International Civil Aviation Organization

Implementation of ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements: Progressing Solutions

ICAEA SeminarBuenos Aires, Argentina29 – 30 November 2011

Nicole Barrette-SabourinTraining Officer, AST, ANB

LPR Project Manager

Presentation Outline

• Safety data• The ICAO context• A decade later….• A word about compliance• A snapshot• Test endorsement• Final thoughts

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A few words about safety

The status of aviation safety– Walking the talk of safety management

ICAO Safety Framework– Global Aviation Safety Plan

The Next Generation of Aviation Professional (NGAP)

Our challenge

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Fatalities (2001-2010)

Source: iSTARS

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Accidents (2001-2010)

Fatal Accidents

All Accidents

For the last 10 years, on the average, 1 out of 7 accidents are

fatal

Source: iSTARS

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Regional Accident Rates(2001-2010)

Source: iSTARS

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Accidents in Detail: Identifying the main killers

*All accidents with a specified occurrence only

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Accidents and related fatalities by Occurrence categoriesScheduled Commercial Transport

2005- 2010

Mass Group greater than 2 250 kg

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Accidents in Detail: Identifying the main killers

Type of accident Probability Impact Ranking

Runway events High Generally low but potential for major catastrophic event (e.g. Tenerife)

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Loss of control (in flight)

Medium High (almost all accidents are fatal) 1

CFIT High (smaller airplane)Low (larger airplane)

High (almost all accidents are fatal) 3

Aircraft System component failures

High High when associated with loss of control 4

Project title (Insert, Header & Footer)

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The status of aviation safety

• Summary– The number of fatalities and accident and fatal accident rates

are stable with a slight upward trend – Disparities between the level of safety performance between

Regions and States are increasing– Four killers (runway, loss of control, CFIT and component

failures) are involved in 75% of the accidents– We need to improve our safety performance and in particular:

• Address the main killers• Reduce the disparities between the level of safety

performance between Regions and States;

The International Civil Aviation Organization

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ICAO

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Standards and Recommended Practices

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•Annex 1 — Personnel Licensing•Annex 2 — Rules of the Air•Annex 3 — Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation•Annex 4 — Aeronautical Charts•Annex 5 — Units of Measurement to be Used in Air and Ground Operations•Annex 6 - Operation of Aircraft•Annex 7 — Aircraft Nationality and Registration Marks•Annex 8 — Airworthiness of Aircraft •Annex 9 — Facilitation

•Annex 10 — Aeronautical Telecommunications•Annex 11 — Air Traffic Services•Annex 12 — Search and Rescue•Annex 13 — Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation•Annex 14 — Aerodromes•Annex 15 — Aeronautical Information Services•Annex 16 — Environmental Protection•Annex 17 — Security•Annex 18 — The Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air

What is an ICAO standard?

• A Standard is:– any specification for physical characteristics, configuration, matériel,

performance, personnel or procedure,– necessary for the safety or regularity of international air navigation – to which Contracting States will conform in accordance with the

Convention; – in the event of impossibility of compliance, filing a difference with the

Standard.

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Why we introduced Language Proficiency Requirements

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Making a Standard

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LPR originated durin

g

32nd A

ssembly

ICAO Hierarchy of Documents

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Chicago Convention

Annex 1Personnel Licensing

Doc 9835Manual on Implementation of Language Proficiency

Requirements

SARP

sG

uida

nce

Circular 323Training

Guidelines

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LPR Chronology (1)

• 1998: A32-16• 2000-2001: PRICE SG• 2001-2003: Review and Expand (A33)• March 2003: Adopted• June 2006: Mid-point review• April 2007: Second survey review• October 2007: 36th Assembly• March 2008: Applicable• 2009: Circular 318-Language Testing

Criteria for Global Harmonization

• Sept 2010: 37th Assembly• 2010: Second edition of Doc 9835

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LPR Chronology (2)

2009: ICAO/ICAEA Collaboration• Circular 323 - Guidelines for Aviation English Training Programmes • Rated Speech Samples Project

2010:• 37th Assembly – Resolution A37-10• ICAO Language Test Endorsement Mechanism (ILTA, ICAEA, IFALPA, IFATCA)

In the last decade, numerous workshops, conferences, symposia.

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Non-compliance

• Article 33– Gives multilateral recognition of States’

exportables (licenses and airworthiness certificates) provided that the requirements under which they were issued, or rendered valid, are equal to or above the minimum Standards (i.e. Annex 1 and 8)

– Non-compliance with the LPRs can invalidate recognition

Project title (Insert, Header & Footer)

A36-11 Basic Element• Urge States to waive Article 40• Until 5 March 2011 to comply provided:

– States that do not comply post implementation plans on the ICAO website as soon as practicable, but no later than 5 March 2008

– Implementation plans include risk mitigating measures

– ICAO does not review plans. It is up to States.

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A37-10 Basic Elements• After March 2011

– ICAO to monitor implementation of LPRs through continuous monitoring approach (Safety oversight audits)

– ICAO to provide information on status of implementation in all Contracting States

– Non-compliant States to provide updated implementation plans with milestones against which progress will be assessed

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A State is considered compliant when….

• Language provisions are included in its regulatory framework

• Licenses are endorsed or personnel records include information on level of proficiency for languages used in international operations

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FSIX Website

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FSIX Website

FSIX Americas Information

• 32 out of 35 States to which ICAO Lima and Mexico office are accredited

• 8 compliant• 5 submitted plan for 2011• 19 submitted plan 2008-2010• 3 provided no information

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Test endorsement - Why?

• Need to foster self-regulation• Disparity is an obstacle• Global lack of expertise and resources• Need for an independent entity

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Goal

• Provide States with impartial recommendations in the selection or development of aviation English language licensing tests that meet ICAO criteria.

• Foster licensing test quality as specified in ICAO guidance among as many test providers as possible.

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Driving Principles

• Endorsement given for a limited time• ICAO led and managed• Voluntary• Formative/non-threatening• Collaborative• Affordable

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Management

• Under the authority of ICAO through a project manager

• Create and select team of experts

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Final Thoughts

• Your role is key to safety• Urge you to commit to the industry’s self-

regulation• The next decade will be exciting!

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