A perceived needs assessment in the Italian aviation context: attitudes towards ICAO LPRs and testing with regard to job security of pilots and controllers

In 2004 the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) published a set of Language Proficiency Requirements and demanded that pilots and controllers working on an international setting demonstrate a basic level of language proficiency. The objective of this strengthened provision was to avoid language-related problems during air-ground communications and to highlight the crucial importance of English as a prerequisite to reliably perform this job. This thesis begins with a students centered approach and aims at identifying the attitudes that Italian pilots and controllers have towards the ICAO language proficiency requirements in aviation. It will then go on to examine the attitudes towards the training provided in the context of aviation. Particularly, the objective was to investigate pilots’ and controllers’ opinions with regard to ICAO language descriptors and periodical test of English for Aviation seen as a short-term objective, and the perception of language proficiency as a long-term objective for successfully fulfilling future professional duties and as a sense of personal responsibility. The last part of the study aims at exploring the actual methodology used to teach aviation English. Data were collected through mixed methods. Qualitative data was gathered through focus groups, whereas quantitative data was collected by administering a survey questionnaire. As for the methodology in this area, data were collected through interviews to four teachers and then compared to the data collected from the students in the last part of the questionnaire.