LINKING YOU TO THE WORLD AVIATION ENGLISH COURSES FOR PILOTS In today's demanding international aviation environment, pilots must be proficient in English. In addition, from March 2008, all ICAO contracting states will need to comply with ICAO English Language Proficiency Requirements for pilots. Designed for pilots involved in international operations and whose first language is not English, Comunicatus offers a training program in aviation-based English to raise pilots' language proficiency to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Operational Level 4 and beyond.  OBJECTIVE The overall objective is for pilots to develop communication skills that will enable them to effectively handle voice-only and face-to-face situations in routine work situations or unexpected turn of events that may occur within the context of their work situation. DELIVERY Aviation English language courses in Montreal, Canada are specifically designed for the aviation environment and are conducted in small closed-focus-group format. The specialized training in English language aviation vocabulary, terminology and phraseology has as its focus the development of an increased understanding of the functional communication skills required by pilots for the safe and effective management of international flights. FUNCTIONALITY To assist in the process of rapid learning, the aviation English training program presents real-world materials and situations, relevant to pilots and customized to their needs. Emphasis is placed on speaking and listening skills, with practice in the aviation context utilizing videos, audio, and readings that are drawn from recognized sources such as Airbus, ICAO, and FAA. For example, training for functionality in the English for Aviation elements include Radio Telephony (R/T) practice utilizing authentic audio training facilities such as ATIS broadcasts, audio examples of aircraft emergencies, incident reports relating to non-routine radio phraseology and unusual aviation-related requests and incidents. CONTENT The aviation English training courses take a communicative approach to language learning and the content reflects the requirements of the six areas covered by the ICAO Language Proficiency Rating Scale.         Pronunciation Structure Vocabulary Stress Basic grammar Paraphrasing Rhythm Sentence patterns Succinct and assertive language Intonation Tense forms Abbreviations and acronyms Enunciation Language functions Key lexical domains Fluency Comprehension Interactions Linking words and phrases Understanding through masking Ability to pass on information Speed of communication Distinguishing similar sounding words/numbers Ability to respond to unfamiliar situations Moving from familiar to spontaneous situations Varieties of speech, accents Checking, clarifying, confirming information