2. The Language Training of Air Traffic Controllers at HungaroControl Hungarian Air Navigation Services

3. 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

4. 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

5. AIR TRAFFIC PERSONNEL TRAINING: Civil Aviation Training Centre
Ab-Initio training for air traffic controllers
Continuation training for air traffic controllers and other staff

6. Civil Aviation Training Centre:
11 Teaching staff
3 Simulator staff
6 Administrative staff
Part time staff hired for courses

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. ICAO Language Requirements (Annex 1) =
2003:
ICAO Language Requirements (Annex 1) =
only 5 years before an exam to be taken in 2008

10. Language teaching and testing of ATCOs also has to serve the purpose of preparation for the 2008 exams!

11. 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)

13. 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

14.  Closing the gap to Level 4
EPT pass mark:
2003: 40%
2005: 55%
2007: 65%
 Closing the gap to Level 4

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18.  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