USAF pushes English language training for Afghan Air Force
Friday May 3, 2013
Omar Gul, an Mi-17 crew chief at Kandahar Air Field, gives a pre-mission brief in front of a whiteboard with English-t- Dari translations of basic aviation terms.(IHS/Caitlin Lee)
The fledgling Afghan Air Force (AAF) is making a major push to learn English, the official language of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), according to AAF and US Air Force (USAF) officials based in Kabul and Kandahar.
"The big thing now is English language proficiency," said USAF Technical Sergeant Sevag Ekmekjian, a maintenance advisor with the 442nd Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron at Kandahar Airfield (KAF).
Afghan maintainers and pilots are learning to operate Cessna 208 fixed-wing transport aircraft, Russian Mil Mi-17 'Hip' transport helicopters, and Mi-35 'Hind' attack helicopters. Trainers include the MD Helicopters MD 530 trainer aircraft and the Cessna 182 light aircraft.
Afghan air crews speak primarily Dari and Pashtu. Some also speak Russian, a language skill acquired during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
USAF and coalition pilots are accustomed to using a common aviation language that is rooted in English. ICAO requires English language proficiency for all pilots operating on international routes and all air traffic controllers who communicate with foreign pilots. USAF and coalition pilots also rely on a joint brevity code document that includes English terms for various types of manoeuvres and locations.
USAF pushes English language training for Afghan Air Force
Friday May 3, 2013
Omar Gul, an Mi-17 crew chief at Kandahar Air Field, gives a pre-mission brief in front of a whiteboard with English-t- Dari translations of basic aviation terms.(IHS/Caitlin Lee)
The fledgling Afghan Air Force (AAF) is making a major push to learn English, the official language of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), according to AAF and US Air Force (USAF) officials based in Kabul and Kandahar.
"The big thing now is English language proficiency," said USAF Technical Sergeant Sevag Ekmekjian, a maintenance advisor with the 442nd Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron at Kandahar Airfield (KAF).
Afghan maintainers and pilots are learning to operate Cessna 208 fixed-wing transport aircraft, Russian Mil Mi-17 'Hip' transport helicopters, and Mi-35 'Hind' attack helicopters. Trainers include the MD Helicopters MD 530 trainer aircraft and the Cessna 182 light aircraft.
Afghan air crews speak primarily Dari and Pashtu. Some also speak Russian, a language skill acquired during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
USAF and coalition pilots are accustomed to using a common aviation language that is rooted in English. ICAO requires English language proficiency for all pilots operating on international routes and all air traffic controllers who communicate with foreign pilots. USAF and coalition pilots also rely on a joint brevity code document that includes English terms for various types of manoeuvres and locations.
USAF pushes English language training for Afghan Air Force
