Global Aviation English Research

As mechanical failures occur less frequently in flight operations, there has been a growing focus in recent years on the human factors that contribute to aviation incidents and accidents. Aviation English (AE) has emerged as a key concern in human factors due primarily to the incidents and accidents caused by inadequate English proficiency and insufficient communicative skills. As such, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) published a set of standards and recommendations to strengthen language proficiency requirements (LPRs) for these aviation professionals (ICAO, 2004, 2010). However, as aviation becomes increasingly multilingual and multicultural, safety may be compromised if aviation personnel lack the necessary competencies to communicate effectively in English. The publication Global Aviation English Research, co-edited by Eric Friginal, Malia Prado, and Jennifer Roberts, shows important gaps in the aviation industry and offers a timely examination of language’s critical role in this high-stakes domain.