architamittra Last updated: July 16, 2023

The Ultimate Guide to English for Aviation: Resources, Proficiency Tests, and 55 Key Vocabulary Words

Working in aviation means that you aren’t just responsible for yourself, but also for everyone around you.

As a pilot, member of the flight crew, or airport staff, you’re tasked with getting passengers to their destinations safely and swiftly.

But did you know that English is the internationally recognized language of aviation?

Clear English communication is extremely important to prevent miscommunication during routine flight activity and during emergencies.

This guide will give you everything you need to start preparing your English skills for your career in aviation!

How to Learn English for Aviation
55 Key Aviation Vocabulary Words in English
How to Take an English Proficiency Test for Aviation

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

How to Learn English for Aviation

Blair English | Aviation Vocabulary Exercises

The internet is rife with free online vocabulary resources and courses, and Blair English is an absolutely wonderful place to grow and practice your English vocabulary. Their section on Aviation English explains some very common words in a conversational manner then tests your learning with a pictorial quiz.

“Aviation English” by Henry Emery and Andy Roberts

This is a great book for aviation professionals to brush up on their communication skills. It’s published by MacMillan so you can’t go wrong. It also comes with an interactive CD-ROM.

The Aviation English Blog

This is a remarkable go-to website that covers a wide variety of topics and news related to aviation and aviation English. Bookmark it now!

FluentU

Remember when we said you need to have a solid grasp of general English in order to communicate effectively? FluentU can help you get there.

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Click here to check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

Thanks to interactive subtitles, video flashcards, specially customized quizzes and more, you’ll be speaking like a native in no time. You’ll also be able to find a selection of videos that specifically focus on aviation, airports and international travel, as well as academic and professional English that will serve you will in your career.

55 Key Aviation Vocabulary Words in English

Airplane Parts and Flying

Vocabulary	Definition
Aileron	A hinged control surface on the wings of an aircraft that controls roll.
Air Traffic Control (ATC)	A service that directs and monitors the movement of aircraft to ensure safe and efficient operations.
Airfield	A designated area used for takeoffs landings and parking of aircraft.
Airfoil	The shape of a wing or blade that produces lift when air flows over it.
Airport	A facility where aircraft can take off land and be serviced.
Altitude	The vertical distance of an aircraft above sea level.
Apron	A paved area at an airport where aircraft are parked loaded and unloaded.
Attitude	The orientation of an aircraft in relation to the horizon.
Aviation	The operation and study of aircraft and the technology of flight.
Banking	The act of tilting an aircraft's wings to make a turn.
Canopy	A transparent enclosure over the cockpit of an aircraft.
Cockpit	The area in an aircraft where the pilot sits and controls the aircraft.
Crosswind	A wind blowing perpendicular to the direction of flight.
Cruise	The phase of flight when the aircraft is flying at a constant altitude.
Cruising Altitude	The altitude at which an aircraft maintains level flight during the cruise phase.
Decompression	The reduction of pressure in an aircraft cabin or fuselage.
Drag	The force that opposes an aircraft's motion through the air.
Elevator	A control surface at the tail of an aircraft that controls pitch.
Emergency Exit	A designated exit on an aircraft used in case of an emergency.
Fuselage	The main body of an aircraft that houses the crew passengers and cargo.
Glider	A type of aircraft without an engine that is designed to fly without propulsion.
Hangar	A large enclosed structure where aircraft are stored and maintained.
Helicopter	A type of aircraft that uses rotating blades to generate lift and propulsion.
Hydroplane	A seaplane designed to skim on the water's surface.
IATA (International Air Transport Association)	A trade association that represents and serves the airline industry globally.
Instrument Panel	A control panel in the cockpit that displays flight instruments and controls.
Jet Engine	An engine that generates thrust by expelling high-speed gases.
Landing Gear	The structure that supports an aircraft during landing and ground operations.
Lift	The upward force that opposes the weight of an aircraft and allows it to fly.
Mach Number	A measure of an aircraft's speed relative to the speed of sound.
Nose Cone	The forwardmost point of an aircraft's fuselage.
Pilot	A person who operates and controls an aircraft during flight.
Propeller	A rotating blade that produces thrust to propel an aircraft.
Radial Engine	A type of piston engine with cylinders arranged in a circle around a central crankshaft.
Ramp	A designated area where aircraft are parked for loading and unloading.
Rotor	A rotating part of a helicopter that provides lift and propulsion.
Runway	A paved surface where aircraft take off and land.
Stall	A loss of lift caused by exceeding the critical angle of attack.
Tailfin	A vertical surface at the rear of an aircraft that provides stability and control.
Taxiway	A designated path for aircraft to move between runways

Aviation Jobs and Careers

Vocabulary	Definition
Aileron	A hinged control surface on the wings of an aircraft that controls roll.
Airspeed	The speed of an aircraft relative to the air.
Aircraft Control	The process of piloting and maneuvering an aircraft.
Aircraft Engine	A device that produces thrust to propel an aircraft forward.
Altitude	The vertical distance of an aircraft above sea level.
Cabin	The interior space of an aircraft where passengers and crew are seated.
Cockpit	The area in an aircraft where the pilot sits and controls the aircraft.
Cockpit Instruments	Instruments and controls used by the pilot to monitor and control the aircraft.
Control Surfaces	Movable surfaces on an aircraft such as ailerons elevators and rudder that control its movement.
Drag	The force that opposes an aircraft's motion through the air.
Elevator	A control surface at the tail of an aircraft that controls pitch.
Flap	A hinged surface on the trailing edge of an aircraft wing that increases lift during takeoff and landing.
Flaps	Adjustable surfaces on the wings of an aircraft that increase lift and drag.
Fuselage	The main body of an aircraft that houses the crew passengers and cargo.
Glider	A type of aircraft without an engine that is designed to fly without propulsion.
Horizontal Flight	Flight in which an aircraft maintains a constant altitude.
Horizontal Stabilizer	A horizontal surface at the tail of an aircraft that provides stability and control.
Landing Gear	The structure that supports an aircraft during landing and ground operations.
Lift	The upward force that opposes the weight of an aircraft and allows it to fly.
Nose Cone	The forwardmost point of an aircraft's fuselage.
Pitch	The up or down movement of an aircraft's nose.
Propeller	A rotating blade that produces thrust to propel an aircraft.
Roll	The side-to-side movement of an aircraft around its longitudinal axis.
Rudder	A control surface at the tail of an aircraft that controls yaw.
Runway	A paved surface where aircraft take off and land.
Spoilers	Devices on the wings of an aircraft that disrupt the airflow to reduce lift.
Throttle	The control for adjusting engine power.
Thrust	The force that propels an aircraft in the direction opposite to the airflow.
Trim	Adjustment of control surfaces to maintain balanced flight.
Vertical Flight	Flight in which an aircraft changes altitude.
Vertical Stabilizer	A vertical surface at the tail of an aircraft that provides stability and control.
Wing	The main horizontal airfoil of an aircraft that generates lift.

Airport Vocabulary

How to Take an English Proficiency Test for Aviation

Your skill in aviation English is usually measured in terms of the requirements set forth by the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), with native speaking aviation professionals usually awarded the “level 6 ICAO status.”

Another test of aviation English knowledge is the T.E.A (Test of English for Aviation), designed by Mayflower College in the UK, though it isn’t endorsed by the ICAO.

Yet another exam called the ELPAC (English Language Proficiency for Aeronautical Communication).

Which of these tests will you need to take? It all depends on your local requirements. Contact your local aviation academy and find out which tests you’ll have to take to prove your communication skills.

No matter which test you end up taking, you will need to show that your English skills are good enough since it’s been decided that English is a requirement for all pilots.

Working in aviation, you have to think quickly on your feet even as you’re up in the sky, and mastering aviation English will help you do that.

So keep learning and trust yourself and your abilities, and you’re sure to be successful.