Empathy in the skies

why highly proficient English speakers must adhere to international communication standards

I began my career as ATCO in 2008 at one of the world’s busiest airports at the time – Campo de Marte in São Paulo, Brazil, and one thing I’ll never forget is my first shift after OJT: it was Saturday morning during carnival, and the taxiway was packed with fifteen aircraft, all waiting for take-off clearance. Managing that visual traffic was anything but easy. Back then, we had “our way” of doing things, often straying from standard phraseology to keep up with the pace. However, one conversation would change everything. A former instructor, hearing my stories from the tower, looked at me seriously and said, “Thiago, we must never relax the rules to accommodate the traffic. It’s the traffic that must follow the rules.” From that moment on, I became a firm advocate for standard phraseology and safe, precise communication in ATC.

In the realm of air traffic management, effective communication is crucial for safe and efficient operations. While English serves as the lingua franca of the skies – a common language that enables communication across different linguistic backgrounds – as outlined in ICAO Document 9835, it’s essential to recognise that “English” in aviation isn’t quite the same as everyday English. Aeronautical English encompasses both standard phraseology and plain language, providing pilots and controllers with clear, concise communication tools designed specifically for their operational roles. For highly proficient speakers, this specialised language may seem straightforward, but does it truly come naturally?

Unlike less proficient users, highly proficient speakers are tested less often for their language proficiency. Yet, ICAO makes it clear that meeting language proficiency requirements isn’t merely about fluency in English but about achieving effective, clear communication in the unique context of aviation. Aviation safety specialists and language experts agree that both standard phraseology and plain language are instrumental for safe operations, especially in situations where standardised phraseology is insufficient, and plain language must be used to convey meaning where phraseologies do not suffice.

Why adapt language in radiotelephony?

ICAO also emphasises the necessity of maintaining precise and unambiguous communications through standardised phraseology, which is designed to eliminate the risk of misinterpretation and support operational clarity across diverse linguistic backgrounds. Highly proficient users may inadvertently introduce idioms, local expressions, or an accelerated speech rate that hinders understanding for less proficient speakers, particularly those whose first language isn’t English. By adhering to ICAO language proficiency SARPs (Standards and Recommended Practices), they should enhance, not reduce communication clarity and cause miscommunications that compromise safety and efficiency in ATC.

How can proficient speakers aid communication?

Accommodation is when speakers adapt their language in speech to aid less proficient speakers in communicating. In aeronautical radiotelephony, this isn’t about simplifying language; it’s about optimising it to promote operational safety and effectiveness. Here are strategies that speakers can employ to enhance communication with and support less proficient colleagues:

1. Use standard phraseology consistently: Standard phraseology is a crucial tool to minimise ambiguity. Avoiding informal language like “roger that” supports safer operations. Consistent use of terms like “affirm” or “negative” helps ensure that all parties understand instructions accurately.
2. Speak at a moderate pace: Speech rate plays a pivotal role in comprehension, especially over the radio. A steady pace allows all speakers, particularly those less proficient, to process instructions more effectively.
3. Avoid local expressions and idioms: Local or culturally specific phrases like “kick the tires and light the fires” or “give me a heads up” or “down to twelve thousand” (instead of “descend to FL120”), as observed in real-world communications – may confuse even proficient speakers. Choosing direct, universally understood and recommended expressions supports clearer communication and reduces processing time, which is vital in high-stakes environments.
4. Enunciate clearly: Clear pronunciation and careful articulation are essential, especially in noisy cockpit or control tower environments. Language experts emphasise the importance of intelligibility in maintaining effective communication, underscoring that unclear speech can lead to serious or even dangerous misinterpretations.

Strategic skills for effective communication

Effective radiotelephony communication requires strategic skills that go beyond language alone. It is widely recommended that speakers develop accommodation skills – the ability to adapt speech and modify habits based on contextual constraints and the listener’s perceived ability to understand. This process of accommodation involves recognising potential linguistic challenges for the listener and replacing language features that may be unclear or ambiguous to increase communicative efficiency.

Empathy and perspective-taking: By considering the challenges controllers and pilots might face when interpreting fast, colloquial English, all speakers should be encouraged to adjust their style accordingly. This consideration aligns with ICAO’s safety-focused approach, promoting a cooperative environment in which safety is prioritised.

Cultural sensitivity: A global mindset enables communication between speakers of both local and diverse cultural backgrounds. Awareness of these differences helps prevent assumptions about language use and cultural influences, further supporting safe operations.

Reassessing proficiency expectations

Can we envisage a future where all pilots and controllers, including those with higher levels of English proficiency, undergo formal assessments in aeronautical English that include actual communication skills and knowledge from the real-world operational environment, rather than just a list of language elements in isolation? This would help ensure that language proficiency reflects not just linguistic ability or knowledge but also operational effectiveness, that includes strategies for improving communication. It will also allow empathy to guide pilots and ATCOs to communicate clearly and adaptively, supporting safe and effective interactions in real-world aviation scenarios, where safety relies on precise language use and mutual understanding.

For now, highly proficient speakers have a unique opportunity to set a standard that fosters inclusivity and operational safety. By making small adjustments to their language and communication style, they create an environment where both ATCOs and pilots can operate effectively without the challenge of deciphering complex or unfamiliar language. These adjustments align with IFATCA’s mission to enhance safety and uphold professional excellence in air traffic control, supporting safer, more inclusive skies.