Airlines to make 'aviation english' compulsory

Come March 2008 pilots flying international routes must acquire a mandatory level of proficiency in 'aviation english'. If they fail to do so ther licence could be taken off them.

It's likely to be compulsary that new pilots pass the language test as part of their commercial pilot licence training.

Aviation english involves communication of flight plans and landing and take off positions between pilots and air traffic control.

The move comes to try and fill the gap between communication with the cockpit and the control tower. One of the most primary factors responsible for accidents is misunderstanding of communication.