Volaris wrote:
Does it make sense to do the ICAO language test already at the beginning? I think about getting it done and maybe have a positive motivation if I can cross this item off my to-do list.
Considering your written English I’d say that test is a total non-event for you with the proper preparation, that is doing some listening examples primarily and listen to some ATC. Also speaking to native English speakers and possibly immerse yourself with watching UK news on Sky or BBC e.t.. may help to get you in the mood. Normally I understand this test is done together with the radio certificate, but if you want to do it before or whenever, sure.
I did my LP6 in ZRH with a real fun examiner and the Swiss counterpart. It was by far the most fun I’ve ever had at an exam.
Fly a plane with little power, low wing loading, no flaps, lots of adverse yaw and a powerful rudder…. Come in high on purpose, watch what lift and sink does on approach and adjust for it by slipping off whatever excess energy nature has left you on short final. In that circumstance you’ll find slipping is a wonderful tool.
Peter wrote:
Never done it in 24 years of flying.
I’ve never had to use sideslips on a GA plane so far, primarily because I’ve never flown one without flaps and in GA you mostly can sort out your approach yourself. I’ve seen it use to great success on both the Caravelle and the Tupolev, when ending up on final too high and fast. On the TU you had other means of slowing down such as throwing the gear out (those 6 wheel boogies really slow you down while they unfold) and massive speedbrakes. The Caravelle on the other hand was a pure gentleman’s plane which could do astonishing stuff. Sideslipping was used quite often as a planned thing when circling somewhere in order to stay high until away from built up areas or when ATC gave you “impossible” altitudes to reach final in a civilized manner. Worked every time and was fun.
Emir wrote:
Why? I got level 5 when I did the exam first time.
The CAA wants one to pass one’s “first” exam with them, and they only have level 4 examiners, so they can only give a level 4. After that first exam pass, one can do renewals with any other approved examiner, and then the maximum level one can possibly get is restrained by the approval of that examiner.
@Volaris, at least by your writing here, English shouldn’t be a problem for you. That said, I’d echo what others have said and suggest you wait a little until you actually use aviation English. You could also get into the swing of things by listening to LiveATC.net, ideally choosing an airport in your area. Also, get your medical done asap – doesn’t make sense to start training (can you do that in Europe without a medical?) and spend money if you then find you can’t get it for some reason.
First time you can only do level 4
I guess this is some kind of local restriction. I did my level 6 with bordeaux_jim’s outfit. I was already level 4, grandfathered from my FAA license, but I had never done the test before. (It was just too embarrassing to be 4 in English and 6 in French, for a native English speaker).
I don’t think it would be wise to do the test without a bit of experience of ATC English. You need to have an idea what to expect. I speak fluent French, practically bilingual, but I still had a lot of trouble getting my ears around ATC French (and still do, actually).
hazek wrote:
First time you can only do level 4
Why? I got level 5 when I did the exam first time.
Volaris wrote:
Otherwise it would be to describe pictures and have a conversation with the examiner, which is adapted to your level of experience.
The picture and conversation is likely aviation-related.
WingsWaterAndWheels wrote:
But I would recommend doing some flying first to have some idea of the actual practice of English on the radio.
Thank you!
I was told that they check for language proficiency and not if the content is right/wrong. The only reference should be to understand an ATIS message and answer a question about it. Otherwise it would be to describe pictures and have a conversation with the examiner, which is adapted to your level of experience.
At least that’s what I also saw at the practice exams online e.g. here: https://say-again.aero/en/preparation/
The idea was to do this at the beginning. As the radio course at my flying school also takes place at the very beginning.
I assume you’re talking about English radio qualification (aka “FCL.055”).
I would not recommend taking the exam before any flying, because much of what you say over the radio is linked to what you do in the air (or intend to do, decide, or commit to doing etc.). Much of it will be quite obscure before you figure out what it means, and most (if not all) of it will be taught on the ground by your instructor. What you could do instead is, during briefing / instructor lesson, note down full examples of radio calls and repeat them later. Mental rehearsal, one of the most useful tools to reduce stress, works great with radio calls.
Having clean radio calls helps a lot with streamlining, while sloppy calls can make you sound (and feel) undecided. But IMO better learn what it means (and learn flying step-by-step at the same time) than learn by heart without any actual meaning.
Maybe you can also work on the theory exam. It takes more time (I would definitely have gotten bored by theory lessons if there was no flying in-between), but it’s a good milestone and helps gain some knowledge. It’s also negligible as a financial commitment. Obtaining theory can probably take anywhere between 2 and 6 months depending on your work pace.
