What are the ICAO language profiency requirements?

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a body within the United Nations and with responsibility for international civil aviation governance, has passed a regulation which requires all member states to demonstrate by March 2008 that their international pilots and air traffic controllers are proficient in the English language. The new ICAO standards in relation to language proficiency requirements are as follows:

Annex 1

Standard 1.2.9.4

As of 5 March 2008, aeroplane and helicopter pilots, air traffic controllers and aeronautical station operators shall demonstrate the ability to speak and understand the language used for radiotelephony communications to the level specified in the language proficiency requirements in the Appendix.

Annex 6, PART 1

Standard 3.1.6

Operators shall ensure that flight crew members demonstrate the ability to speak and understand the language used for aeronautical radiotelephony communications as specified in Annex 1.

APPENDIX

The language proficiency requirements are applicable to the use of both phraseologies and plain English.