Are you English proficient? If you obtained your current pilot’s license before February 11, 2008 you may not be English Proficient in the eyes of ICAO, and if you plan to fly internationally for the airlines or just for pleasure this may pose a problem.
Effective March 5, 2008, ICAO Annex 1 (Personnel Licensing) standards require that all private, commercial or ATPs as well as FEs and flight navigators operating internationally as required crewmembers of an airplane or helicopter have an airman certificate with an endorsement of language proficiency. In the case of persons holding a U.S. airman certificate, the language proficiency endorsement will state “English Proficient”.
Fortunately there is a simple solution, simply order a replacement certificate and it will automatically have the new English Proficient endorsement added.
The ability to read, speak, write, and understand English is already a U.S. regulatory eligibility requirement; the FAA Registry began issuing all new certificates with this endorsement on February 11, 2008. The U.S. has notified ICAO that it filed a difference that will extend the U.S. compliance date until March 5, 2009, in order to provide sufficient time for all affected U.S. airman certificate holders to comply with the ICAO Language Proficiency airman certificate endorsement requirements.
To satisfy the ICAO language proficiency endorsement requirement, as of February 11, 2008, the FAA is making available replacement certificates for affected airmen with the additional endorsement – “English Proficient”. All affected airmen have until March 5, 2009 to comply with this requirement and we encourage airmen to apply for a replacement certificate as soon as possible.
Certificates that are ordered as regular replacement certificates will include the endorsement. You can order a replacement certificate on-line or by mail. You will be asked to register with Online Services if you don't already have an on-line account. There is a $2 fee for replacement airmen certificates.
Airmen who request temporary authority or verification of their airman certificate will not have the English proficiency endorsement until the replacement certificate has been requested and the $2 fee paid. If you have questions, you may contact the Airmen Certification Branch toll-free at 1-866-878-2498.