Effective communication between aircraft and air traffic control (ATC) is a cornerstone of aviation safety. While English is the globally recognised standard language for international aviation, local languages are often used concurrently, particularly for communication with domestic flight crews. This practice, although intended to facilitate speed and clarity in local operations, can introduce challenges in maintaining consistent situational awareness among all parties sharing the same airspace.
Multi-language operations within a single ATC frequency may lead to misunderstandings, delayed responses, or reduced comprehension of critical instructions. Even when controllers are proficient in English and the local language, the simultaneous use of multiple languages can compromise the shared understanding of traffic situations, especially in complex or high-density airspace environments.
The use of Standard Aviation English phraseology plays a vital role in mitigating these risks. By providing a uniform set of terms and expressions, it reduces ambiguity, ensures that instructions are clearly understood across diverse linguistic backgrounds, and supports the safe and expeditious management of aircraft. Exceptions for using the native language are typically limited to unusual situations, local-specific instructions, or emergencies.
Concerns over multi-language operations have been formally recognised within European aviation safety regulation. EUROCONTROL’s Safety Regulation Commission (SRC) has highlighted the safety risks associated with the concurrent use of English and local languages at airports and in surrounding airspace, particularly where international traffic is significant. Recommendations have been made to extend the use of English in these environments to enhance situational awareness, reduce misunderstandings, and improve overall flight safety.
This article examines the operational implications of multi-language ATC communications, reviews incidents where language usage contributed to safety risks, and considers regulatory initiatives aimed at standardising language use in air traffic management.
Multi-language ATC Operations
Introduction
The default language of international aviation worldwide is English, although local languages are used concurrently for RTF communications, even in busy and complex operational environments.
Sometimes this practice is ‘justified’ on a local level by the reasoning that it avoids possible misunderstandings when addressing local specifics and facilitates the speed of the communication process with the native flight crews.
However, controllers using both English for communication with international flights and the country’s native language for communication with the local crews potentially prevent both crews from achieving the desired level of situational awareness concerning the other traffic.
Description
In the context of the operational environment, the use of the English standard phraseology reduces the risk that a message will be misunderstood.
The use of Standard Aviation English phraseology is a major contribution to the reduction of ambiguity in aircraft/ATC communications and supports a common understanding among speakers of both:
- Different native languages and
- The same native language, but who use, pronounce or understand words differently.
English standard phraseology should be used in all communications (transmissions and receptions). When used properly, the information and instructions transmitted are of vital importance in assisting in the safe and expeditious operation of aircraft.
However native language is still used locally, exceptionally for particular information or to describe unusual situations, or in case of an emergency.
Incidents and accidents have occurred in which a contributing factor has been the poor situational awareness caused by the use of different languages on a single ATC frequency.
This subject was raised at the 40th Session of the Safety Regulation Commission (SRC)by the UK SRC representative,
introducing a Working Paper SRC40.09 on the “Use of more than one language at airports in the EUROCONTROL Member States” to draw attention to this significant aviation safety issue and to seek support for the launch of an SRC-led initiative to standardize language use at major international airports within the EUROCONTROL Member States.
At SRC41 an update on the results of the consultation on the subject was provided. SRC tasked a coordination group to continue discussions on the issue of the use of more than one language at airports in the EUROCONTROL Member States.
As result, the following Recommendation was presented to the members of the provisional council (4-5 December 2012): States to progress their considerations regarding extending the use of English at airports and relevant surrounding airspace sectors with international traffic of more than 50.000 commercial IFR movements a year, to improve safety in this field.
Accidents and Incidents involving the use of different languages
The following events include “Multiple Language use on Frequency” as a contributory factor:
Editor’s Note:
- (SRC) undertakes EUROCONTROL’s work in the field of ATM safety regulation across the whole ECAC area and is composed of senior executives from within organizations responsible for ATM safety regulation at the national level. SRC is responsible for the development and uniform implementation of harmonized safety regulatory objectives and requirements for the European Air Traffic Management (ATM) and ensuring their effectiveness through measurement of safety performance.