Technical review: Tim Hittinger, Language Proficiency Examiner (A-126-LPE)What happens after you book?
You choose a free slot in the online calendar and pay straight away by PayPal or credit card: your slot is confirmed as soon as the payment is complete. No customer account is needed.
After booking, you receive three emails:
- Booking confirmation with Zoom link: this is the link you use to join the test on the day.
- Documents: you send us a copy of your ID card or passport and the privacy form.
- Test platform: a link where you enter your details (e.g. your address), so everything is ready on test day.
Test within 14 days of booking? During the withdrawal period we can only hold the test at your express request: tick the box in the booking form or tell us by email before the test. Details
Rescheduling or cancelling is free of charge up to 24 hours before your slot. After that, the full fee is due, without prejudice to your statutory right of withdrawal. Our terms and conditions apply; contract language: German.
What happens on test day?
Join via the Zoom link at least 5 minutes before the start. It is best to check your camera, microphone and sound a few days earlier with our free tech check.
Your examiner welcomes you in the meeting and starts with the ID check. Please have your ID and – if you have one – your licence ready. The examiner then briefly explains the procedure.
You may not record the test – no video, no audio and no AI transcripts.
Calendar times are Italian time – Italy and Germany are in the same time zone.
How long does the ICAO test take?
The test takes about 30 minutes. In the calendar you book a 45-minute slot, so there is enough time for the ID check and the briefing.
The 30 minutes are not a coincidence: Austro Control’s rules for Language Testing Bodies require the whole test to last at least 30 minutes, including an interview of at least 10 minutes.
Part I: which tasks will you get?
The first part is about aviation – but it does not test your technical knowledge. There are no right or wrong answers; what is assessed is how you express yourself and how well you understand.
Part I consists of 14 tasks: two picture tasks and twelve aviation-related questions. You answer each one in about 4–5 sentences. Listening tasks with radio messages follow at the end. In this part, you and the examiner see each other on video.
1. Describe a picture
You see an aviation-related photo and describe what is happening: people, activities, weather, possible causes and consequences.
2. Compare two pictures
You name similarities and differences between two pictures. In the Level 4 only test there is no comparison – you only describe.
3. Twelve aviation-related questions
For example about your own flying experience, weather, safety or communication in the cockpit. In the Level 4 only test, the questions are slightly easier.
4. Read back two ATC instructions
You hear a radio instruction – for example with heading, altitude and squawk code – and read it back, just as you would in flight.
5. Two ATIS messages or a short story
If you hold a licence and take the Level 4–6 test, you hear two ATIS recordings and report information such as the runway in use, wind or QNH. In the Level 4 only test there are no ATIS tasks.
If you are a student pilot, you first get two questions instead, then hear a short aviation story and answer them based on what you heard.
Part II: what is the interview like?
The second part takes 10–15 minutes and is about you: travel, work, hobbies. It is a real conversation, not an interrogation, and the topic is up to you.
For part of the interview, the examiner switches their camera off. This way, communication without visual contact is assessed too: AMC1 FCL.055 requires the assessment to cover “voice-only and face-to-face situations”.
The content is adapted to your profile: airline, general aviation, helicopter or flight school.
How is the ICAO test rated?
You are rated on the ICAO Rating Scale (Appendix 2 to Part-FCL, ICAO Doc 9835). Each of the six criteria receives its own level. Your overall level is the lowest individual rating – not the average.
Every test is rated by two people: the examiner who conducts it and, as second rater, a language expert (LPLE) from LTB 112. If required, Austro Control rates the test as well.
| Criterion | Level 4 · Operational | Level 5 · Extended | Level 6 · Expert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | Influenced by the first language, only sometimes interferes with understanding. | Influence audible, rarely interferes with understanding. | Almost never interferes – an accent is allowed. |
| Structure | Basic grammar mostly correct; errors rarely change the meaning. | Basic structures consistently controlled; in complex ones, errors sometimes affect the meaning. | Basic and complex structures consistently controlled. |
| Vocabulary | Sufficient for common and work-related topics; paraphrasing often works. | Sufficient for common and work-related topics; paraphrasing always works; sometimes idiomatic. | Broad and precise even on unfamiliar topics; idiomatic and sensitive to nuance. |
| Fluency | Appropriate pace; spontaneous speech sometimes falters. | Longer contributions with relative ease, suitable linking words. | Natural and effortless, pace varied deliberately. |
| Comprehension | Mostly accurate; with complications, asking for clarification helps. | Accurate on common and work-related topics; mostly accurate even with complications and unexpected turns. | Accurate in almost all situations, including subtleties. |
| Interactions | Usually responds immediately and appropriately; resolves misunderstandings by checking. | Responds immediately, appropriately and informatively; manages the conversation effectively. | Effortless in almost all situations, responds to subtle cues. |
Simplified summary. The ICAO Rating Scale (Appendix 2 to Part-FCL, ICAO Doc 9835) is authoritative.
When do you get your certificate – and what next?
You receive your result and certificate by email within 24 hours, usually on the same day. Among other things, the certificate shows the Language Testing Body, the Austro Control logo, your name, date and place of birth, the test date and your ICAO level, and it is signed by the head of LTB 112.
On request, we also send you the documents on the approval of LTB 112 and on the examiner’s authorisation.
The level is endorsed on your licence by ENAC, not by us. As a rule, you send the certificate by PEC (Italian certified email) to ENAC’s registry, with your Direzione Territoriale in the subject line, together with the LPR form and proof of the €32 fee. ENAC then reprints your licence showing the language, level and validity date. ENAC Information Note NI-2020-027 (Section 10 ) still calls this office the “Direzione Aeroportuale”. The final decision on the endorsement rests with ENAC.
Step-by-step guide to the ENAC endorsement
If you don’t reach Level 4, nobody but you will know – we send nothing to ENAC. You can rebook at any time; a training session with feedback is often worthwhile first.
Checklist for test day
- ID card or passport, plus your licence (if you have one)
- A quiet room where you are alone, with good light on your face
- Stable internet connection, device charged or plugged in
- Camera, microphone and sound tested – a headset is ideal
- Zoom link ready – join 5 minutes before the start
Frequently asked questions about the procedure
Do I have to choose my level before the test?
No. In the open Levels 4–6 test, you are certified at the level you demonstrate: 4, 5 or 6. In the Level 4 only test, the highest possible result is Level 4.
Do I need technical knowledge?
No. The tasks have an aviation context, but what is assessed is your English language proficiency – not what you know about meteorology or procedures. You already know read-backs and ATIS from flying.
Is the renewal test different from the first assessment?
No – the first assessment and renewal work the same way. Only some tasks depend on your profile: student pilots, for example, hear a short story instead of the ATIS. Validity and renewal of your ICAO level
What language is the test in?
English, of course. Our team will also answer you in English (or German).