The CAA International EALTS

A multi-level language proficiency assessment for air traffic controllers and pilots

The CAAi EALTS is a multi-level, English for Aviation language testing system designed to assess the language proficiency of air traffic controllers, commercial flight crew and recreational pilots across all levels of the ICAO Language Proficiency Rating Scale from Pre-Elementary Level 1 to Expert Level 6.

The testing system assesses the English language skills of speaking and listening in the context of aviation and aeronautical communications. An award in the CAAi English for Aviation Language Test of a rating of Operational Level 4 or above may be used as evidence of having demonstrated the level of language proficiency required under the March 2008 ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements for licence endorsement purposes.

The EALTS is the language proficiency testing system of CAAi and forms part of its Examinations Services. Developed and administered in association with Language Testing and Assessment Services Ltd (LTAS), the CAAi EALTS conforms to all ICAO standards and recommended practices in language proficiency assessment. 1

EALTS awards are recognised internationally by employers, professional registration bodies and national licensing authorities as evidence of attainment of the language proficiency required by flight crew and air traffic controllers in compliance with the ICAO 5th March 2008 Language Proficiency Requirements and with Directive 2006/23/EC of the European Parliament of 5th April 2006 on European Community air traffic controller licensing. 2

The EALTS is recommended for qualified and experienced aviation professionals, flight crew and air traffic controllers or those coming to the end of their professional training requiring an internationally recognised assessment of their English for Aviation language proficiency for licence endorsement purposes. 3

Although a test of language and not a test of procedure per se, the EALTS is not recommended for ab-initio aviation profession trainees or candidates unfamiliar with aviation operations.

CAAi EALTS assessments are customised for the individual test-takers in order to provide them with an aviation-related context familiar to them. These possible adaptations are in the interest of the comfort of the test taker; they are not, in themselves, specialised tests of distinct varieties of language proficiency. The assessment criteria remain the same throughout. 4

The EALTS does not assess formulaic R/T phraseology, and neither does it assess operational skills or specific technical knowledge of operations. 5

The components of CAA International EALTS

The CAAi EALTS comprises the English for Aviation Language Test (EALT) for non-native speakers of English, and the ICAO Expert Level 6 Assessment (ICAO ELSA) for native or near-native speakers of the language.

Both components offer appropriate direct assessments of communicative competence in listening and speaking to the aviation industry allowing organisations to determine the extent to which commercial flight crew, recreational pilots and air traffic controllers are able to meet the ICAO Language Proficiency Standards. 6

1 All aspects of the Testing System are routinely monitored by CAAi to ensure compliance with strict standards of product development, test specification, test production, examination administration, post-exam processing and examination review and evaluation.

2 The European Union (EU) Directive introducing a Community Air Traffic Controller Licence came into force on 17 May 2006. The Directive includes language proficiency requirements for air traffic controllers and uses the same Language Proficiency Rating Scale as that used by ICAO.

3 c.f. ICAO Cir 318-AN/180 Ch.1 Test Purposes and Test Types 3.5

4 c.f. ICAO Cir 318-AN/180 Ch.2 Test Design and Construct 1.1.1

5 c.f. ICAO Cir 318-AN/180 Ch.2 Organisational Information and Infrastructure 5.1, and ICAO Doc. AUD001 Forward Radiotelephony Content

6 c.f. ICAO Cir 318-AN/180 Ch.1 Aviation Specific Language Testing Issues Section 4 and ICAO Doc 9835 Ch.6 Aviation Language Testing 6.7.10