SERA.14015 Language to be used in air-ground communication

The competent authority should only prescribe other conditions for the use of English language at aerodromes with more than 50 000 international IFR movements per year for specific cases, based on an individual assessment of the local arrangements. In any case, deviation from the requirement should be limited to exceptional cases and should be accompanied with a safety assessment. In States which decide not to apply the requirement to use the English language, the study referred to in SERA.14015 should include an independent and comprehensive assessment of the impact of not using English for air-ground radio communications. Such an assessment should in particular take into account:

(a)Any available accident and incident investigation reports at least at EU level, where the use of language has been identified as a contributing factor. For this purpose, the central repository created in accordance with Commission Regulations (EC) Nos 1321/2007 and 996/2010 for such reports should also be consulted.

(b)The proportion of pilots frequenting that airport, with English language proficiency endorsement.

(c)The proportion of pilots frequenting that airport, lacking language proficiency endorsement in the alternative language to be used.

(d)A consultation of flight crews operating at the airport in question, on their preferences and ability to use the languages in question.

(e)A consultation of the safety investigation authority.

In addition to the requirement in SERA.14015, positive consideration should be given by competent authorities to the benefits of situational awareness which could improve safety on airports and relevant surrounding airspace sectors by extending the use of the English language on some safety critical frequencies at aerodromes and relevant surrounding airspace sectors also with less than 50 000 commercial IFR movements per year, but with international traffic, and a large majority of qualified pilots with acceptable level of English. This consideration would in particular encompass:

(a)use of a single frequency for all the safety-critical operations on a runway or a set of runways;

(b)the need to and feasibility of applying the requirement for English-only communications also to communications with vehicles in order to enhance situational awareness; and

(c)where this consideration could lead to a change in current communication arrangements, it should be based on the outcome of a local safety assessment.

The competent authority should also consider extending the requirement for the use of English language to aerodromes with less than 50 000 international IFR movements per year based on local needs, such as seasonally high levels of international air traffic.