ICAO received reports from member countries that the lack of English language skills of pilots or air traffic controllers was one of the main or secondary reasons for air accidents. Therefore, the member countries of this organization have been required to implement regulations related to the minimum English language skills of pilots and air traffic controllers from March 5, 2008. In this regard, the Civil Aviation OrganizationCAA.IRI of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as a ICAO Member States, has implemented these regulations with the aim of improving the safety of aviation operations.

Types of English language test and the type of test considered by ICAO: In organizations and educational centers, different English language tests designed for different purposes are used. Among these tests, the following tests can be mentioned:

2-1) Placement test: The evaluation of the current language level of the learner is for the purpose of educational planning for the learner so that the learner can participate in a class that is suitable for his current level. This type of test is used in language training institutions, when a language learner applies for registration for the first time.

2-2) Diagnostic test: This type of test is used to evaluate the weaknesses and strengths of the learner so that special training can be provided to him in the shortest possible time to fix the identified weaknesses.

2-3) Progress test: This type of test is used to evaluate the progress of education in English language courses so that the teacher can continue the course by making sure that the student has learned the previous lessons well.

2-4) Achievement test: This test is used at the end of every English language training course as a final test for the overall evaluation of what the student has learned during the course. With the success of the participant in this test, a certificate of passing the course will be issued to him.

2-5) Proficiency test: It is a general assessment of the learner's ability to use the language in practice for different situations in comparison with predetermined criteria. The difference between this type of test and the tests mentioned above is that this test is not directly related to a specific training course. In this type of test, the number of courses and the type of courses and educational institutions that people have attended is not important, what is important is how much people can actually use English to communicate in different situations. The ICAO English level test is this type of test that only measures the speaking and listening skills of the test participants.

In the aviation English test, the semi-structured interview method is used to evaluate the English language level of the applicants. In the semi-structured method, the test questions are designed and specified in advance. However, the assessors are allowed to ask the interviewee more probing questions related to the predetermined question to elicit ratable speech. This is done with the aim of extracting sufficient and ev0aluable speech samples from the interviewee's English language performance.

All air traffic controller license holders working in Tehran flight control center and airports of the country, all pilot license holders and all persons who are required to have a minimum ICAO English proficiency level according to the relevant regulations.

According to their goals and needs, aviation organizations can oblige their other employees (for example, dispatchers, flight attendants, maintenance engineers, electronics and telecommunications engineers, etc.) to have specific minimums of general English. Obviously, the English language test for pilots and air traffic controllers is not suitable for other employees in other jobs in the aviation industry due to its structure and nature. For this purpose, organizations can use other tests available in the scientific and academic community, such as IELTS and TOEFL, etc.

Only English language assessors approved by the Civil Aviation OrganizationCAA.IRI are permitted to operate within the English language Assessment Body as an assessor.

The purpose of the aviation English test shall not be to test the technical knowledge of pilots and air traffic controllers. The English language test for aviation measures the general language knowledge of the participants in the fields of aviation.

To measure the English language skills of the test participants, the six language components mentioned in the ICAO English Rating Scale (Pronunciation, Structure, Vocabulary, Fluency, Comprehension, Interaction) will be evaluated, and the lowest level obtained in each of these six components will be the final level of the individual's English language skills.

The LPR test results are graded on a scale ranging from Level one to Level six. Active pilots and air traffic controllers shall achieve a minimum of Level Four in English language proficiency from the date of the test to avoid suspension of their licenses.