Airline Safety Through Language - the work of Marjo Mitsutomi

One of Marjo Mitsutomi's research agendas has been to work on standardizing aviation English proficiency for pilots and air traffic controllers.

In October 2001 she received the Federal Aviation Administration's Commitment to Safety Award for her work with The English Project. This was a method of ensuring better communication between air pilots and air traffic controllers, using the official international aviation language of English as a resource to avoid potential disasters.

In March 2004 the working group (at International Civil Aviation Organization in Montreal) of which she was a member recommended the adoption of a language proficiency scale with a minimum acceptable standard for global aviation. Now the 188 member countries have till 2008 to show compliance. It is quite the first in the history of aviation as well as linguistics for one language to be adopted for official use for the sake of safety.

Marjo and her husband are both pilots.

Did I really say that? -  by Joe Sinclair

An introduction to the art of public speaking.  Or maybe an introduction to the art of introducing the art of public speaking.  In any case some artistry may be needed in separating the grain from the chaff in this light-hearted piece, the precursor of a series on presentation skills.