The ascendency of India as an economic world power

We all know that English has a special importance throughout the world for its being the most widely used international language. Now, it seems that lack of English can put your job and even your life to danger. Yes, it has happened in the Indian airports over the last year. How?

Last year, there were 21 “near miss” incidents seen in the Indian airports due to having bad linguistic communication between the pilots and traffic controllers. It has been reported that some of the pilots from the former Soviet Union countries and Eastern European countries, flying in India, have been rejected to fly in India because of their poor English skill.

The Economic Times reported:

 

The DGCA has not given clearance to 25 foreign pilots to fly in India as they were not found proficient in English in the oral exams. Kanu Gohain, director-general of DGCA, said: “There are well laid out language standards set up by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and these pilots did not meet them.’’

Biggest language constraints are faced by pilots hailing from eastern Europe, CIS countries and Indonesia. The DGCA, which just got a pat on its back from ICAO for following over 98% of their norms and coming first among the 189 member countries for high safety standards, has to send a report on the proficiency levels of pilots and air traffic controllers working in India to the global agency next year.

So, now English is the reason for which these pilots have lost their prestigious and well paid jobs. On the other hand, if India allows these pilots to continue their work then the lives of many passengers will be at stake.