ICAO Language Deadline Extended to 2009

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has extended until March 5, 2009, the deadline for U.S. airmen (including pilots, engineers, navigators and control tower operators) to replace their airmen certificates with ones that include the ICAO language proficiency endorsement. The FAA already requires U.S. airmen certificate holders to read, speak, write and understand English, but it filed the motion so pilots would have sufficient time to replace their old certificates. The original deadline for international operators to carry an ICAO endorsement of English proficiency was March 5, 2008.