Aviation Communication and Language Technologies

Dominique Estival & Brett Molesworth

Linguistics Aviation

University of Sydney University of New South Wales

Pilot study Linkage Grant ??Miscommunication: a factor in many aviation accidents (Teneriffe 1977)

recognised by ICAO English Language Proficiency test

1. potential miscommunication between Air Traffic Control (ATC) and pilots whose first language is not English (EL2 pilot)

e.g. pilots misunderstanding a clearance given to another aircraft as being meant for them.

2. ATC-pilot communication difficulties could be alleviated if both ATC and EL2 pilots were made aware of potential communication problems,

e.g. intonation, rhythm and pauses are particularly problematic for radio communication, but not adequately addressed in ELP test.

Results so far:

a. Communication problems do pose a threat to general aviation safety.

b. Most challenging communication problem for pilots is not with ATC,

but with other pilots.

Planned experiments

1. Actual impact of English Language Proficiency

on effective radio communication?

2. Causes of misunderstandings between EL2 pilots and ATC?

Subjects: EL2 pilots of different proficiency levels

4 conditions: external (low traffic and high traffic)

internal (low workload and high workload)

Variables: (1) accuracy of interpretation (comprehension)

(2) ability to repeat phrases (repetition).

Four possible outcomes: Hear but not understand

Hear what you expect

Not hear

Partial hear

Proposed solutions1. better communication strategies:• educate both ATC and Pilots about typical areas of

miscommunication• teach more effective communication strategies to ATC

and pilots• develop a computer based training tool to maintain

communication skills

2. technologies:• to identify potentially unclear or confusing messages• to alert ATC and pilots

D. Estival & B. Molesworth (2009). “A study of EL2 pilots’ radio communication in the General Aviation environment”. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics. Vol.32, No.3.