Narrative:

Aircraft X landed and had some language barrier issues with the ground controller. Just after that; the instructor on the flight said that she would be sending the student back out for a solo. Aircraft X departed from runway 31L at A8 requesting closed traffic and was instructed to extend upwind. I already had three other cessnas in the right hand pattern for runway 31R. As aircraft X departed; there was traffic that he was going to have to follow that was upwind for runway 31R. I issued traffic to aircraft X and requested that he report the traffic in sight.the first response from the pilot was 'hillsboro tower; aircraft X upwind.' I wasn't sure if he understood the traffic call I had given him; so I gave it again; 'aircraft X traffic ahead and to your right; upwind; report in sight.' the response this time was 'right traffic; cessna; runway 31; 1; student pilot.' I told him negative and again asked. 'Do you see traffic; cessna; off your right?' he responded 'I turn right; [call sign].' I immediately turned the aircraft to the left to the south for the left down wind. I had tried to avoid left traffic for runway 31L due to noise abatement so once he turned left and entered the downwind I issued a full stop landing clearance. Aircraft X still asked three times to remain in the pattern; but with the other traffic and apparent language barrier I would only clear him to land. It was not safe. This type of situation happens regularly here at hio. The language barrier of the foreign pilots that are sent out to do solos poses a significant safety risk and constant attention.I don't know exactly what can be done about this situation; but the language proficiency of these pilots needs to be better before they solo. It's unsafe! I don't know if they can speak and just don't understand what they are saying; or if they just are not getting the proper proficiency training they need. Maybe someone should look into the flight school language testing.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HIO Local Controller issued traffic to a student pilot. The student pilot did not understand the traffic information or ATC instructions due to a language barrier.

Narrative: Aircraft X landed and had some language barrier issues with the ground controller. Just after that; the instructor on the flight said that she would be sending the student back out for a solo. Aircraft X departed from Runway 31L at A8 requesting closed traffic and was instructed to extend upwind. I already had three other Cessnas in the right hand pattern for Runway 31R. As Aircraft X departed; there was traffic that he was going to have to follow that was upwind for Runway 31R. I issued traffic to Aircraft X and requested that he report the traffic in sight.The first response from the pilot was 'Hillsboro Tower; Aircraft X upwind.' I wasn't sure if he understood the traffic call I had given him; so I gave it again; 'Aircraft X Traffic ahead and to your right; upwind; report in sight.' The response this time was 'Right Traffic; Cessna; RWY 31; 1; student pilot.' I told him negative and again asked. 'Do you see traffic; Cessna; off your right?' He responded 'I turn right; [call sign].' I immediately turned the aircraft to the left to the south for the left down wind. I had tried to avoid left traffic for Runway 31L due to noise abatement so once he turned left and entered the downwind I issued a full stop landing clearance. Aircraft X still asked three times to remain in the pattern; but with the other traffic and apparent language barrier I would only clear him to land. It was not safe. This type of situation happens regularly here at HIO. The language barrier of the foreign pilots that are sent out to do solos poses a significant safety risk and constant attention.I don't know exactly what can be done about this situation; but the language proficiency of these pilots needs to be better before they solo. It's unsafe! I don't know if they can speak and just don't understand what they are saying; or if they just are not getting the proper proficiency training they need. Maybe someone should look into the flight school language testing.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.