English proficiency endorsement

[dogedog]

What will they think of next? I just paid the $2 bucks to get it, here's the link

http://search.google.dot.gov/FAA/FA...ess=p&output=xml_no_dtd&site=FAA_Pages&ie=UTF-

 

[njcapt]

What will they think of next? I just paid the $2 bucks to get it, here's the link

http://search.google.dot.gov/FAA/FA...ess=p&output=xml_no_dtd&site=FAA_Pages&ie=UTF-

This whole thing really torques me off. I don't care that we have to pay for new FAA certs with a ludicrous 'English Proficient' tag on it. What really sucks is that they gave us exactly 22 days notice that the endorsement was required and it takes 14 days to get the new cert in the mail. I just heard about this and will have to leave for my next international trip before I get the new ticket. I only hope that the French feds can restrain the overwhelming urge to ramp me the next time I go to Basel.

 

[wildbill]

Thanks for the link dogedog. Just used it to waste $2.00 to support a system that has lost its mind..

 

[tathepilot]

U.S. Department InFO 08008
of Transportation DATE: 2/13/08
Federal Aviation
Administration Flight Standards Service
Washington, DC
http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info
An InFO contains valuable information for operators that should help them meet certain administrative, regulatory, or operational requirements with relatively low urgency or impact on safety.
Subject: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Language Proficiency Requirements
Purpose: To provide compliance information regarding the ICAO Language Proficiency standards for operating internationally.
Applicability: All persons who currently hold a United States (U.S.) private pilot, commercial pilot, airline transport pilot (ATP), flight engineer (FE), and flight navigator certificate with an airplane or helicopter rating.
Background: Effective March 5, 2008, ICAO Annex 1 (Personnel Licensing) standards require that all private, commercial or ATPs as well as FEs and flight navigators operating internationally as required crewmembers of an airplane or helicopter have an airman certificate with an endorsement of language proficiency. In the case of persons holding a U.S. airman certificate, the language proficiency endorsement will state “English Proficient”.
Discussion: The language proficiency endorsement on the airman certificate is an ICAO standard; there is no U.S. regulatory requirement for airmen operating U.S.-registered aircraft within the U.S. as required crewmembers to have an English proficiency endorsement on their U.S. airman certificate. There are, however, long-standing FAA requirements for actual English proficiency pertaining to the basic eligibility for a U.S. airman certificate. The current rules in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) parts 61, 63 and 65 require that the applicant be able to read, write, speak and understand English. For more information, see: http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/avia...all_infos/media/2008/info08008_attachment.pdf
To satisfy the ICAO language proficiency endorsement requirement, on February 11, 2008, the FAA is making available replacement certificates for affected airmen with the additional endorsement – “English Proficient”. All affected airman certificate holders are considered to have met the ICAO English language proficiency requirements based on the eligibility requirements of parts 61, 63 and 65. The FAA’s issuance of an “English Proficient” endorsement on a U.S. airman certificate attests that the airman meets the Level 4 operational standards found in ICAO Annex 1 (a copy of the ICAO Level 4 criteria is attached).
The FAA is not changing its certification standard or basic process as to how our designated examiners and inspectors conduct FAA English proficiency and fluency eligibility evaluations.
Approved by: AFS-200 OPR: AFS-800, AFS-700
Approved by: AFS-200 OPR: AFS-800, AFS-700
We merely recognize that our existing English proficiency evaluation standards include ICAO level 4 language proficiency requirements. (We will update FAA Order 8900.1/ Flight Standards Information Management System (FSIMS), FAA Advisory Circular 60-28, and the Aviation Medical Examiners’ Guide accordingly).
Availability: In order to obtain a replacement certificate with the “English Proficient” endorsement, the affected airman certificate holder may submit an on-line request to the FAA through the FAA Web site http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/ airmen_services/, or by mail to Federal Aviation Administration, Airmen Certification Branch, AFS-760, P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0082. The signed, written request must include the following information: name, date and place of birth, social security number and/or certificate number, the reason you need a replacement and a current address. The cost to the airman is $2.00. Replacement certificates will be available starting on February 11, 2008. (Please note: if you hold an airman certificate based on a foreign license (14 CFR §§ 61.75, 63.42), you must comply with the current procedures for obtaining a replacement certificate. You must have a valid verification letter of authenticity on file in the Airmen Certification Branch. You will need to contact a Flight Standards District Office or an International Field Office in person, submitting a copy of your verification letter of authenticity, a completed FAA Form 8710-1 and positive identification. Airman certificates affected by the ICAO language proficiency requirements issued on and after February 11, 2008, will be issued with the “English Proficient” endorsement. This includes all new airman certificates that are issued on the basis of a foreign license/certificate after February 11, 2008.
Recommended action: All private, commercial or ATP as well as FEs and flight navigators should hold a replacement certificate with the “English Proficient” endorsement when operating internationally as required crewmembers of an airplane or helicopter.
Contact: Please direct questions about this InFO to the General Aviation and Commercial Division, AFS-800 at (202) 267-8212.

 

[VAPOR]

My home country (US f-in A) speaks English, my certificate requires that I know English, and anyone who can read my certificate should know this or else they shouldn't be allowed to see my certificate in the first place. The bottom line: The FAA stands to make over $100k off of us. Next year's endorsement will be "Flight proficient" and will cost $4.

I suggest we all take a few minutes to write about this total inefficiency to:

Mr. Robert A. Sturgell
Acting Administrator
Federal Aviation Administration
800 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20591

 

[tathepilot]

This is not an FAA requirement, it is an ICAO standard, so if you don't fly international don't worry about it..

 

[illeagle]

is canada and carribean considered international?
I too just plunked down the 2 bucks. What a waste. I could have invested that 2 bucks outside of aviation...

 

[avbug]

I only hope that the French feds can restrain the overwhelming urge to ramp me the next time I go to Basel.

A fax (or email) can be had from the FAA as an official document until your new certificate arrives.

The FAA is not the least concerned with this change; in other words, the FAA ramping you won't change a thing. The FAA isn't requiring the endorsement on your certificate; it's an ICAO issue.

As you fly internationally, you may be aware of the poor state of English in use in many parts of the world, by pilots and controllers. ICAO addressed this issue last year. Notice has been out for some time, internationally.

What the FAA is doing for you is a courtesy which allows you to show compliance with ICAO requirements when flying internationally. This is not a money making scheme. The administration is already inundated with applications and paperwork. This isn't somethign anyone in the Administration wants...but it's doing it to comply with and align with international policy.

The SIC type rating was another such move, as was the conversion to METARs and TAF's.

It's called change. Get used to it. It's better known as "aviation."

 

[JohnDoe]

If one is getting a new certificate soon with a new rating, will it automatically have the new endorsement on it? Or do you need to ask for it somewhere like an 8710??

The FAA statement made mention of a Feb 11 date and the issuance of new certificates, but it seemed as if that may have been lumped in with the explanation regarding "certificates issued based on a foreign license." Hard to tell.

 

[Fedora]

An answer for those of you concerned about documenting the ENGLISH PROFICIENT requirement while you wait for your replacement certificate to be mailed to you.

Navigate to the FAA website www.faa.gov home page

Find the “Pilots” heading and select “Licenses and Certificates”

Find the “Airmen” heading and select “Airmen Online Services”

You will have to either create a log in or use your existing log in to go further

Log in by providing the required information

Proceed to “Certificate” and select “Request Verification of Certificate Privileges”

Provide the web site with the required information including an email address where they can email the Verification of Certificate Privileges Adobe PDF file. The default is your email address specified in your log in information. Be sure you click on the correct circles

You will receive an email almost immediately that has as an attachment your Verification of Certificate Privileges PDF file, the name of which is your full name

Save it to your hard drive, open it and print a copy. It will display your current privileges including ENGLISH PROFICIENT. If you have requested a permanent replacement certificate the PDF file will indicate that date as the “ISSUED” date for your certificate, e.g., I requested my replacement certificate yesterday, 02/23/2008, and that is the date indicated as the “ISSUED” date on my verification letter so it is updated almost instantaneously. The internet is a wonderful thing!

Keep a copy of the printed letter from the FAA with you when operating internationally until you receive your permanent certificate.

I take no credit for this information as it was provided by my company's training department.