Two opinions on Aviation Safety and communications

JDA Aviation Technology Solutions

An odd coincidence is the inspiration for this Journal post. An academic was awarded for her contribution to aviation safety, focusing on communications. Other than aviation trade media, no real coverage of her accomplishments by major news outlets. In contrast, a comedy show on HBO received daily high profile mention by many, many journalists repeating the show’s critique of cockpit communications. This series’ message was a harbinger of aviation safety problems.

Both “authorities” agree that communications can/should be better in the cockpit, to/from air traffic control and around all spheres of flight. Their prognoses of the future are incongruous.

The Flight Safety Foundation, see below for details, has awarded its high honor of the Safety Forum Award to Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University Associate Professor ELIZABETH MATHEWS. Her work on communications and language in aviation relating to SAFETY. Here is a brief precis of what she has concluded:

Elizabeth Mathews’ research has revealed that language and communication breakdowns are more central to aviation accidents than previously acknowledged. Her work spans decades and includes deep dives into accident reports, linguistic analysis, and international policy development. Some of her most prominent findings are summarized:

• Language is often underreported in accident investigations: Mathews found that even when miscommunication played a role, it was rarely highlighted in official findings. Her team reviewed thousands of reports and discovered that language issues were frequently buried in the narrative rather than treated as causal factors.
• Standard phraseology isn’t enough: While ICAO’s standardized English phraseology is essential, Mathews argues that real-world communication often deviates from the script, especially under stress or in multilingual environments. This makes it harder for non-native speakers to interpret or respond effectively.
• Cultural and linguistic mismatches matter: In some accidents, such as American Airlines Flight 965, Mathews noted that a lack of shared language or cultural understanding between pilots and controllers may have contributed to confusion—even if it wasn’t officially cited as a cause.
• Investigators need better tools: She advocates for training accident investigators to recognize and analyze language-related factors, which are often overlooked due to lack of linguistic expertise.
• Communication is more than phraseology: Her research emphasizes that effective communication includes tone, timing, and context, not just correct words. This broader view is crucial for improving safety training and protocols.

Mathews co-authored the book English in Global Aviation, which explores these themes in depth and offers guidance for improving aviation English training and assessment[1].

Not entirely contradictory to Ms. Matthews thesis, is Nathan Fielder and his HBO show The Rehearsal.

Fielder made a case that many aviation accidents stem from poor communication between pilots, particularly when first officers feel unable to challenge captains. The Fiedler and his guests supported the general proposition with the following premises:

• Crew Resource Management (CRM) training is insufficient: He criticized it as being too superficial—often just a PowerPoint presentation with no emotional impact or real-world reinforcement. {the FAA guidance is 25 pages long and includes the following quote:

“Continuing NASA and FAA measurements of the impact of CRM training show that after initial indoctrination, significant improvement in attitudes occurs regarding crew coordination and flight deck management. In programs that also provide recurrent training and practice in CRM concepts, significant changes have been recorded in flightcrew performance during line-oriented flight training (LOFT) and during actual flight. CRM-trained crews operate more effectively as teams and cope more effectively with nonroutine situations.” }

• Social dynamics in the cockpit matter: Fielder likened the reluctance to speak up to being “just people in the back of an Uber, looking to avoid an awkward conversation”.
• Rehearsal could help: He proposed that pilots should rehearse difficult cockpit conversations, much like actors rehearse scenes, to build confidence and reduce hesitation in high-stakes moments. {see above}.
• To prove his point, Fielder went to extreme lengths—including training for years to become a licensed 737 pilot and flying a real plane full of actors.

Matthews and Fielder both recognize the significance of communicating clearly – pilot-to-pilot, pilot-to-controller, etc. Fidler’s not so subtle message is “the sky is falling”; whereas Matthews has established a curriculum to improve the language in all aspects of aviation. Her principles are the basis for training in all professions and around the globe.

Embry‑Riddle Professor Honored for Groundbreaking Research on Language in Aviation

Elizabeth Mathews, associate professor in the College of Aviation, has been recognized by the Flight Safety Foundation with its prestigious Safety Forum Award.

Jun 16, 2025, 11:53 AM

Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University Associate Professor ELIZABETH MATHEWS, who has dedicated her nearly 32-year career to the critical study of language as a human factor in aviation, has been recognized by the Flight Safety Foundation with its prestigious Safety Forum Award.

The Safety Forum Award is granted to individuals who have made significant contributions to aviation safety through innovative research and practical applications. The Foundation’s criteria for this honor include demonstrable improvements in safety protocols, impactful research findings and a commitment to fostering safer aviation environments.

“The role of language in aviation has long been recognized as an important element of aviation safety. However, industry understanding of language factors in aviation lags behind that of other human performance factors,” said Mathews, who received the award at a June 5 ceremony in Brussels, Belgium.

Mathews’ comprehensive research has been critical in highlighting the importance of language factors in aviation, and she stresses this importance in her daily work in Embry‑Riddle’s Aviation and Aerospace Safety program at the College of Aviation on the Daytona Beach Campus.

LANGUAGE AS A HUMAN FACTOR

Several major accidents, including a series of fatal accidents in the 1990s, spotlighted the role of language in aviation. In 2001, a runway accident in Italy that claimed the lives of 118 people was determined to have been partially caused by language barriers and inconsistent communications.

Concern over the role of language as a significant contributor to airline accidents created heightened awareness by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) — where Mathews previously worked as a linguistic consultant — and led to the development of the ICAO language proficiency requirements (LPRS).

“Working at ICAO highlighted to me that the role of applied linguists in the aviation industry is not only to act as aviation English teachers but to understand that we are, most importantly, safety advocates,” said Mathews.

MATHEWS’ WORK AT EMBRY‑RIDDLE

When Mathews arrived at Embry‑Riddle in 1994, she became aware that there were no English language testing standards for pilots and air traffic controllers, and very few resources were available for teaching aviation English.

She set out to help change that.

Mathews receives the prestigious Safety Forum Award from Dr. Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation. (Photo: Embry‑Riddle/Elizabeth Mathews)

Mathews and her colleagues began to meet at Federal Aviation Administration conferences and seminars to discuss this issue. “At the time, there were very few resources available for the teaching of aviation English,” she said.

Mathews has long advocated the need for academically qualified English as a Second Language (ESL) specialists to guide the development and delivery of effective aviation English teaching and testing programs. In addition to her guidance of aviation English programs at Embry‑Riddle, she recently spearheaded an effort to explore, create, clarify and implement Embry‑Riddle’s Language as a Human Factor in Aviation Safety (LHUFT) initiative at the university.

Embry‑Riddle has long been recognized as a leader in global aviation English.

Enhancing that leadership, in 2017, Mathews formed the Embry‑Riddle Language as a Human Factor in Aviation research committee — an effort to bring a systematic operational and linguistic review of hundreds of aviation accident investigation reports on the Flight Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety Database. Based on the committee’s research, Mathews and fellow researchers developed a taxonomy of Communication Factors in Aviation and published the Embry‑Riddle LHUFT Handbook for Investigators to support air safety investigators in identifying, analyzing and reporting language factors in their investigations and reporting. The research of Mathews and the LHUFT Committee have supported and informed the development of innovative courses designed to improve English language skills among international aviation personnel.

“I am thrilled by our growing network of international training partnerships, including air traffic control authorities, airlines, international training centers, and regulatory bodies worldwide,” she said, regarding efforts to develop and deliver a number of aviation English programs in partnership with air traffic control authorities, airlines, international training centers, regulatory bodies worldwide, aviation industry organizations, airlines and air navigation service providers.

EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO AVIATION SAFETY

It’s notable that Mathews’ groundbreaking work is being recognized now.

 

 

According to Dr. Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation, Mathews has long been a pivotal figure in the field of aviation linguistics and safety. “Professor Mathews has made extraordinary contributions to aviation safety through her research on language and communication. Her dedication and innovative approach have set new standards in the field, and we are proud to honor her achievements with the Safety Forum Award.”

Embry‑Riddle President P. Barry Butler, Ph.D., lauded Mathews for her significant contributions to the industry. “Professor Mathews’ work has profoundly impacted aviation safety, and her recognition by the Flight Safety Foundation is well-deserved. At Embry‑Riddle, we are proud of her contributions to the field and her unwavering commitment to improving communication in aviation.”

Robert Sumwalt, executive director of the Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety at Embry‑Riddle and former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, couldn’t agree more with the Flight Safety Foundation’s decision to honor Mathews.

“Professor Mathews’ dedication to improving aviation safety through her research on language and communication is truly commendable. Her work highlights the crucial role these elements play in accident investigation and prevention, and her contributions have significantly advanced our understanding and protocols in ensuring better safety standards in aviation,” he said.

While Mathews expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the recognition, she is quick to emphasize that the accolade reflects the collective efforts of her colleagues and collaborators. She particularly credited the International Civil Aviation Organization PRICE Study Group and her current LHUFT research team at Embry‑Riddle, along with the Department of Aviation English at Embry‑Riddle’s Worldwide Campus.

“In receiving this award, I am honored to represent the incredible team that has worked tirelessly to improve communication in aviation,” Mathews said. “This recognition is a testament to our shared commitment to enhancing safety through language research.”

 

Elizabeth Mathews–distinguished career at the intersection of linguistics and aviation safety.

• 2001–2004: She led a team at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that developed the English Language Proficiency Requirements for pilots and air traffic controllers—a landmark initiative aimed at reducing miscommunication-related aviation incidents.
• Post-ICAO: Mathews continued to serve as a linguistic consultant for ICAO, contributing to the development of language standards and training materials used worldwide.
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: At ERAU, she is a faculty member in the College of Aviation and a key contributor to the Language as a Human Factor in Aviation Safety (LHUFT) Initiative, which investigates how communication breakdowns contribute to aviation accidents.

Her work includes analyzing global accident databases, developing new aviation English curricula, and collaborating with international partners like Georgia State University and PUCRS in Brazil.

[1] “With the teaching and testing of Aviation English undergoing such rapid expansion, this comprehensive and accessible volume will be invaluable to researchers and practitioners alike. It is particularly pleasing to see that the scope of the work extends well beyond the traditional focus on communication between pilots and air traffic controllers.” ―John Read, Emeritus Professor of Applied Language Studies, University of Auckland, New Zealand

“This book explains why and how English became the lingua franca of aviation. It demonstrates through the history of accidents and near-misses, together with research findings, that mastery of phraseology is insufficient for safety of flight. Experts in their area, the writers narrate the story in academic and professional voices, making this an authoritative work on the topic, and keeping the reader interested from cover to cover.” ―Marjo Mitsutomi, Professor, Department of Foreign Language, Osaka Gakuin University, Japan

Eric Friginal is Professor and Head of the Department of English and Communication at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.

Elizabeth Mathews is Assistant Professor of Applied Aviation Sciences, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida, Ariz ona and Worldwide Campuses, USA

Jennifer Roberts is Aviation English Specialist, College of Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida, Arizona and Worldwide Campuses, USA