All aeroplane, airships, powered lift aircrafts and helicopter pilots, flight navigators and air traffic controllers need to hold a valid language proficiency endorsement to use radio communication. The UK CAA can only endorse English language proficiency levels on the licences that we issue.
Your language skills will be rated on a scale of 1 to 6 (as defined by ICAO) and you must achieve a minimum of level 4. If you are graded at level 4 or 5 you will need to be retested regularly. If you achieve level 6 you will not need to be retested unless you are an ATCO. You will then have a language proficiency endorsement on your licence, and a validity date. In the UK, you will need retest as follows:
- Level 4 – every 4 years from the date of assessment
- Level 5 – every 6 years from the date of assessment
- Level 6 - valid for life, except for ATCOs retest every 9 years from the date of assessment
If you are graded below a level 4, you will not be able to get a licence that includes radiotelephony privileges. This also applies to national licences. In the UK, you need to obtain a Flight Radiotelephony Operator’s licence to use radio communications equipment, and to be able to use this you must have a language endorsement on your licence at level 6 or have a valid proficiency if you achieved a level 4 or 5.
Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs)
Information for gaining and maintaining English language proficiency endorsements for ATCOs are on our ATCO Level 6 ELP endorsements page.
Language proficiency requirements
To get the endorsement, you will need to demonstrate that you are able to do the following:
- Effectively communicate voice-only and face-to-face.
- Communicate on common and work-related topics with accuracy and clarity.
- Use appropriate communicative strategies to exchange messages and to recognise and resolve misunderstandings in a general or work-related context.
- Be able to use language effectively in a difficult or emergency work-related situation or communication task, that you have not encountered before.
- Speak in an accent or dialect that can be understood.
If you hold an instrument rating (IR) or en-route instrument rating (EIR) you must be able to demonstrate your English language proficiency to a level that will allow you to:
- understand all the relevant information for all phases of flight, including preparation.
- use radiotelephony in all phases of flight, including emergencies.
- communicate with crew members during all phases of flight, including preparation.
Language proficiency testing
There are a number of ways you can be tested for your language proficiency level, as follows:
At your radiotelephony test
A UK approved examiner holding a level 6 proficiency in English can assess you during your practical test for the UK FRTOL. If your language level does not meet a level 6 then you will need to go to an expert assessor, such as a CAA approved language school.
If you are assessed during your FRTOL practical test, you must include a completed form CAA5003 with your application.
At a flight test
Examiners holding FE, TRE, SFE, CRE, IRE, FIE or FRTOL Examiner privileges granted by the CAA, who themselves hold Level 6 (Expert) English Language Proficiency, can currently conduct assessments for first language speakers with native or native-like proficiency, as well as second or foreign language speakers with a high level of proficiency and, where appropriate, award level 6 proficiency. An approved Examiner can assess a pilot during a Practical Test for a licence, rating, or the FRTOL. The UK CAA approved examiner can only award Language Proficiency Expert level 6, cannot upgrade from level 4 or 5.
At an approved language school
You can also have your language proficiency assessed at
- a language school approved by the CAA or
- an ATO specially approved by the CAA to conduct language assessments.
Details of these organisations are published in Standards Document 31, our list of approved training organisations.
If you are assessed at one of these organisations, you must include a completed form CAA5012 with your application.
The form must be signed by one of the following people:
- a UK-registered examiner
- the Head of Training at a language school approved by the CAA.
- the Head of Training at an ATO approved by the CAA to carry out language assessments.
The form must show the language, the proficiency level, and the validity date.
At a training organisation
A number of approved training organisations (ATOs) will offer language training modules as part of your overall training package, and if approved to do so by the CAA the ATO will be able to assess your language proficiency.
Details of these organisations are published in Standards Document 31, our list of approved training organisations.