Test of English for Aviation
The Test of English for Aviation (T.E.A.) is a language proficiency test designed and developed by Mayflower College[1] in the United Kingdom.
Following several accidents and incidents where language was a contributing factor (see e.g. Tenerife airport disaster ยง Communication misunderstandings), the International Civil Aviation Organization now requires all civil pilots and Air traffic controllers (working in an international environment) to have a minimum level of English. The T.E.A. assesses candidates' written and spoken English abilities through the skills of vocabulary, structure, pronunciation, fluency, comprehension, and interactions. It is a test of ability in plain English in aviation settings, not of aeronautical phraseology.
The test is administered by a single examiner in an interview setting with the candidate, and takes 25โ30 minutes. The test has three parts. In the first part, the interviewer in the candidate have a general conversation regarding the candidate's interest and experience in aviation. In the second part, the candidate listens to recordings of international English speakers in aviation-related scenarios and responds appropriately. In the third part, the candidate is presented with pictures and is asked to discuss them in English.[2]
See also
- Aviation English
- English Proficiency Test for Aviation
References
- โ Mayflower College
- โ "Aviation English training and testing - Mayflower College and TEA". www.maycoll.co.uk. Mayflower College. Retrieved 22 April 2025.