An international aviation group has asked various Human Factors professionals worldwide to be part of a Working Group, examining key issues in aviation communication.
You have been asked to give your expertise on overcoming the difficulties of the language used in aviation – should all pilots and air traffic controllers speak English all the time? Note that this option would require an all-Spanish* crew to speak English when communicating with air traffic control in Spanish domestic airspace, and when conversing with each other in the cockpit.
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of these aviation professionals speaking English in all operational situations, and make recommendations to enhance safety in this respect.
*Spanish used as an example here –and can be replaced with any other nationality that does not speak English as a first language
