Abstract
With the rapid development of the international economy, the aviation industry becomes more and more important and valuable. According to the statistics of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), after 30 years the scale of the aviation industry will multiply and will lead an increased opportunity for accidents. Most of the current research on the navigation safety maintenance starts with human factors and the man-machine interfaces. In addition, as aviation security issues get more and more attention, the ICAO requires controllers and pilots to demonstrate a level of English language proficiency and all countries have to apply the International standards for Personnel Licensing. The new requirements will take effect in 2008. Language communications is one of the operation procedures controllers and pilots have to face in every aerial mission. According to the literature, the communication errors have caused many major air disasters. For example, in the case of the crash in the Canary Island of Africa, communication errors were one of the causes of one of the most serious air disasters in history. Thus, this research focuses on the differences and errors caused by communication languages and discuss the language factors and non-language factors that cause the communication gap and associated errors. In terms of research methods, the research objects include the six major airlines and air traffic control units. Expert questionnaires, expert interviews, and on-line recording copies are used for this research. The expert questionnaires help to analyze the types of common communication errors and their affects by a 5-point Rating Scale and factors comparing and assess. The expert interviews identify the situations when pilots and controllers communicate on-line and their solutions of communication errors. The research also uses a case study to discuss the communication problems between pilots and navigation personnel by analyzing the on-line recording copies. Finally, the research integrates the information gathered from all the research methods and provides conclusions and suggestions on communication language to related personnel. Regarding conclusions, in terms of the error factor comparison appraisal analysis and the influence aspect, the pilots and the navigation personnel believe the problems with numbers and partial readbacks tend to cause communication errors. The situation factors analysis finds that under busy air traffic conditions, it is easy to have communication errors and easy to lead pilots to have partial readbacks. The sound recording analysis finds mental expectation, incomplete hearbacks and readbacks, as well as misunderstanding on standard terminologies are the most common errors at present. Most of the errors are caused by human related factors. Thus, the best way to decrease the errors is to implement the standard operation procedure and training.