Laiba Arshad

In aviation, Communication means “how aircraft crews connect with other aircraft and ground
personnel to exchange information’’

Lack of communication can be defined as “ When you don’t properly express yourself and leave out
important details”. In aviation, lack of communication occurs “ when there is a failure to effectively
exchange information, between the air traffic control tower and the pilots of an aircraft or between
pilots of different aircraft.

This results in miss understanding, confusion, and even dangerous situations.

Effective communication is important to ensure the safe and efficient operation of aircraft.

CAUSES:

LANGUAGE BARRIER: Most pilots and ATCs are from different countries. They speak different languages,
and sometimes English not being their first language can cause problems.

TECHNICAL ISSUES: There can be technical problems with communication equipment such as
malfunctioning radios.

HIERARCHY: Sometimes, there can be a power imbalance that can affect communication. For example, a
pilot/ATC may be unwilling to report a problem, thinking that it may result in questioning experience
and senior positions.

DISTRACTION: Pilots and ATCs can simply be distracted, can miss important information, or fail to
convey it because they are not mentally present in the work they are doing.

HUMAN ERROR: People can misinterpret information due to human limitations. They can make
mistakes.

NON-STANDARD PHRASEOLOGY: It can confuse.

CONSEQUENCES:
The consequences can be severe. These include:

FLIGHT DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS

NEAR-MISS INCIDENTS: Due to miscommunication, two aircraft can come too close to each other in the
air or ground. They can potentially result in a collision.

ACCIDENTS AND CRASHES: The lack of communication can lead to accidents and crashes, which can
cause fatalities and severe damage.

Aviation professionals need to be aware of these factors and take steps to address them to ensure
effective communication and maintain safety in the aviation industry.

Zeeshan

Dan-Air Flight 1008

On 25 April 1980 Dan-Air Flight 1008 a Boeing 727-46 jet aircraft operated by Dan Air Services Limited
on an unscheduled international passenger service ( tourist charter flight) from Manchester to
Tenerife. On the morning of April 25, 1980, Dan-Air 1008 flight took off from Manchester Airport
(MAN) at 09:22 UTC for a four-hour thirty-five-minute (04:35) flight to Tenerife-Norte Los Rodeos
Airport (TFN) in Spain’s Canary Islands with 146 on board (138 passengers and eight crew).

The captain and pilot in command was 50-year-old Arthur John Whelan, who had flown to Tenerife
North Airport 58 times previously. He had 15,299 flight hours, including 1,912 hours on the Boeing
727. The first officer was 33-year-old Michael John Firth, who had flown to Tenerife North Airport 9
times previously. He had 3,492 flight hours, including 618 hours on the Boeing 727. The flight engineer
was 33-year-old Raymond John Carey, who had never flown to Tenerife North Airport before. He had
3,340 hours, though his experience on the Boeing 727.

At 1:21 pm, the plane ploughed into the side of the island’s mount La Esperanza, killing all 146 people
on board. This disaster was caused by a single misheard word

The cause of the disaster was a misinterpretation made by the Boeing 727’s flight crew. The plane was
instructed by the control tower to take an unpublished, not officially approved, and potentially
dangerous holding pattern above Los Rodeos Airport. But the pilot also seems to have mistaken the
word “inbound” for “outbound” in the instructions he received, flying in the opposite direction to
which he was supposed to

This turn in the wrong direction took the plane through an area of exceptionally high ground. And due
to the airport’s lack of ground radar, the air traffic controllers were unable to tell the flight crew that
the plane was off course.

Heavy clouds obscured the crew’s vision, likely preventing them from seeing the looming threat of the
mountain. The first sign they had of any impending danger was when the plane’s ground proximity
warning device was triggered. The crew attempted a steep climb, but the aircraft slammed into the
mountainside, killing everyone on board instantly.

Farhan Riaz

Air Florida Flight 90(1982)

On January 13, 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the 14th Street Bridge over the Potomac River
in Washington, D.C.just moments after takeoff from Washington National Airport. The crash killed 78
people, including four motorists on the bridge.

The cause of the crash was determined to be a combination of factors, including poor weather
conditions, the airlines inadequate de-icing procedures and crew errors including a miscommunication
between the pilots and the air traffic control tower.

One of the main factors contributing to the accident was miscommunication between the flight crew
and air traffic control. The crew had failed to properly deice the aircraft prior to takeoff, which
resulted in the buildup of ice on the wings and other critical surfaces. This caused the plane to lose lift
and stall shortly after takeoff.

During the attempted recovery, the pilot radioed air traffic control for help, but due to the severity of
the situation, his communication was unclear and incomplete. In particular, the pilot used the
incorrect jargon when referring to the aircraft’s thrust, which led air traffic controllers to believe the
plane had sufficient power to climb out of the danger zone.
Investigations into the crash revealed that there were several communication breakdowns between
the flight crew and air traffic control, including a lack of clarity in communication regarding the
severity of the weather conditions and the need to properly de-ice the aircraft. These
miscommunications ultimately contributed to the tragic outcome of the flight.

Ahmad MASOOD

Eliminating the lack of communication in the aviation industry requires a concerted effort from all
parties involved, including pilots, air traffic controllers, airline operators, and regulatory authorities.
Some steps that can be taken to improve communication and reduce the risks associated with
miscommunication include:

Standardized communication protocols: Use of standardized communication protocols can help

ensure that all parties involved are using the same terminology and following the same procedures
when communicating. This can help reduce misunderstandings and improve the accuracy and clarity
of information exchanged.

Language proficiency: Air traffic controllers and pilots must have the appropriate language proficiency
to ensure that they can communicate effectively. This can involve language training programs,
proficiency assessments, and other measures to ensure that all parties can understand each other
clearly.

Communication equipment: Regular maintenance and testing of communication equipment can help
ensure that it is reliable and functioning properly. This can help prevent technical problems that can
contribute to communication failures.

Training and education: Ongoing training and education programs for aviation professionals can help
them develop the skills and knowledge needed to communicate effectively in a range of situations.
This can include communication skills training, technical training, and safety training.