the new language proficiency rating????

[jetpilot]

Hi mates


I was reading about the new licenses format when i read this

new language proficiency rating.???


I work oversea i never heard of that! can anyone can expalain what the hell is that?

jet

[jetway]

Can't say it would hurt from my perspective: 1/2 of the pilots I fly with can barely speak English - the internationally accepted language of Aviation... oh well... (and before i get beat up, I do speak 2 other languages aside from English, I just get frustrated not having a clue what the heck is being said on the radio)

But to answer your query, never heard of it - yet.

[oldtimer]

I have heard of it but it was applied to taxi drivers here in Calgary. It appears the taxi commission is treading the fine line between being politically correct to our ethnic citizens and the requirements of the travelling public. I too agree that I can get upset with pilots who cannot express themselves properly and have a problem with the English language. What is disturbing is many of these pilots are multiple generation Caucasion Canadians with a good education.

[A Regulator]

It has to do with the new lic. format that will be put in place at a later date. Prior to issuing new lic. each person will be required to demonstrate that they can speak English or French. There is more but I can't remember the rest right now. It all has to do with meeting the ICAO standards.

[Aeros]

There was an article in the most recent COPA newsletter but I can't find a link in a quick search of their website. If you can get you hands on the paper it should answer your questions.

[Apollo]

I got an email asking if I would like to participate in the initial tests for the rating.

You are invited to take part in an important project that will influence the future of aviation in Canada. Transport Canada has contracted with Educational Testing Service Canada Inc. to develop an Aviation-Language Proficiency Test (ALPT) in English and French. As part of this project, ETS Canada and Transport Canada are seeking volunteers to participate in a preliminary administration of the test.

What is the purpose of the test?

Once operational, the Aviation-Language Proficiency Test will be used to test the English or French language ability of those seeking to become licensed pilots in Canada. The aviation language proficiency requirements are a result of new international standards which will be required for licence issue in 2008.

Who should participate?

You do not need a pilot’s license to volunteer. A basic knowledge of aviation will be sufficient.

We require participants who have a variety of levels of English or French ability. Even if you feel that your language ability would not be sufficient to use in an actual aviation situation, we still very much need your participation in the project.

ETS Canada requires candidates with some knowledge of aviation who are:

• Non-native English speakers (people who do not speak English as their first language) to take the English test.
• Non-native French speakers (people who do not speak French as their first language) to take the French test.

When will the tests be conducted?

We will schedule the tests at a time convenient to you within the following timetable:

The tests will be conducted between July 14 and August 15. Tests will be administered from Monday to Friday between 9 am and 8 pm Eastern time.


What is the format of the test?

The Aviation-Language Proficiency Test is conducted via telephone by a trained rater. It is a test of listening comprehension and speaking ability. The rater presents several different scenarios and the candidate is asked to respond. The test consists of a total of 20 responses.

The ALPT will assess:

• Listening comprehension
• Speaking ability
• Responses to different scenarios

How long will the test take?

Each participant will be asked to take TWO versions of the ALPT in a single telephone interview. Each test will take about 20 minutes, for a total of about 40 minutes.

As well, most participants will be asked to participate in a 20-minute telephone call in which a different interviewer will administer a Language Proficiency Interview. This will be conducted on a SEPARATE phone call on a different day. This test is a general language proficiency test. The purpose of administering this test is to provide a comparison between results on the aviation test and the general language test.

How will the tests be administered?

The tests are administered by telephone. We will send you a toll-free number and ID number. At the scheduled time, you simply call the number and enter your ID number. Then you will wait for the interviewer to come on the line.

To take the test, you will need the Examinee Handbook and a pen or pencil. We will send you the Examinee Handbook.

The Examinee Handbook includes some sample questions that you can study to help you prepare for the test. In the Examinee Handbook, there are some maps that you will need to complete the test. Therefore, it is very important that you PRINT a copy and have it with you when you take the test. You will also need a pen or pencil. If you do not have a printer, we can mail a copy to you.

For the separate Language Proficiency Interview, you will not need any materials. We will schedule this appointment separately. For the Language Proficiency Interview, we will send you a telephone number and ID number.

Will the test be recorded?

Yes. Sample responses from your test may be used in a compilation CD used to help raters and test-takers. Individual candidates will not be identified on the CD.


Will I get a test score?

Yes. The test administrator cannot give you your score over the telephone. However, you will receive a result by email six to eight weeks after the test.

Is my score confidential?

Yes. We will not send it to your employer or your school. In our report, we will not be reporting individual scores; we will only use group data for the purposes of the study.
If you choose to do so, we can send your score to Transport Canada – this may mean that you will not need to take the test again to receive a language rating.

How do I register to participate?

We greatly appreciate your participation in this project. To register, simply send an email to Ashley Wightman at:

wightman@etscanada.ca

Or contact her by calling toll-free: 1-800-615-8666.

Please provide:
• Your name
• Your licence/medical certificate number if held
• Your telephone number
• Your email address
• The test you wish to take: French (for non-native French speakers) or English (for non-native English speakers). Or both.
• Your mailing address (if you need to receive the Examinee Handbook by mail)


Thank you for your help!

[jetpilot]

Guys this is full of crap!



First i am a born french Canadian, but i do agree French is not the Aviation Language. English he is and only be use in aviation RT and that include Quebec!


I work oversea for many years now! i did fly all continents and the big RT problem is pilot who dont understand each other!

China who as a big problem before now use only english in the air!


Why always we have to look stupid? and cant do like other contry?

ps: how they will know i am french or native english?

jet

[Spokes]

Maybe they can read one of your posts on avcanada.

[niss]

Sorry Jetpilot but that was the first time I ever seen an accent come through on the internet!

[Aeros]

ps: how they will know i am french or native english?

My understanding is that they will look at the langauge in which you wrote the exams, the langauge in which you requested the AIP/AIM, and any other corespondence with TC.

[jetpilot]

I ever seen an accent come through on the internet!



Mate! the girl in Ontario love this accent!....haha


But for your information i will have prefered to be born without!

cheers

jet

[captain_jeeves]

It has to do with the new lic. format that will be put in place at a later date. Prior to issuing new lic. each person will be required to demonstrate that they can speak English or French. There is more but I can't remember the rest right now. It all has to do with meeting the ICAO standards.

Sorry, but you are sadly mistaken. This is an ICAO requirement scheduled for March 2007, that requires ALL Pilots, ATC and Radio Station operators to be tested - and found competent - to level 6 ENGLISH only. No other language is tested, or acceptable for this purpose. The test is similar to the TFESL standard.

For more information about this, see http://www.flightsafety.org

[mellow_pilot]

I ever seen an accent come through on the internet!



Mate! the girl in Ontario love this accent!....haha


But for your information i will have prefered to be born without!

cheers

jet

Hate to be the one to break it to you, but no one is born with an accent.

[ca787546]

Sorry if I ask out of ignorance...
I have heard a few times that the "level 6" that all of us have to reach is high enough that the average native english speaking adult would not pass the test. I guess we will have to take some university english courses if this is true. To look at the positive side of things, maybe it will help us with our cover letters.
Cheers,
DNB

[hazatude]

I got an email asking if I would like to participate in the initial tests for the rating.

Вы приглашены принять участие в важном проекте будет влиять на будущее авиации в Канаде. Переход Канада заключал контракт с Воспитательн Testing Обслуживанием Канадой Inc. для того чтобы начать испытание выработанности Авиаци-4zyka (ALPT) на английском языке и французское. Как часть этого проекта, ETS Канада и переход Канада изыскивают волонтеров для того чтобы участвовать в предварительной администрации испытания. Будет целью испытания? Как только рабоче, испытание выработанности Авиаци-4zyka будет использовано для того чтобы испытать английскую или французскую способность языка тех изыскивая пойти лицензированными пилотами в Канаде. Требованиями к знания языка авиации будут результат новые международныйа стандарт необходимы для вопроса лицензии в 2008. Должно участвовать? Вы лицензия пилота волонтирить. Основное знание авиации будет достаточно. Мы требуем участников имеют разнообразие уровней английской или французской способности. Even if вы чувствуете что ваша способность языка не была достаточно для использования в фактической ситуации авиации, мы все еще very much ваше участие в проекте. ETS Канада требует выбранных с некоторым знанием авиации являются следующими: ? Не местные англоговорящие (люди не говорят английскую язык как их первый язык) для того чтобы принять английское испытание. ? Не местные французские дикторы (люди не говорят франчуза как их первый язык) для того чтобы принять французское испытание. Когда испытания будут дирижированы? Мы запланируем испытания одновременно удобные к вам внутри following расписание: Испытания будут дирижированы между 14 -го июлем и 15 -го августом. Испытания будут administered от понедельника к пятнице между 9 am и временем 8 pm восточным. Будет формой испытания? Испытание выработанности Авиаци-4zyka дирижировано через телефон натренированным rater. Будет испытанием слушая понимания и говоря способности. Rater представляет несколько по-разному сценариев и спрошены, что отвечает выбранный. Испытание состоит итога 20 реакций. ALPT определит: ? Слушая понимание? Говоря способность? Реакции к по-разному сценариям Сколько времени испытание примет? Будет спрошены, что принял каждый участник 2 варианта ALPT в одиночном интервью телефона. Каждое испытание требует около 20 минут, для итога около 40 минут. Также, будут спрошены, что участвовали большинств участники в телефонныйа вызов 20-минуте в котором по-разному interviewer administer интервью знания языка. Это будет дирижировано на ОТДЕЛЬНО телефоне call on по-разному день. Этим испытанием будет испытание вообще знания языка. Цель administering это испытание должна предусмотреть сравнение между результатами на испытании авиации и испытании вообще языка. Как испытания будут administered? Испытания administered телефоном. Мы пошлем вами бесплатный номер и номер удостоверения личности. На запланированное время, вы просто вызываете номер и вписываете ваш номер удостоверения личности. После этого вы ждете interviewer для того чтобы прийти на линию. Для того чтобы принять испытание, вы руководство examinee и пер или карандаш. Мы пошлем вами руководство examinee. Руководство examinee вклюает некоторые вопросы о образца вы можете изучить для того чтобы помочь вам подготовить для испытания. В руководстве examinee, будут некоторые карты которые вы для того чтобы завершить испытание. Поэтому, очень важно что вы ПЕЧАТАЕТЕ экземпляр и имеете его с вами когда вы принимаете испытание. Вы также пер или карандаш. Если вы не имеете принтер, то мы можем переслать экземпляр к вам. Для отдельно интервью знания языка, вы никакие материалы. Мы запланируем это назначение отдельно. Для интервью знания языка, мы пошлем вами номера телефона и номер удостоверения личности. Испытание будет записано? Да. Реакции образца от вашего испытания могут быть использованы в CD составления используемом для того чтобы помочь raters и испытани-test-takers. Индивидуальные выбранные не будут определены на CD. Я получу счет испытания? Да. Администратор испытания не может дать вам ваш счет над телефоном. Однако, вы получите результат email от 6 до 8 неделей после испытания. Мой счет конфиденциален? Да. Мы не пошлем его к вашему работодателю или вашей школе. В нашем рапорте, мы не будем сообщать индивидуальные счеты; мы только будем использовать сгруппированные данные с цели изучение. Если вы выбираете сделать так, то мы можем послать ваш счет к переходу Канаде - это может намереваться что вы принимать испытание снова для того чтобы получить номинальность языка. Как я регистрирую для того чтобы участвовать? Мы больш appreciate ваше участие в этом проекте. Для того чтобы зарегистрировать, просто пошлите email к Ashley Wightman на: wightman@etscanada.ca Или свяжитесь она путем вызывать ОН беспошлино: 1-800-615-8666. Пожалуйста обеспечьте: ? Ваше имя? Ваш номер сертификата licence/medical если придержали? Ваш номера телефона? Ваше email address? Испытание, котор вы желаете принять: Французско (для не местных французских дикторов) или английско языки (для не местных англоговорящих). Или оба. ? Ваш адрес mailing (если вы получить руководство examinee by mail) Вы для вашей помощи!

[flyguy75]

If the international language for pilots is English then why would they test you in french?

[Kelowna Pilot]

From the language exam...


Question 43: What do pilots eat for breakfast?

A) Corn Flakes
B) A Pepsi and a Joe Louis


If you answer B, then you are obviously not an Anglo and you therefore fail.

Take it to Amnesty International, tabernac...

[captain_jeeves]

Sorry if I ask out of ignorance...
I have heard a few times that the "level 6" that all of us have to reach is high enough that the average native english speaking adult would not pass the test. I guess we will have to take some university english courses if this is true. To look at the positive side of things, maybe it will help us with our cover letters.
Cheers,
DNB

There does seem to be some differing information about the level required. Some sources claim level 6, some claim level 4.

Basically, the requirement will be to speak and understand, such that any local accent does not inhibit either.

If that makes sense, please explain it to me!

[Aeros]

Sorry if I ask out of ignorance...
I have heard a few times that the "level 6" that all of us have to reach is high enough that the average native english speaking adult would not pass the test. I guess we will have to take some university english courses if this is true. To look at the positive side of things, maybe it will help us with our cover letters.
Cheers,
DNB

Level 6 is "expert". If you get this rating you will be exempted from all further testing.

Levels 4 and 5 are "operational". Either of these two levels is also acceptable but you will require re-testing (every five years or so I think)

Levels 1, 2 and 3 are "pre-operational" and will not satisfy the licence requirements.

My understanding is also that this rating is only required for flights outside of Canada.

[captain_jeeves]

My understanding is also that this rating is only required for flights outside of Canada.

Actually, it's more of an "Outside Canada" thing than it is an "In".

[cyyz]

Basically, the requirement will be to speak and understand, such that any local accent does not inhibit either.

So we'll be writing an exam to see how well we speak and understand english, brilliant.

And if it's a TC exam, we're FUBAR.

[captain_jeeves]

So we'll be writing an exam to see how well we speak and understand english, brilliant.

Well, Yes. But, remember that this is an ICAO requirement that must be fulfilled by all ICAO member states (Countries). Even if your native language is English, you are still required to demonstrate proficiency.

In the Canada, the UK and the USA, where English is the native language, the test is a bit of a joke.

However, to a career Airline Pilot in China - or anywhere else where English is NOT the native language - this language test could be career ENDING for someone who has not maintained, or enhanced, their “Official Aviation Language” (English) skills.

That said, I do a lot of flying in and around China, and many of that countries ATC staff and pilots speak HORRIBLE English - and you can take my word for this - safety is often compromised because of it. Believe it or not, Chinese is spoken about 95% of the time in Chinese Airspace, and they do NOT understand any English outside of the bare requirements.

This makes life very difficult when you - as I recently did – lose an engine during take-off and try to explain your predicament to the Chinese ATC controller.

I wish I was joking, but, it’s a lot like taking a vacation to Mexico, going to a small village in the country and trying to communicate with nothing more than your Berletz “Basic Spanish Phrases” book. It’s gonna take you all day to simply tell someone that you need a glass of water, when the whole time they think you are telling them that you're trying to make rain.

Obviously, from a safety standpoint, I support the testing. It's already started in Korea, and interestingly, we are seeing improvements in the "Understanding" between ATC and Flight Crews in that area.

Again, this is not so much a Canada thing, as it is a "Rest of the World" thing. Nevertheless, Canada - as an ICAO Member - must fulfill their obligation and administer the test.

[ca787546]

Now, here is where my question comes in... what is level 4? Does that mean that that person will have an operational understanding of english in aviation or that he can carry a conversation in english as well? I know ATC controllers here in south america that can control in english, but if you tell them one single word that is not standard phraseology they won´t understand you... that to me sounds like a level 4... but when you have a complex situation such as an engine failure, a bomb on board, a disruptive passenger or a sick person in the aircraft, you may not be able to communicate properly with them or them with you. I am glad that I speak fluent spanish here, otherwise I know flying around here would be a lot more confusing for me. I agree that there should be a better level of english worldwide when it comes to aviation.
CHeers,
DNB

[mach_tuck]

here's a link to the Transport site with some of the details.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/Regse ... 005004.htm

[Cat Driver]

" This makes life very difficult when you - as I recently did – lose an engine during take-off and try to explain your predicament to the Chinese ATC controller. "


Hey, do they consider you as being in their country without a visa when you lose an engine after take off and have to declare an emergency and land ?

Lost one in Jeddah and the language problem was nothing compared to what we had to go through when we landed....our vise had expired on take off...I'm sure you can figure out the rest.....is China like that?

Cat