The ICAO Language Proficiency Test – ICAO English exam – is mandatory for all pilots and students in training who are flying outside the country where they are native speakers. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has introduced language proficiency requirements for air traffic controllers and pilots with the objective to improve the level of language proficiency globally and reduce the frequency of communication errors.

ICAO English exam:

• Exam in a classroom at the Kladno Airport
• On-line exam from around the world via virtual classroom

The ICAO Language Proficiency Test takes 25 – 45 minutes.

Classroom exam

• It takes place at Kladno Airport in the premises of our flight school
• There are always 2 examiners present at the exam
• The candidate obtains the certificate immediately after the examination
• The certificate must be delivered to the register of the Civil Aviation Authority or the Aviation Amateur Association. The ICAO English endorsement becomes valid after it’s written in candidate’s pilot licence.

On-line exam

• It takes place online via the Zoom application
• There are always 2 examiners present at the exam
• The candidate will find out the result and the level achieved of the ICAO English exam no later than the day following the on-line exam by an e-mail
• The certificate must be delivered to the register of the Civil Aviation Authority or the Aviation Amateur Association. The ICAO English endorsement becomes valid after it’s written in candidate’s pilot licence.

The aim of the ICAO Language Proficiency Test

The aim of the ICAO Language Proficiency Test is to verify the applicant’s language skills in the following areas:

• General and aviation English vocabulary.
• Use of flight phrases.
• Reading, understanding and translation of technical publications (eg Pilot’s operating handbook).
• Understanding aviation recording and ability to explain topic in own words.
• Ability to respond correctly to simulated communication between ATC and pilot.
• Ability to understand ATIS, METAR and TAF weather forecasts.
• Reading and understanding NOTAMs, including explanation of the full text of the abbreviations used.

Levels of language proficiency and its validity

• ICAO LEVEL 4: 4 years
• ICAO LEVEL 5: 6 years
• ICAO LEVEL 6: Unlimited Permanent

Preparatory course for ICAO Language Proficiency Test

Applicants for the ICAO Language Proficiency Test have the opportunity to take a preparatory course. We offer two different courses:

• Intensive 3 hour “refresh” of ICAO English. The course precedes the ICAO English exam on the date of the exam.
• ICAO Aviation English course in the lenght of 10 individual hours (only instructor and student). More information here.

ICAO Language Proficiency Test dates and prices

BLUE SKY AVIATION announces regular exam dates once a month . Individual dates are possible outside the announced dates.

IMORTANT: If an applicant for an ICAO English language test holds or applies for a pilot license issued by a foreign authority, he / she must give at least 5 calendar days’ notice to BSA office. If the applicant fails to do so, he will not be admitted for ICAO English exam.

Approved places for ICAO English classroom testing