CHAPTERTEN
AVIATIONRADIOTELEPHONYDISCOURSE:
ANISSUE OF SAFETY
OLENAPETRASHCHUK
Introduction
Radiotelephony language communication between flight crew and air
traffic control is a job setting with zero tolerance for language error.
However, the use of English language as a part of flight operation is still a
potential human factor risk (language related). Communication is
facilitated by using special technical language called English phraseology,
and plain English, which is prescribed to be used in cases where
phraseology is not sufficient. The latter happens mostly in non-standard,
emergency situations. The English language use in radiotelephony is
highly regulated due to strong focus on flight safety. One of the
regulations is a mandatory licensure that is required and confirmed
periodically.
Despite that, research results report radiotelephony miscommunications,
pointing out their various origins, e.g., linguistic, cultural, interactional,
etc. There is an obvious tendency to approach radiotelephony
communication distinctly instead of having a wider and multi-layered
view of the problem of miscommunications, which can be potential threats
for flight safety. Instead of looking at radiotelephony communication as a
prescribed discourse – what it must be – it is worth asking what it could
be, and then analyze the predictability of the miscommunications and the
ways they can be minimised.
The starting point for this chapter was to share some thoughts and
ideas placed on the agenda of a planned research project on radiotelephony
discourse analysis and its role in minimizing language-related human
factor risks in situations of emergency interaction between pilot and air
traffic controller.