AGENCY FOR AIR NAVIGATION SAFETY IN AFRICA AND MADAGASCAR (ASECNA)

ASECNA EXPERIENCE IN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY IMPLEMENTATION

BY Sadamba TCHAGBELE

1

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

1. ASECNA IN BRIEF

2. INITIAL EVALUATION

3. ACHIEVEMENTS

4. CHALLENGES

5. WAY FORWARD

6. CONCLUSION

2

ASECNA IN BRIEF

3

ASECNA IN BRIEF : 18 MEMBER STATES

4

ASECNA IN BRIEF

Airspace

► 16.1 million km2 including

► 6 Flight Information Regions (FIR)

► 10 Area Control Centers, 57 Control Towers,

Workforce

► The Agency employs approximately 400 Air traffic controllers

.

5

6

EAMAC

ERNAM

ERSI

ASECNA IN BRIEF : 3 TRAINING

CENTRES

INITIAL EVALUATION

7

INITIAL EVALUATION IN ASECNA

- LPRs implemented since 2008

- Test Results in 2008

Level 6: 0.26%

Level 5 : 10.6%

Level 4 : 71.58%

Level 3 : 9.04%

Level 2 : 8.52%

Development of an implementation plan in order to reach, maintain and

improve the proficiency level

.

8

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

• Design and implement for each Controller an Individual Training Programme

• Evaluate the programme annually

• Organize exchange of personnel with English speaking ATC adjacent centers

• Find incentives for those who contributes by their own efforts to maintain

and improve their english level

9

ACHIEVEMENTS

10

ACHIEVEMENTS

Implementation of the individual training programme

Intensive training courses in ASECNA training centres, British

and American Language centres

Immersion programmes in UK and South Africa

Reevaluation of the ATCOs

Results: Level 5 : 13.3% - Level 4 : 86.7%

11

CHALLENGES

12

CHALLENGES

• Use of several languages : French –

Portuguese – Spanish – Malagasy - Arabic.

• Threat on level-4.

• Reluctance of some Member States with

regard to the validation of some tests.

13

WAY FORWARD

14

WAY FORWARD

Secure the ATCOs’ operational levels;

Improve the ATCOs English language proficiency towards level 5;

Recruit tutors for all ASECNA ATS centres

Train some ATCOs with subject matter expertise to assist tutors;

15

WAY FORWARD

Implement on-site English training plan for controllers;

Provide all ASECNA local ATS training unit with CBT and

WBT facilities;

Establish common evaluation procedures to be

inserted in the on-site English training plan for ATCOs.

16

CONCLUSION

17

CONCLUSION

The safety of Air Navigation being the ‘‘raison d’être’’ of

ASECNA, there is no doubt that our organization,

composed of 17 African States, is determined to continue

improving and strengthening its English training policy.

In doing so, ASECNA will spare no effort in order to

permanently fulfil the ICAO provisions about the English

Language proficiency testing and training.

18