Reviewed by Tim Hittinger, ICAO examiner (A-126-LPE)Where is FCL.055?
FCL.055 is part of Part-FCL, Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 on aircrew. It has been amended several times, most recently with effect from February 2026. You can find the current consolidated version on EUR-Lex and the associated guidance (AMC and GM) in EASA’s Easy Access Rules for Aircrew.
(a) Who needs a language endorsement?
Pilots of aeroplanes, helicopters, powered-lift aircraft, airships and – since 18 February 2026 – gyroplanes who are required to use the radio telephone. They may only exercise the privileges of their licence if it contains a language proficiency endorsement in English or in the language used for radio communication. The endorsement states the language, the level and the validity date. The minimum is Level 4.
Sailplane and balloon pilots are not covered by FCL.055; separate rules apply to them (Part-SFCL and Part-BFCL). National or foreign rules may still require a language endorsement.
(b) What do you have to be able to do?
You demonstrate to a certified examiner or an approved language testing body that, at least at Level 4, you are able to:
- communicate effectively in voice-only and in face-to-face situations;
- communicate on common and work-related topics with accuracy and clarity;
- use appropriate communicative strategies to exchange messages and to recognise and resolve misunderstandings;
- handle successfully the linguistic challenges presented by a complication or unexpected turn of events in a routine situation;
- use a dialect or accent which is intelligible to the aeronautical community.
(c) How long is the level valid?
Except for Level 6, the language endorsement is re-evaluated periodically: Level 4 every 4 years, Level 5 every 6 years. For Level 6 no periodic re-evaluation is required. All about validity
(d) Additional requirements for IR and EIR
Holders of an instrument rating (IR) or an EIR must also show that they can use English safely in all phases of flight – from understanding all relevant information during flight preparation to radiotelephony, emergencies and communication with the crew.
(e) Mutual recognition in the EU
The demonstration is done through a method of assessment “established by any competent authority”. This wording was introduced by Regulation (EU) 2019/1747 (in force since 11 November 2019) and retained by Regulation (EU) 2020/359. Austro Control describes it as the implementation of mutual recognition of language assessments between member states.
The entry in your licence is still made by your own authority under its procedures. In Germany, for example, Section 125(3) LuftPersV provides that a language certificate obtained in another EU state can be recognised on application. How it works in Germany
What AMC1 FCL.055 requires of the test
- Voice-only and face-to-face: the assessment must include both. In our test, the examiner switches their camera off for part of the interview.
- No testing of one’s own students: assessors should not test applicants to whom they have given language training. At GAT, trainer and examiner are therefore always different people.
- A statement of level and validity: the licence holder receives a statement containing the level and validity of the language endorsement.
The ICAO Rating Scale
You are rated on six criteria: Pronunciation, Structure, Vocabulary, Fluency, Comprehension and Interactions (AMC2 FCL.055, ICAO Doc 9835). The overall level is not the average but the lowest of the six individual ratings. A compact overview of Levels 4, 5 and 6 per criterion is in our test procedure.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011, Annex I (Part-FCL), FCL.055 – consolidated version, EUR-Lex
- EASA Easy Access Rules for Aircrew, AMC1/AMC2 FCL.055 – easa.europa.eu
- Austro Control: language proficiency – lists of testing bodies, tests and examiners – austrocontrol.at
- Section 125 LuftPersV (recognition, German) – gesetze-im-internet.de
- LBA: entry of language proficiency (German) – lba.de
This page summarises the rules in plain language and is not legal advice. The regulation text is authoritative.