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ICAO LPRs – from 1996 to now
Mitch Fox Chief, Flight Operations Section, ANB, ICAO
ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements Technical Seminar March 25-27, 2013, Montréal, Canada
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Presentation Outline
Why we introduced Language Proficiency Requirements (LPRs)?
What are the Language Proficiency Requirements (LPRs)?
ICAO Assembly Resolutions
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Why we introduced LPRs?
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LPR Chronology
1996: Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision
1998: 32nd Assembly
2000-2001: PRICE Study Group
2001-2003: 33rd Assembly - Review and Expand
2007: 36th Assembly - A36-11
2008: Applicable
2009: Circular 318 - Language Testing
Circular 323 - ICAO/ICAEA Collaboration
2010: 37th Assembly - A37-10
Second edition of Doc 9835
2011: Launch Test Service
Complete Rated Speech Sample
In the last decade, numerous workshops, conferences, symposia.
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Making a Standard
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Resolution A32 of ICAO 1998
“…steps to ensure that air traffic controllers and flight crews involved in flight operations in airspace where the use of the English language is required, are proficient
in conducting and comprehending radiotelephony communications in the English language”
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PRICE Study Group
Proficiency Requirement In Common English Study Group
Comprised of aviation and linguistic experts from Argentina, Canada, China, France, Russia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, EUROCONTROL, IATA, IFATCA, IFALPA and ICAO.
Mandated to
Review all aspects of air-ground and ground-ground voice
communication
Develop requirements concerning English language
testing
Develop language proficiency requirements
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ICAO SARPs
Annex 1 — Personnel Licensing
Annex 2 — Rules of the Air
Annex 3 — Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation
Annex 4 — Aeronautical Charts
Annex 5 — Units of Measurement to be Used in Air and Ground Operations
Annex 6 - Operation of Aircraft
Annex 7 — Aircraft Nationality and Registration Marks
Annex 8 — Airworthiness of Aircraft
Annex 9 — Facilitation
Annex 10 — Aeronautical Telecommunications
Annex 11 — Air Traffic Services
Annex 12 — Search and Rescue
Annex 13 — Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation
Annex 14 — Aerodromes
Annex 15 — Aeronautical Information Services
Annex 16 — Environmental Protection
Annex 17 — Security
Annex 18 — The Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air
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ICAO Hierarchy of Documents
Chicago
Convention
Annex 1 Personnel Licensing
Doc 9835
Manual on Implementation
of Language Proficiency
Requirements
SAR
Ps
Gu
idan
ce
Circular 323
Training
Guidelines
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What are LPRs?
Annex 1 – Personnel Licensing
Annex 6 – Operation of Aircraft
Annex 10 – Aeronautical Communications
Annex 11 – Air Traffic Services
PANS-ATM
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General Principles
Limited to radiotelephony communication
The “Speak and Understand” Standard
Cover all languages used in radio communication
Assessment using a rating scale (level 4)
Progressive implementation
27 Nov. 2003
5 March 2008
Rating scale is applied
Shall speak and understand
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Language Proficiency in Annex 1
Shall demonstrate the ability to speak and understand the language used for radiotelephony communications (Standard 1.2.9.1)
After 5 March 2008,
the “speak and understand” ability shall be demonstrated to level 4 of the ICAO rating scale (Standard 1.2.9.4 and Appendix)
recurrent testing will be required for those below level 6 (recommendation: every 3 years for level 4 and every 6 years for level 5)
Previous Standard on the use of radiotelephony procedures and phraseology still applies
• Aeroplane & helicopter pilots (PPL, CPL and ATPL)
• Air traffic controllers and aeronautical station operators
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Language Proficiency in Annex 10
Phraseology and Plain Language
Para 5.1.1.1- ICAO phraseology shall be used in all situations for which it has been specified. Only when standardized phraseology cannot serve an intended transmission, plain language shall be used
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Language Proficiency in Annex 10
Language(s) to be used
Para 5.2.1.2.1: The air-ground radiotelephony communications shall be conducted in the language normally used by the station on the ground or in the English language
Para 5.2.1.2.2 The English language shall be available, on request from any aircraft station, at all stations on the ground serving designated airports and routes used by international air services
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Implementation Notes
Standard 1.2.9.1 will apply only on 5 March 2008 for aeroplane and helicopter pilot who have a licence issued before 5 March 2004
No “grandfather” clause for Air Traffic Controllers and Aeronautical Station Operators
Language proficiency requirements applies to pilots who are engaged in international flights and ATCO/ASO providing services to international flights
Pilots shall demonstrate proficiency in at least one of the language(s) offered in the airspace that is used
ATCO/ASO shall demonstrate proficiency for each of the language(s) offered in the airspace in which they are providing service
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Other Aspects
The Rating Scale and Holistic Descriptors are contained in the Appendix and the Attachment to Annex 1
Consequences of non-compliance with the language proficiency Standards
For pilots
For Air Traffic Controllers and aeronautical Station Operators
Guidance on the implementation of the Standards has been published in the Manual on the Implementation of ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements (Doc 9835)
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Resolution A36-11 Basic Elements
Urge States to waive Article 40
Until 5 March 2011 to comply provided:
States that do not comply post implementation plans on the ICAO website as soon as practicable, but no later than 5 March 2008
Implementation plans include risk mitigating measures
ICAO does not review plans. It is up to States.
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Article 33 of the Convention
Recognition of certificates and licenses:
Certificates of airworthiness and certificates of competency and licenses issued or rendered valid by the contracting State in which the aircraft is registered, shall be recognized as valid by the other contracting States, provided that the requirements under which such certificates or licences were issued or rendered valid are equal to or above the minimum standards which may be established from time to time pursuant to this Convention.
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Article 39 of the Convention
Endorsement of certificates and licenses a) Any aircraft or part thereof with respect to which there exists an international standard of airworthiness or performance, and which failed in any respect to satisfy that standard at the time of its certification, shall have endorsed on or attached to its airworthiness certificate a complete enumeration of the details in respect of which it so failed.
b) Any person holding a license who does not satisfy in full the conditions laid down in the international standard relating to the class of license or certificate which he holds shall have endorsed on or attached to his license a complete enumeration of the particulars in which he does not satisfy such conditions.
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Article 40 of the Convention
Validity of endorsed certificates and licenses:
No aircraft or personnel having certificates or licenses so endorsed shall participate in international navigation, except with the permission of the State or States whose territory is entered. The registration or use of any such aircraft, or of any certificated aircraft part, in any State other than that in which it was originally certificated shall be at the discretion of the State into which the aircraft or part is imported.
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Resolution A37-10 Basic Elements
After March 2011
ICAO to monitor implementation of LPRs through continuous monitoring approach (Safety oversight audits)
ICAO to provide information on status of implementation in all Contracting States
Non-compliant States to provide updated implementation plans with milestones against which progress will be assessed
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A State is considered compliant when…
Language provisions are included in its regulatory framework
Licenses are endorsed or personnel records include information on level of proficiency for languages used in international operations
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Questions
What are the challenges?
Do we need to review the Language provisions – i.e. make recommended practice Annex 1 para 1.2.9.7 a standard?
We have made progress. But it’s not over. What else do we need to do?
What are your expectations at the next ICAO Assembly for LPRs?
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