ICAO English

I& ICAO & EASA English Exam

Language proficiency is required by the EASA regulatory framework for pilots air traffic controllers as well as the airport airside authorized drivers.. Mastering the English language to the operational level is the mandatory requirement for all the operational personnel to exercise their duties. The ICAO adopted this requirement in 2008 and EASA published the language proficiency requirements back in 2012.

The testing of the language proficiency can only be done by the specifically appointed organisations called Language testing body or Language assessment body.

IE ICAO English Exam Process

Step 1: Registration

First, we need to get to know you a bit. We need to know your name, who you are, what profession you have. Also, we might need some further information in order to provide you with the best possible service. The application is an official document which can be filled out electronically on our website. However, we prefer if you send it as an interactive PDF format. In the ProfiPilot group, we have a system of data protection in accordance with GDPR standards. Your personal data are safe with us.

Based on the application, you'll be contacted by one of our language examiners, with whom you'll agree the details of the exam such as place and date.

Step 2: Exam

The ICAO English exam itself does not take more than 25-35 minutes. To be safe, however, it is better if you set aside at least an hour. We are flexible and able to provide the ICAO English exam on an ad-hoc basis. The exam cannot begin without the exam fee fully paid.

Our examiner who will have meanwhile prepared all the administrative materials needed for the exam will be waiting for you at the place you agreed on.

The exam contains a number of sections. Our examiner will be talking to you and asking questions. You should expect a fluent conversation rather than technical aviation communication. Be as fluent and precise as you can. The examiner will be rating sections of the exam simultaneously with examining you.

The exam is divided into the following parts:

conversation
describing aviation themed picture
reading and translation of aviation themed text
listening comprehension and reproduction of phraseology recording

The examiner is mainly interested in your:

pronunciation
grammatical structures
vocabularies
fluency
comprehension
interaction

After the exam, you will simply shake hands (you don't have to if you don't want to actually...) and leave. You will be informed about your ICAO English exam results via email.

Step 3: Rating

International regulations require all ICAO English exams to be rated by at least two independent language professionals. First rating is performed synchronously with the exam. Second rating is performed separately by an independent rater within our Aero Language network. It is important that the examiner's and the rater's ratings of ICAO English level concur. The final ICAO English level is determined by the lowest rated section. If the examiner and the rater do not agree on the same ICAO English level , a third independent rater enters the process, assesses your skills, and determines the final ICAO English level. This is, of course, our internal process, and you are not required to sit another exam. If you are not satisfied with your final ICAO English level , you can appeal. However, this has to be done within 24 hours of learning about the results.

Depending on your language skills, the ICAO English exam is rated on a scale from 0 (pre-elementary) to 6 (expert). Operational level starts at Level 4.

Depending on the ICAO Level achieved, your ICAO English exam has the following validity:

LEVEL 4 - 3 years pursuant to ICAO and 4 years pursuant to Regulation No. 1178/2011
LEVEL 5 - 6 years
LEVEL 6 - unlimited (only for pilots)

Step 4: Certificate

If you agree with the results of the ICAO English exam , you will be issued a language proficiency certificate. The certificate is an official document. The Authority regulating your license (SOLI - state of license issue) will also be notified of your results. You can request the state of license issue to have your ICAO English qualification endorsed into your license. Some states allow examiners or testing providers to endorse the qualification into licenses themselves. If this happens to be your case, we will be happy to do it. In other cases, however, the qualification will have to be endorsed by the Authority of the SOLI. This is usually done by taking your old license and issuing you a brand new one.

EI EASA IR English Exam

EASA IR English exam is required by the European Commission Regulation No. 1178/2011, paragraph FCL.055 for all pilots holding the instrument rating. Different EASA authorities approached this requirement differently. In some cases the IR English exam is completed by flight examiner during the Instrument Rating skill test, in some cases it is the subject of standalone IR English exam and in some cases such as France, Belgium or Luxembourg, the IR English test has to be completed as a part of each language proficiency assessment.

IR Instrument Rating English exam content

The applicant has to undergo an IFR flight simulation, where the flight examiner takes on the role of an ATC, and the applicant takes on the role of an IFR pilot. This is to make sure the applicant is able to use English in IR operations.

As a part of the IR English exam, the examiner focuses mainly on applicant's ability to respond to the following situations:

listening and comprehension of ATIS, flight planning
initial contact with ATC and flight permit
taxi clearance
emergency procedures during taxiing
takeoff clearance
departure procedures
emergency procedures
alternate airport diversion
holding patterns entry procedures
maintaining holding patterns
approach procedures
landing clearance and taxiing clear of runway
apron taxiing
preventing unauthorized runway incursions
engine switch off

Ls Language services

ICAO English exam is the most frequently provided service in Aero Language. We strive to provide everything pilots and student pilots need. Therefore, you can also be interested in our ICAO English exam preparation course, which will equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful ICAO English exam.

If you are a future IFR pilot, you might also be interested in taking the IR English Exam. We are one of the few organizations in the region authorized to provide this exam. And apart from that, we love cooperation. If you are a flight school, an airline, or a trainer of English, we have something to offer you as well.

Almost all services provided by Aero Language to individuals can also be provided on a business-to-business basis.

Therefore, your flight school, airline, or flying club can manage aviation English with the help of Aero Language. If you are a language trainer, Aero Language can provide you with ICAO language examiner training allowing you to provide ICAO English exams yourself. It's up to you if you provide the exams under you own brand, or under ours.

For pilots already having a pilot license, we offer further modular flight training provided by our flight school. ProfiPilot Academy provides a wide range of flight courses ranging from private pilot license training to ATLP(A).

If your qualification expires, ProfiPilot Academy can provide flight training in order to revalidate or renew the expired qualification along with the license proficiency check itself.

Flight training provided by ProfiPilot Academy can be combined with Aero Language, Flight Examiner, and senior flight examiner services. Hence, you can get the flight training along with flight exam, and ICAO English exam under one roof of ProfiPilot group.