maintenance instructions, which can lead to severe safety repercussion of flight operation. These occurrences are further related to the competency of English language among the aviation maintenance personnel, particularly among the non-native English speakers. In view of this notion, this study aims to gain an insight on the importance of English language among aviation maintenance personnel in Malaysia in order to perform their tasks through a conducted survey. A total of 22 respondents from various local aviation maintenance companies have participated in the survey. Based on the analysis results of the collected survey responses, it can be concluded that many aviation maintenance tasks frequently involve a high use of English language and the maintenance personnel need to possess good English language proficiency to ensure the correct and smooth execution of their tasks. This finding aptly implies the importance of English language in performing aviation maintenance works and it also supports the action taken by Civil Aviation Authority Malaysia to enforce additional English language competency requirement for all local maintenance personnel in Malaysia.