Narrative:

Aircraft #1 was in right traffic for runway 35R. Aircraft #2 was entering the pattern from the southeast and instructed to 'enter right base runway 35R.' aircraft #2 read back this instruction; then entered left downwind for runway 17L. This placed aircraft #2 on a head-on course with aircraft #1. Local assigned an immediate right turn to aircraft #2; eastbound; to avoid conflict. The pilot of aircraft #2 was a foreign student with limited english abilities; however; there was also an instructor on board. One of the flight schools at gfk operates numerous contracts with foreign airlines to train their pilots. However; it seems there are no requirements for these students to have basic comprehension of english and aviation control instructions. Whenever one of these students doesn't understand an ATC instruction; their flight path is unpredictable; as they fall back to a procedure they were taught or what they did last time they flew. Most do not respond to ATCT communications when they do not understand; greatly increasing the workload of controller; who must make 2-4 transmissions to get a response; while moving other traffic out of the way of the non-responsive pilot. Also; the flight school has hired numerous instructors with very little experience and flight time. These instructors often allow their students to make these types of errors; without taking command of the aircraft. These issues have resulted in numerous near misses in the pattern at gfk; among other safety concerns. These issues are continually brought to the attention of the university at monthly meetings between the flight school and ATCT representatives. However; the problems still remain and; at times; seem to be getting worse. If the flight school would require all new students to have a good comprehension of english and control instructions; and require that that student can communicate without assistance; these issues would be drastically reduced. Also; flight instructors must be taught when to take control of the aircraft to avoid situations like the one mentioned. As traffic levels continue to increase due to more and more students arriving; these steps are crucial to ensure a safe environment at gfk for all of its users.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GFK controller voiced concern regarding the student flying operations at the airport; highlighting language barrier and lack of instructor intervention as problem areas.

Narrative: Aircraft #1 was in right traffic for Runway 35R. Aircraft #2 was entering the pattern from the southeast and instructed to 'Enter right base Runway 35R.' Aircraft #2 read back this instruction; then entered left downwind for Runway 17L. This placed Aircraft #2 on a head-on course with Aircraft #1. Local assigned an immediate right turn to Aircraft #2; eastbound; to avoid conflict. The pilot of Aircraft #2 was a foreign student with limited English abilities; however; there was also an instructor on board. One of the flight schools at GFK operates numerous contracts with foreign airlines to train their pilots. However; it seems there are no requirements for these students to have basic comprehension of English and aviation control instructions. Whenever one of these students doesn't understand an ATC instruction; their flight path is unpredictable; as they fall back to a procedure they were taught or what they did last time they flew. Most do not respond to ATCT communications when they do not understand; greatly increasing the workload of Controller; who must make 2-4 transmissions to get a response; while moving other traffic out of the way of the non-responsive pilot. Also; the flight school has hired numerous instructors with very little experience and flight time. These instructors often allow their students to make these types of errors; without taking command of the aircraft. These issues have resulted in numerous near misses in the pattern at GFK; among other safety concerns. These issues are continually brought to the attention of the university at monthly meetings between the flight school and ATCT representatives. However; the problems still remain and; at times; seem to be getting worse. If the flight school would require all new students to have a good comprehension of English and control instructions; and require that that student can communicate without assistance; these issues would be drastically reduced. Also; flight instructors must be taught when to take control of the aircraft to avoid situations like the one mentioned. As traffic levels continue to increase due to more and more students arriving; these steps are crucial to ensure a safe environment at GFK for all of its users.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.