1. Language Proficiency Requirements Implementation Report
Rome, March 2010
Language Proficiency Requirements Implementation Report
Dr. Thomas von Borstel, LBA, Germany
implementation status
test design
training
accepted documents / recognition
examples / experience

2. approx. 3.000 ATCOs and 30.000 pilots affected by LPR
implementation status
approx ATCOs and pilots affected by LPR
grandfather rights for licence holders
(valid until December 31, 2010)
adjustment of mandatory RT- assessment to ICAO SARPS
adoption of ICAO SARPS into national law
(accomplished in 2008)
assessment of ATCOs (since 2007)
assessment of ab initio pilots (since 2008/2009)
“phasing-in” of licence holders

3. RT- test (including reading / translation / simulated flight)
test design
initial test:
RT- test (including reading / translation / simulated flight)
listening comprehension test (multiple choice)
assessment of oral interaction
recurrent language proficiency assessment without RT-test
testing bodies:
BNetzA (competent agency regarding RT certificates),
organisations accredited by LBA (pilots) or BAF (ATCOs)
language proficiency test sample available via internet

4. no regulations in respect to language proficiency training

5. licence holders (licence endorsement stating level 6),
accepted documents / recognition
no acceptance of documents or certificates issued by testing bodies that are not accredited by LBA (pilots) or BAF (ATCOs)
general recognition of language proficiency remarks in licences issued in accordance with ICAO SARPS
documents stating level 6 might be accepted in case of following persons:
licence holders (licence endorsement stating level 6),
linguists (with appropriate RT proficiency)
native speakers (with appropriate RT proficiency)

6. listening comprehension:
examples / experience
listening comprehension:
audio files in English,
multiple choice – answers in German
(reading is no assessment item!)
The English test has been failed due to insufficient reading
ability in the German language.
oral interaction:
Do not mix the language proficiency assessment with
operational assessment.

7. I would like you to look at the photograph and tell me what you
examples / experience
I would like you to look at the
photograph and tell me what you
can see. Imagine you have to
inform someone else about the
situation.
What do you think might have caused this problem? Do you know of similar accidents or incidents?
Where? What happened?
How do you think the pilot of that plane felt afterwards?
What must a pilot do after an accident like this? What advice would you
give to the pilot?
What might be the consequences for the pilot?
Imagine you are the owner of the aircraft. What would you say to the pilot?