English Language Requirement Explained

The need for aviation workers to speak and understand English is clearly outlined in FAA regulations, but as Roy Resto points out in his CAVU Café: Royboy’s Prose & Cons blog, understanding how this works in practice takes a little more work. “In most parts of the world,” he noted, “English is the international language of aviation. Flight-deck instruments are in English, as are flight manuals and maintenance instructions. The process of communication is fragile and subject to varying levels of understanding at the slightest nuance of expression or interpretation.” Resto’s blog post clearly outlines the regulatory requirements and how Advisory Circular 60-28A applies.