Fired for helping pilots

[Rachel Shieff]

Here is an article telling my story.  It was published on a website in spanish.  Here is the translation.  I thought some of you may be interested.

ICAO English Instructor FIRED for helping pilots

Pilots in need of help with their aviation English for their ICAO language proficiency test, have been seeking the assistance of a kind and helpful Aviation English instructor from a Spanish Flight Training Organisation.
The Instructor, a former Cathay Pacific employee & now ICAO English examiner, did not have the support of her employer so she began developing free extra study material for pilots who failed their ICAO English test, in an effort to help these worried aviators with their English.
Many of these pilots had not prepared by revising before taking their ICAO English test, and as more pilots expressed the value of these free materials, the Aviation English instructor, Rachel Shieff, made her free materials more accessible via a youtube channel ( http://www.youtube.com/user/icaoenglish ) and by creating a web page, http://www.practiceICAOenglish.com , so she could advise more pilots what they should be studying before they go for their English Language Proficiency test.
When the instructor’s employer learned about the free materials and her website, she was dismissed from the company on grounds that there was a conflict of interests.

By interviewing each pilot after their test, Rachel Shieff has identified that the format of the ICAO test, and the format of the questions leaves many experienced pilots with a lower test score than they had expected.
Rachel Shieff’s mission is to provide the correct advice to pilots and create enjoyable study courses, online, that allow pilots to gain the knowledge they need to meet the ICAO requirements and pass their English Language proficiency test at level 4 or above.
Shieff regrets the conditions under which she parted with her former employer, however, she believes that with every adversity, an equally proportioned opportunity presents itself. 
She is now able to focus all her time and effort on reaching the pilot community with her helpful free training material, and is designing new, interactive E-learning courses that focus on improving Aviation English skills in line with the ICAO requirements.  These will be conveniently accessible to pilots everywhere, on the web.  So it seems the FTO who dismissed Rachel Shieff has done a service to the pilot community.

[SteveY]

I am pleased to have been able to hear your side of the story.

Test preparation is allowed, assuming it does not compromise the test,  it is acceptable providing the examiner is not the person who gives the training.

I am an examiner, I also teach aviation English to pilots. I have often felt that I am testing a pilots ability to understand the test method rather than testing their English profciency. To that end, I explain the test method in full before the test and have a lower level of failures than the other examiners using the same method in my country. Frankly, if a pilot can`t speak English then there is little I can do or say that will help, but for those pilots that are either nervous or don´t understand the test requitrements my advice is often invaluable.

I hope you go on to help many more pilots.

[sacex250]

Well, there's an obvious conflict of interest; I can't argue with the decision to terminate your employment.  But, it looks like you have the chance to do what you wanted to do in the first place.

[B767-3ER]

Dear,
out of my 3years (quite a short time) experience as an FO i am really shocked abt language skills of pilots flying within Europe and/or other, "non-english speaking contries" around the globe.
To become a pilot requires much more than "only" verbal/written skills and all I would like to point out is - If recrutes failed on ICAO language test, they should not get a second chance at all for basic things/tets like this.

Anyway, to help people is always a nice thing but bear in minde that communication is one of the most important things inside avation.

Good luck in the future

Nico

[Rachel Shieff]

Hi Nico,

I agree that good communication is one of the most important qualities of a pilot.  I used to work for CX and on occasion I would sit in the flight deck to monitor and take recordings of radio communication.  On one trip from Hong Kong to Korea, the First Officer asked me to write down the instructions I heard as we flew over Taiwan airspace.  I did, and not surprisingly I misunderstood the instructions. 

The FO was making the point that, yes the pronunciation was difficult to understand, but after time your ear tunes in and listening becomes easier.  It is however a BIG problem when language AND pronunciation is an issue.

liveatc.net is a great resource for pilots to listen to real communication. It would be nice if some of the recordings were available with subtitles, for the benefit of non-native English speaking pilots, many of whom are very motivated to improve.

I love getting suggestions and comments about my course from pilots who experience aviation communication problems on a regular basis.  It helps me build on the course content, making it more effective for the learners.  Human factors comes into the material, as this too is recognized as this factos into most incidents.  If you're interested in seeing what I've been working on, go here http://www.practiceicaoenglish.com/pie/demo

Happy flying,

Rachel

[AB9IL]

It is good to see someone create an effective training course and test prep for the ICAO English test.  That could be a small industry, as there are quite a lot of pilots needing the certification.  Good preparation means fewer re-takes and maybe even some survival skills in the real world.

I have noticed that a lot of the test is a challenge because the important parts of the voice exchanges are not always apparent.  Or, the scenario isn't always clear.  I had one question relating to an animal on a taxiway, and had to decide if I would call it a fox, a cat, a critter, or whatever - and had to quickly phrase it so the controller / examiner understood the situation.  I had a good day and scored level 6.  Other native English speakers have gotten levels 3 and 4 on not so good tests.

In real life, the clearances and reports can be quite a challenge for non-English speakers trying to communicate in English with ATC in a non-English country.  Waypoint crossing restrictions can be tough - they give it one way in the USA, a bit different in the UK, and different still in China.

"Cross BOGEY at FL250"
"When ready, descend to FL250, reach by BOGEY"
"Descend to FL250, be level in 30 miles"  (You're 30 miles from BOGEY)

Then, in China...  "Maintain level - opposite traffic!"
Thirty seconds later, as you cross BOGEY at FL291 and should be at FL246 for a normal descent profile:
"Descent to seven thousand five hundred meters and expedite!  Descend at two thousand five hundred feet per minute or more."

Then you wonder if the acronym FUBAR is in their lexicon down there on the ground.

Good Luck,
Phil AB9IL
Aeronautical HF Radio