Recognising the Role of Communication as a Human Factor: Perspectives from Empirical Research in Applied Linguistics

Several international airline accidents have been attributed, in part, to inadequate English language proficiency of pilots and limited communicative cultural awareness of air traffic controllers. English has become the official language for pilot-controller communications and also the de facto universal common language in this domain. The focus of this presentation is to strategically apply insights from the academic fields of Applied Linguistics, English for Specific/Occupational Purposes, and Intercultural Communication to describe and examine the complex set of issues related to English as a human factor in global aviation. Emerging research approaches and pedagogical applications to aviation English practitioners will be presented