English Language Requirements

Mike Fawdrey · Post by **Mike Fawdrey** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:41 pm

I have recieved a replacement PPL from the CAA which will grant me an English rating of level 4 for 3 years grandfather rights, until I undergo a test renewal.
Pilots who hold a basic JAR PPLor NPPL do not have to have a renewal unless they fail to acheive the required flight experience hours.

An indigenous speaker would expect to be rated at level 6, is this yet another attempt to stamp out English in the land of my birth. I passed O level GCE back in 1958 is someone at JAR taking the mickey

Has anyone at Head Office been tasked with asking the CAA what is going on

Brian Hope · Post by **Brian Hope** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:54 am

HI Mike, my understanding is that we are all to get new licences FOC with the rating on it. I believe when the rating has expired it will simply be a case of getting an instructor or coach to sign you up at grade 6 (lasts for life), this could be done at you biennial.
Of course, if you live north of Watford you may have difficulty reaching an acceptable level!

ivanmanley · Post by **ivanmanley** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 7:29 am

Is there actually a point to this? Say for instance you had a low langauge rating, what does that mean? Will they remove privileges? If all UK RT licence holders automatically get a 4, what is the significance of having a 6 rating?

I've had nothing yet? I have an UK PPL A with my old address on it. I did update my address when I added a TMG rating, but they didn't send any new pages with the new address showing? I assume they will have logged my new address, not just sent the TMG slip out independantly?

Ivan
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HONDA CM SERIES

tnowak · Post by **tnowak** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:31 am

I only received my new licence pages a few days ago. Suspect there is still quite a backlog to work through.

Mike Fawdrey · Post by **Mike Fawdrey** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:25 pm

Brian, I've spoken to an instructor whose opinion is that the biannual checkflight is not a test and therefore he may not be able to sign it but was looking into the matter.

Ivan I think there is no point but if the level 4 expires at 3 years you may not use radio as you are then not qualified they may have in mind getting us to resit our FRTOL test. Obviously all part of the great European Rip Off

Mark A · Post by **Mark A** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:07 am

As things stand, instructors don't have any authority to sign off language competence.

I believe examiners will be able to assess people at level 6, but those I've spoken to have not received any forms or guidance material yet.

I'm a bit confused over the initial level 4 validity period, as neither the level or expiry date seem to be documented.

Mark A · Post by **Mark A** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:08 am

A quick dig into the CAA site has found the guidance material.

It can be found at http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/1688/Language ... miners.pdf

Unfortunately the document won't let me cut and paste extracts, but it does say that FEs, CREs and TREs will be able to informally assess people at level 6 when conductind a licence proficiency check, and they may include assessment at CAA "safety presentations" (I assume that includes the winter "safety evenings" - should boost attendance).
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Rod1 · Post by **Rod1** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:19 am

“Does this have anything to do with the fact that prior to 1999 there was no actual independant radio test, you were granted a radio operators licence automaticallly with your PPL.”

That is not my memory of the system. On your NFT and GFT your radio work was assessed by the examiner. If he thought your flying was ok but your radio was not up to standard then he failed you on the RL, but gave you a PPL. I know of one lass that this happened to.

Rod1

John Price · Post by **John Price** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:50 pm

When I did my VHF licence I had to do both written and practical exam this was circa 1982 does this not count for anything anymore ??

John

Mike Fawdrey · Post by **Mike Fawdrey** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 6:01 pm

I completed my PPL in December 2000, but did an VFR/ RT test on a simulator with Dennis Davies at Shobdon a few weeks before.
Perhaps the CAA should have a record somewhere, or is that too much too hope for

paul330 · Post by **paul330** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:28 am

This is an ICAO requirement and is designed to ensure that all nationalities have an adequate standard of English.

I am an examiner with Cathay Pacific and a couple of years ago I had to do a short one-day course to allow me to assess English capability and we were provided with "word pictures" to assist. On the next Proficiency Check, candidates were required to speak for 2 minutes on a subject. If I was unable to assess as a 6, then they had to go to specialists for grading. 4 is the minimum acceptable standard. 4 or 5 require periodic reassessment (hence the 3 years, I assume). 6 is native speaker and lasts indefinitely. Unfortunately, I can throw no light on how they intend to do the assessments in UK.

Working in Asia, I can attest to the fact that some of the English is very poor. Whilst it may seem a trivial thing to have to do for Brits, in the big scheme it's a "good thing".

Hope this helps explain.