Aviation English in South African airspace

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A lack of English proficiency and failure to use standard phraseology played a role intwo of the world's largest aviation disasters in South Germany and Tenerife,respectively. As a result, the crucial role of effective pilot-ATC (air traffic controller)communication came under scrutiny and measures were put in place to ensure thataviation safety is not jeopardised by language-related problems. For example, theInternational Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) implemented English languageproficiency standards and testing. The study reported in this thesis investigated theuse of Aviation English and standard phraseology, which is used in radiotelephonycommunication by the operational aviation community. Aviation English consists of arange of operationally-relevant language functions and dialogue management, e.g.orders, requests, and offers to act; a blend of formulaic standard phraseology andplain or everyday speech if and when a non-routine situation occurs. Data on pilots'and ATCs' perceptions of the role of language in air traffic communication, theirperspectives on English as lingua franca in aviation, and English languageproficiency standards and testing were collected by means of a questionnaire. Therespondents included full-time professional pilots (domestic and international flights),part-time professional pilots and pilots who fly for leisure, and ATCs in Air TrafficNavigation Service units that handle domestic and/or international flights. Recordingsof on-site air traffic communication from two airport towers were obtained and wereused to study the use of Aviation English and standard phraseology in pilot-ATCcommunication in South Africa. The results indicated that the majority of pilots andATCs believe that language-related problems can cause fatal accidents and seriousincidents. Pilots and ATCs in South Africa do experience threatening and potentiallyhazardous situations as a result of communication problems, however, they areconfident that communication problems are resolved quickly and successfully in order to avoid accidents. The analysis of the voice recordings correlated with thepilots' and ATCs' perceptions that in spite of communication problems (languagerelatedand non-language-related) occurring in South African airspace, pilots andATCs have strategies in place to resolve them effectively and they are also able touse plain English to negotiate understanding and meaning. The majority of therespondents indicated that they agree that English should be used as the lingua franca in aviation around the world and they regard the English language proficiencyof South African pilots and ATCs as satisfactory. The majority support ICAO'sEnglish language proficiency standards and testing. The recordings presented asmall percentage of transmissions with read-back/hear-back errors, but a substantialnumber of instances of radio distortions and background noise which interfered withthe intelligibility of the transmissions, correlated with the results of the questionnaire.A small percentage of transmissions contained deviations from Aviation English andstandard phraseology and/or the use of plain English. The researcher is of theopinion that this initial investigation into Aviation English serves to indicate someavenues for fruitful linguistic investigations into Aviation English and pilot-ATCcommunication in South Africa.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University