ICAO Level 4 Aviation English in Lomé
Structured preparation for pilots, flight navigators, air traffic controllers and radio operators who need operational English.
Twelve 90-minute sessions over 6 to 12 weeks, online or in person in Lomé. Airlines, flight schools and ANAC — Togo’s civil aviation authority — can be invoiced directly.
What ICAO Level 4 is
The International Civil Aviation Organization grades language proficiency on a six-step scale, from level 1 to level 6. Level 4, called operational, is the minimum required for international radiotelephony.
Who it is for
Under article 3 of the arrêté n° 013/MTPTUH/CAB/SG/ANAC-TOGO of 20 May 2008, the language proficiency requirement covers four categories of personnel. Cabin crew are not among them, and are prepared on a separate track.
- Aeroplane and helicopter pilotsOperational English for radiotelephony, briefings and international operations.
- Flight navigators using on-board radiotelephonyRadio communication in English on international routes.
- Air traffic controllersClearances, coordination and managing the unexpected in plain language.
- Aeronautical station radio operatorsGround-to-air radio communication with crews in English.
- Cabin crew — separate trackSafety announcements, passenger handling and crew communication. Not covered by the Level 4 requirement, prepared as general aviation English — see specialised courses.
Training is also booked directly by the organisations these candidates fly for: airlines and flight schools running group cohorts on site or online, and ANAC preparing its own civil aviation personnel. Both are invoiced to the organisation.
The six rating criteria
Level 4 is not a general English exam. Six criteria are scored separately. Each measures how you communicate once standard phraseology runs out and you have to explain, negotiate or manage the unexpected in plain language.
- PronunciationAccent and delivery must not interfere with understanding.
- StructureCommand of the grammatical structures the task requires.
- VocabularyRange and precision, including paraphrasing when the exact word is missing.
- FluencySustained delivery without hesitation that impedes the exchange.
- ComprehensionUnderstanding a range of speakers, unfamiliar accents included and coping with an unexpected turn of events.
- InteractionsResponding immediately and appropriately — checking, clarifying, confirming.
Your overall level is your weakest criterion. Strong on five and a 3 on the sixth still means a result of 3. Preparation therefore starts by identifying what is capping you, not by revising everything.
How long the rating stays valid
In Togo, re-assessment intervals are set by article 4 of the arrêté n° 013/MTPTUH/CAB/SG/ANAC-TOGO of 20 May 2008 on language proficiency requirements in civil aviation.
- Level 4 — operationalRe-assessed every three years.
- Level 5 — extendedRe-assessed every six years.
- Level 6 — expertHeld permanently. No re-assessment.
This is what sets the rating apart from most language exams: the requirement does not go away. It comes back.
Level 5, and Level 6 which removes re-assessment altogether, can be prepared for as well: the volume depends on your starting point, so the programme is quoted rather than fixed.
How the assessment runs
Formats vary between approved bodies, but the assessment generally covers three parts. The rating is awarded on spoken performance.
- Spoken interviewA structured exchange on your role and your operational experience.
- ListeningMessages and situations, including unfamiliar accents.
- Unusual situationDescribing or resolving an operational scenario that standard phraseology does not cover.
What I prepare, and what I do not
I prepare candidates for the assessment. I do not administer it. Language proficiency assessments are conducted by bodies approved by the Director General of ANAC, under article 5 of the same arrêté. I am not one of them, and no preparation — mine included — can guarantee a result.
What I can guarantee is an honest diagnostic. Tell me your target date before you book and I will tell you whether the time you have is enough — including when the answer is no.
Where to sit the assessment. Approved bodies are designated by decision of the Director General of ANAC, and that list is not mine to publish: ask ANAC or your operator, who keep it current.
If you do not reach the level. You do not buy the programme again. We go back to the criterion that held you back, in sessions billed by the hour and quoted in advance — how many depends on what is missing, not on a fixed package.
Rates
Rates exclude tax. If a formal invoice is requested (individuals or businesses), VAT is added at the applicable rate. The programme runs to 12 sessions of 90 minutes, spread over 6 to 12 weeks: two sessions a week when a deadline is close, one when you would rather spread the effort.
| Individual candidate — online | 315,000 FCFA (12 sessions) |
| Individual candidate — in person, Lomé | 345,000 FCFA (12 sessions) |
| Employer-funded — airline, ANAC or flight school | 25,000 FCFA / hour, billed per participant — quoted on headcount |
The hourly rate is for organisations buying a managed programme: scheduling around crew rosters, direct invoicing and re-validation deadlines tracked across a team.
Payment by Moov Money, Mixx by Yas, Ecobank Mobile or bank transfer; clients outside Togo can be invoiced in EUR, USD or FCFA — see payment methods.
For airlines, operators and authorities
Language compliance is a standing obligation rather than a one-off project: staff arrive, deadlines fall due, re-validations come round again.
- Team diagnosticWhere each member sits on the six criteria, and who is closest to a deadline.
- Preparation by cohortBuilt around crew rostering constraints, on site in Lomé or by video.
- Re-validation trackingDeadlines followed so a lapsed rating never takes anyone by surprise.
Annual agreements rather than isolated sessions. Airlines, ANAC and flight schools are invoiced directly at the hourly rate above.
Ready to start your ICAO preparation?
Your current level and target date are enough — free quote within 2 working hours.
What clients say
Frequently asked questions
How many sessions does the programme run to?
Twelve 90-minute sessions. They can be taken online or in person in Lomé.
How long do the sessions run over?
Six to twelve weeks, depending on the pace: two sessions a week when a deadline is close, one when you would rather spread the effort. The schedule is set with you from your assessment date.
What does it cost?
315,000 FCFA online or 345,000 FCFA in person for the individual programme, excluding tax. If a formal invoice is requested (individuals or businesses), VAT is added at the applicable rate. Where an airline, ANAC or a flight school funds the training, it is billed at 25,000 FCFA per hour.
How do I pay, and how do I pay from outside Togo?
Moov Money, Mixx by Yas, Ecobank Mobile or bank transfer. Clients outside Togo can be invoiced in EUR, USD or FCFA. The detail is on the courses page and in clause 3 of the terms of service.
Can my employer be invoiced directly?
Yes. Airlines, ANAC and flight schools are issued a pro forma invoice at the hourly rate, on the same payment terms as corporate training.
Is Level 4 held permanently?
No. The arrêté n° 013/MTPTUH/CAB/SG/ANAC-TOGO of 20 May 2008 requires re-assessment every three years at Level 4 and every six years at Level 5. Only Level 6 is held permanently.
Do you prepare candidates for Levels 5 and 6?
Yes. Level 5 pushes re-assessment out to six years and Level 6 removes it altogether. The volume depends on your starting point, so the programme is quoted rather than sold as a fixed package.
Do you administer the assessment?
No. I prepare candidates for it; the assessment is conducted by bodies approved by decision of the Director General of ANAC. No preparation can guarantee a result.
Where do I sit the assessment?
With a body approved by decision of the Director General of ANAC. I do not publish that list: it belongs to the authority, not to me. ANAC or your operator will tell you which approvals are currently valid.
What happens if I do not reach the level?
You do not buy the programme again. We go back to the criterion that held you back, in sessions billed by the hour and quoted in advance; how many depends on what is missing. No preparation can guarantee a result, mine included.