Bundesamt für Zivilluftfahrt (BAZL) Code X

Office fédéral de l'aviation civile (OFAC)

Ufficio federale dell'aviazione civile (UFAC)
Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA)

90 English Language
Proficiency check

Listening Comprehension Exam

for Pilots

ICAO Levels 4/5/6

Authorised supports:
Writing material

PLEASE DO NOT WRITE ON ANY PART OF THIS DOCUMENT!

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Code X 90 English Language Proficiency check, Listening comprehension

Instructions to candidates
 This is the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation Language Proficiency Listening
Comprehension exam for pilots at ICAO Level 4, 5 and 6.

 You will hear 9 different recordings of communications between pilots and Air
Traffic Controllers or people talking about non-routine or unexpected aviation-
related situations.

 You will hear each recording twice, and you have time before the first play of each
recording to read the questions and answers for that recording.

 As you listen, you may write notes in the boxes provided on your answer sheet.

 For each recording you have three questions and each question has four possible
answers: a, b, c, and d. Only one answer per question is correct.

 You must choose which of the four answers for each question is correct and mark
this with an X on your answer sheet.

 The questions are in the same order as the situations are heard in the recording.

 After the second play of each recording you will have time to complete your
answers.

 Before each recording starts you will hear this sound.

 Before the exam starts you will hear an example. This is a communication between
a pilot and an Air Traffic Controller.

 Turn to page 3 on your question sheet now, and read the questions and possible
answers for this example.

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90 English Language Proficiency check, Listening comprehension Code X

RECORDING 0

1. When making his Mayday call, the pilot plans to…

a) prepare for landing on the beach.
b) try to reach the airfield.
c) get ready for a forced landing on water.
d) land in a field near the coast.

2. According to the Controller…

a) A rescue helicopter is doing onshore training.
b) A helicopter is currently rescuing some people.
c) A helicopter is doing some training over water.
d) A helicopter crew operating offshore is being rescued.

3. The rescue operation will be restricted because…

a) The sea is very rough.
b) The rescue boat cannot be provided.
c) The Controller’s radar is unserviceable.
d) The rescue helicopter is too far away.

 Now listen to the recording.

[1st recording play]

 Listen to the recording again.

[2nd recording play]

 The answer to question 1 is: c)

 the answer to question 2 is: c)

 the answer to question 3 is: b)

 You will see that all 3 answers are marked with an ‘X’ on your answer sheet.

 Please ask any questions now, as you must not speak during the exam.

 The exam will now begin.

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Code X 90 English Language Proficiency check, Listening comprehension

RECORDING 1

1. What was F-GV’s mistake?

a) He went beyond the holding point.
b) He entered the wrong runway.
c) He wanted to depart without take-off clearance.
d) He made a runway excursion.

2. What was D-KC’s immediate reaction to F-GV’s mistake?

a) He aborted take-off.
b) He returned for landing.
c) He manoeuvred so as to avoid F-GV.
d) He maintained his heading.

3. What will D-KC do after landing at Samville?

a) Give more information to the Supervisor.
b) Get detailed information about F-GV.
c) Contact F-GV’s company.
d) Ask his company about what to do.

RECORDING 2

1. Why didn’t Samville Tower have HB-NOE’s flight plan?

a) The slot for departure expired 45 minutes ago.
b) There was a technical problem with his computer.
c) The pilot filed the wrong aircraft registration.
d) The flight plan was for IFR instead of VFR.

2. Why does H-OE decide to depart VFR?

a) The IFR flight plan has been cancelled.
b) The expected delay is shorter than for IFR.
c) There’s a problem with the aircraft’s equipment.
d) All IFR flights are currently suspended.

3. Together with the taxi instructions, H-OE is…

a) given details about activities on the runway.
b) instructed to hold short for aircraft inspection.
c) told that the runway inspection will be delayed.
d) informed about work in progress on a taxiway.

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90 English Language Proficiency check, Listening comprehension Code X

RECORDING 3

1. What did the Controller think she saw during H-CR’s take-off climb?
a) The rope for sailplane towing still attached.
b) The nose wheel still extended.
c) A device still connected to the aircraft.
d) Something hanging from the main gear.

2. Who reported something missing in the hangar?

a) The fire brigade.
b) The mechanic.
c) The pilot of the Cessna.
d) The pilot’s club.

3. Which one of the following statements is correct?

a) The pilot is allowed to stop on the runway.
b) The fire services are waiting on the runway.
c) The pilot will do an initial inspection of the aircraft.
d) The fire brigade haven’t yet been advised.

RECORDING 4

1. What was the dangerous situation the two people are talking about?
a) A runway incursion by an aircraft during a runway inspection.
b) An aircraft taking off without clearance during inspection of the PAPI.
c) A runway incursion by a vehicle while an aircraft was departing.
d) An aircraft taking off from runway 33 instead of runway 06.

2. How did the pilot of the Piper PA28 react to the dangerous situation?
a) He accelerated past the taxiway.
b) He lifted off before the intersection.
c) He aborted take-off after rolling for 10 metres.
d) He held his current position.

3. How did the person at fault explain his lack of situational awareness?
a) He didn’t know about the conflicting traffic.
b) He thought runway 33 was the active runway.
c) He was distracted by a colleague next to him.
d) He was focussed on the phone call.

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Code X 90 English Language Proficiency check, Listening comprehension

RECORDING 5

1. The pilot of H-ZU called his company because of…

a) passengers undergoing security checks.
b) a missing licence endorsement.
c) a VIP waiting in the lounge.
d) a technical problem during run-up check.

2. Which type ratings are entered in the pilot’s licence?

a) The EC135.
b) The AS350 Squirrel and the EC135.
c) The AS350 Squirrel.
d) None. All ratings have expired.

3. In order to help the pilot, Fiona will ask Andrew Miller…

a) for a copy of the exam paperwork.
b) to conduct another proficiency check.
c) to contact the post holder.
d) why he didn’t fill in the exam form.

RECORDING 6

1. Why did it take time to identify the possible reasons for the collision?
a) Administrative procedures slowed things down.
b) There were no initial findings.
c) Nobody wanted to do the job.
d) They couldn’t find any evidence.

2. The main issue of the report was that probably…

a) the pilots apparently had insufficient experience.
b) family problems were a contributing factor.
c) fear of job loss put the crew under pressure.
d) the crew of the 757 were overtired.

3. What did the woman finally suppose contributed to the accident?

a) An animal was reported to have died.
b) The loadmaster was left alone.
c) The crew were distracted.
d) An unsecured container had shifted.

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90 English Language Proficiency check, Listening comprehension Code X

RECORDING 7

1. What does Steve say about cockpit communications during flight?

a) Some crew don’t like to communicate.
b) Dialogue is influenced by many factors.
c) Pilots should communicate all the time.
d) Air crew should avoid dispute.

2. According to the recording, resolving conflicts between crew members is…

a) essential but often disregarded.
b) as easy as separation of two aircraft.
c) something which needs time.
d) unnecessary for some pilots.

3. What is the speakers’ conclusion?

a) Negative situations could improve co-operation.
b) Better training is the key to co-operation.
c) Careless remarks may create bad situations.
d) Criticism can lead to more cooperation.

RECORDING 8

1. How does the pilot describe the flying conditions?

a) Almost dark, with clouds approaching.
b) Very bright, a thick layer overhead.
c) Quite dark and VMC between layers.
d) Bright, with build-ups reducing visibility.

2. What was the pilot’s problem with the directional gyro?

a) He thought it was broken and couldn’t be adjusted.
b) He believed too much that its indication was correct.
c) He saw a 10-20 degrees difference to the magnetic compass.
d) He was unable to check it as the magnetic compass was unreliable.

3. The pilot says that the Air Traffic Controller…

a) didn’t see the pilot’s problem.
b) wanted to file a report.
c) was quick to understand and react.
d) was helpful but not very happy.

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Code X 90 English Language Proficiency check, Listening comprehension

RECORDING 9

1. What did the pilot think after having seen the crosswind landing?
a) He wanted to have the skills for that.
b) He would never try to do that.
c) He would never be able to do that.
d) He was certainly capable of doing that.

2. According to Pete, pilots doing challenging flights…

a) expose themselves to danger.
b) can become more proficient.
c) exceed the safety margins.
d) put their health at risk.

3. According to the discussion, how are judgement and experience related?

a) Less experience requires better judgment.
b) Less experience leads to bad judgment.
c) More experience leads to better judgment.
d) More experience requires less good judgment.

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