Definition
An FAA Advisory Circular that establishes the English language standard for pilots, flight instructors, and air traffic controllers operating in the United States National Airspace System. It defines the level of English proficiency required for FAA certification and outlines how that proficiency is to be evaluated.
Plain English
An FAA document that spells out how well a pilot, instructor, or controller must be able to speak, read, and understand English to be certified and to operate safely in U.S. airspace.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation training, instructor guidance, and FAA discussions about communication skills and certificate requirements.
Derivation
An 'Advisory Circular' is the FAA's standard format for non-regulatory guidance. 'Advisory' means it advises rather than commands; 'circular' refers to a document circulated widely to the aviation community. The number (60-28) identifies the subject series and the specific document within it.
Why Pilots Care
Instructors rely on it to communicate more clearly with students and reduce training misunderstandings that could lead to errors or dropouts.
Intuition Check
Do not read advisory as meaning “optional and safe to ignore.” An Advisory Circular is not a regulation by itself, but it often explains how the FAA expects a rule or standard to be understood and applied.
Example Sentence 1
Before signing off the student for a checkride, the instructor reviewed AC 60-28 to confirm the applicant met the English language proficiency standard.
Example Sentence 2
By following ideas in Advisory Circular (AC) 60-28, the CFI reduced student confusion during preflight briefings.