Recently, a Russian pilot flying an Indian airline misunderstood the instructions in English from the ATC.
BANGALORE: Recently, a Russian pilot flying an Indian airline misunderstood the instructions in English from the Air Traffic Control (ATC) and crossed the path of another aircraft and nearly sparked off a mid-air catastrophe over Mumbai.
Such near-mishaps happen at least once in ten days with the number of foreign pilots being hired by Indian airliners rising and their difficulties over understanding English increasing, say civil aviation officials. ``But these incidents are not recorded,’’ one official confided.
Concerned over the language hiccups, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is planning to conduct English language proficiency tests for pilots as well as ATC personnel. “We have also received a directive from International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) mandating these tests,” A K Sharan, director (Training and Licensing) of DGCA told DNA.
ICAO directed aviation authorities around the world to go in for additional training for pilots and ATC officials by March 2008 after finding that nearly 70 per cent of the safety reports it receives speak of communication problems and poor English.
Though the problem is global, it is especially serious in India which depends heavily on foreign pilots because of paucity of domestic talent, according to a DGCA official.
India needs an estimated 1,000 pilots an year while the current output from aviation schools is only about 250. ATC are finding it difficult to communicate with pilots especially from Russia, Korea, Armenia and South American countries.
Besides their routine technical subjects, the pilots and ATC officials would henceforth be given a test in English and those who fail it would be asked to upgrade their language skills, the official said. As the March 2008 deadline approaches, the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA) too has urged authorities across nations to give a serious thought to the language skills of personnel.
ATC officials say that it’s not just the language but even the accent that is giving them anxious moments. “Though our interaction with pilots is usually in codes, it takes long to communicate to foreign pilots with their incomprehensible accents often leading to traffic jams and near-misses,’’ an ATC official says, requesting anonymity.
Adds a senior Air Deccan pilot: “Problems also arise when foreign pilots encounter localised English accents of Indians. Though the foreign pilot has a local flying with him, it is the captain who takes the decisions.” A Spice Jet spokesman admits to ``serious problems during flying’’ over lack of English language skills, adding: “Language is part of training and is important.”
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