The Language Training of Air Traffic Controllers at HungaroControl Hungarian Air Navigation Services
Independent air traffic service provider Founded: 2002 Most important field of activity: Provision of air traffic control and related air traffic services in Hungary Workforce: 700 people, including 200 Air Traffic Controllers 150 Flight Information Officers and Flight Operation Officers 2019.02.25.
Aerodrome Control (TWR) Approach Control (APP) Area Control (ACC) Flight Information Center (FIC) Aerodrome Flight Information Services (AFIS) Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) Airport Coordination Department Aviation Science and Documentation Library Civil Aviation Training Centre 2019.02.25.
AIR TRAFFIC PERSONNEL TRAINING: Civil Aviation Training Centre Ab-Initio training for air traffic controllers Continuation training for air traffic controllers and other staff 2019.02.25.
Civil Aviation Training Centre: 11 Teaching staff 3 Simulator staff 6 Administrative staff Part time staff hired for courses 2019.02.25.
LANGUAGE TRAINING OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS 2000: Language testing of ATCOs and FDAs Continuous training started Language teaching staff: 10 General English teachers Attended aviation English courses and basic ATC courses in Hungary and UK. 2019.02.25.
Regulation by Ministry of Transport 2003: English language examination: prerequisite of Licence Renewal of Air Traffic Controllers Regulation by Ministry of Transport Air Traffic Controllers have to take an English Language Test before licence renewal process. 2019.02.25.
ICAO Language Requirements (Annex 1) = 2003: ICAO Language Requirements (Annex 1) = only 5 years before an exam to be taken in 2008 2019.02.25.
Language teaching and testing of ATCOs also has to serve the purpose of preparation for the 2008 exams! 2019.02.25.
Tests used by HungaroControl: Eurocontrol English Language Placement Test (EPT) 4 versions by Eurocontrol 6 versions by HungaroControl (2003) Oral test by HungaroControl (2003) Computerised version by HungaroControl (2005) 2019.02.25.
2019.02.25.
Computerised EPT: Previous versions have been used several times Objective / easier / faster marking Works from a huge databank of newly developed material Tests generated by computer: no identical tests Difficulty levels can be set Complex and up-to-date statistics Prints exam certificate after exam Practice and exam function Can be easily updated / modified / corrected 2019.02.25.
Closing the gap to Level 4 EPT pass mark: 2003: 40% 2005: 55% 2007: 65% Closing the gap to Level 4 2019.02.25.
Language courses for ATCOs: - 6 week (3x4 lessons) general language courses: - once a term, 2-3 parallel courses - participants attend courses in their free time, compensated with days off - 1 week intensive (5x6 lessons) test familiarisation courses: - before EPT - participants taken off duty for course 2019.02.25.
Language material provided for ATCOs: - Material of previous courses on CD-ROM - Handouts - EPT practice material for computer-based exam on interactive CD-ROM (same format as exam) Motivation: 65% or above: 2-week language course in UK and Ireland 2019.02.25.
Future plans (Maintaining proficiency) - Continuous training (6-week courses) - Weekly language tasks on HungaroControl Intranet – free access for ATCOs - Further work on computerised testing system 2019.02.25.
ELPAC to take over role of EPT When ELPAC format becomes known: HungaroControl to use ELPAC for language testing of ATCOs for ICAO Level 4 Exam. ELPAC to take over role of EPT When ELPAC format becomes known: - Production of preparation material - Exam preparation courses 2019.02.25.
gabor.sipos@hungarocontrol.hu
2019.02.25.