ICAO Regional Workshop on Language Proficiency Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, 24 – 26 May 2011 ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements Implementation

ICAO Regional Workshop on Language ProficiencySaint Petersburg, Russian Federation, 24 – 26 May 2011

ICAOLanguage Proficiency Requirements Implementation

- The Italian situation -


% of total candidates

Student pilot4%

Private pilot12%

Military1%

Helicopter pilot8% Commercial pilot

(aeroplane)75%

Controller0%

ProfessionsProfessions


Based on the risk analysis ENAC decided to postpone the time limit for private pilots (with or without IR).

No significant event caused by italian private pilots and involving their language proficiency is known so far.

Full compliance will be assured by Dec. 31/2011 also for pilots holding private IR license involved in international operations(12% of population)

ProfessionsProfessions


ICAO 2 ICAO 3 ICAO 4 ICAO 5 ICAO 6 totalnumber of candidates 36 570 3420 2350 556 6932% of total candidates (Italy) 0,52% 8,22% 49,34% 33,90% 8,02% 100,00%% of total candidates (globally) 1,86% 15,00% 43,90% 29,28% 9,96% 100,00%

Italian candidates for Language Proficiency TestItalian candidates for Language Proficiency Test

(professional licenses)(professional licenses)

TEA failure rate worldwide: 17%

TEA failure rate in Italy: 9%


age17-29 years

30-39 years

40-49 years

50-59 years

>59 years total

number of candidates 910 1823 2572 1159 403 6867

% of candidates (Italy) 13,25% 26,55% 37,45% 16,88% 5,87%100,00

%% of candidates

(globally) 18,05% 29,79% 31,78% 16,73% 3,66%

average score (Italy) 4,23 4,42 4,48 4,36 4,13average score

(globally) 4,39 4,38 4,32 4,04 4,07

The younger you are, the higher your English level is– The younger you are, the higher your English level is–

but …but …

this is not true in Italy!this is not true in Italy!


TEA results by age

3,8

3,9

4

4,1

4,2

4,3

4,4

4,5

4,6

17-29 years 30-39 years 40-49 years 50-59 years >59 years

average score (Italy) average score (globally)


57 APPROVED TESTING CENTERS

Quality system

Security procedures

Administrators briefed on standardized testing procedures

89 CERTIFIED EXAMINERS

curricula evaluation

certification sitting

2 simulated test under supervision


CHALLENGES - DIFFICULTIES

APPEALS TO CIVIL COURTS

ATTEMPTS OF CHEATING

COMPLAINTS TO TOP MANAGEMENT, POLITICS LEVEL, ..


200 helicopter pilots applied to the Tribunal in order to

receive the exemption from the Language Proficiency Test, assuming that their licenses already included the English Aeronautical Radiotelephony Exam.

They thought they were not going to pass the Test and they were afraid to loose their job.

The Tribunal rejected their appeal.

Only three of them haven’t gained level 4 so far.


The cheating issue

We should expect some people to try and cheat:

Many resent the new ICAO English standards (“I’ve been flying for twenty years and never had a problem”)

The consequences of failure are high: pilots/controllers loose their licenses if they are not ICAO level 4

Pilots/controllers are educated, have status, money and contacts (all the tools necessary to cheat)

In some cultures there is a thin line between “cheating” and “being resourceful”.

Stopping cheating completely is impossible.

All we can hope to do is to minimize cheating.


Someone exhibited a false 6 levelTwo helicopter pilots submitted a FAA false certificate, but it was easy to discover the cheating. Their licenses were suspended for infringement of Italian Law no. 566’88

THE CHEATING ISSUE


Someone corrupted the examiner

The second rater realized that the answers given by some pilots were absolutely the same, even in the words used.Measures: -Examiner certification voided- tests delivered by the examiner invalidated- test material withdrawn

THE CHEATING ISSUE


Someone applied for a level 6

given during a TRPCSome italian pilots submitted a proficiency check form (incomplete) for revalidation of type rating with the box

THE CHEATING ISSUE

LEVEL 6 YES NO

The information sheet stated that was an “informal evaluation” conducted by a TRE, not an assessment.


Good practices employed by TEA

People - Administrators/examiners are chosen carefully and appropriately trained - circa 56 TEA test centers

Test Materials - stored in lockable cupboard within a lockable room

Database – Unique login (only the administrator has access

Double-marking – it helps to control quality, but it has also uncovered security breaches in Italy

Impersonation – the photograph of the candidate is taken immediately before the test begins, in order to avoid that a friend takes the test for you.

Certificates – the TEA certificates contain certain antifraud measures

Certificate Validator – online verification site


A special agreement was signed between ENAC and the Italian Air Force, in order to give credits to military pilots in obtaining a civil professional flight licence.

Now, a specific test of aviation english has been developed by the “School of foreign languages” of the Air Force (Loreto) and approved by ENAC.

MILITARY PILOTS


MUTUAL RECOGNITION

Pilots holding an italian JAR FCL licence and

1. Undertaking a test approved by an EASA member State

Accepted for andorsement in the italian licence


MUTUAL RECOGNITION


2. Undertaking a test approved by an non EASA member State

Only for pilots employed by operators of that country

2.a Such State is fully compliant and posted enough information about it to ICAO web site

Accepted for andorsement in the italian licence


MUTUAL RECOGNITION


2. Undertaking a test approved by a non EASA member State

2.b Such State is not fully compliant and/or didn’t post the implementation plan updated to ICAO

NOT Accepted for andorsement in the italian licence


WHAT’S NEXT??

CHALLENGES

Only one language – expecially in IFR communications. (lost of situational awareness)

To improve not only maintain the level of proficiency gained – use of english language as much as possible during duty hours

To audit all the testing centres every year

Documents

ICAO Regional Workshop on Language Proficiency Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, 24 – 26 May 2011 ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements Implementation