Communication Style is The Aerospace Professional’s Everything

By Dr. Katie Pierson, ClinScD, CCC-SLP, PESL-C

Exceptional communicators, such as those in a supervisory role, draw others to them and inspire professionals throughout the aerospace industry daily.

This is how these professionals exhibit extraordinary communication skills:

1. Whole-Body Listening: Exceptional communicators are fantastic whole-body listeners. They listen to what is said and what is not said, understanding their conversational partner’s body language, such as breathing patterns, facial expression and hand gestures.
2. Adaptability: They take the other person into account and adapt how they communicate. Exceptional communicators will adapt their communication style based on various factors, including hierarchy. For example, they use more complex communication strategies when engaging with superiors, such as standing up straighter, using higher-end vocabulary and having a formal manner of interaction to demonstrate their respect for the other individual.
3. Supportive Approach: Exceptional communicators are their conversational partner’s biggest fans. These leaders are approachable, warm and friendly. They take the side of the communication partner, which draws others in and inspires them.
4. Continuous Improvement: They strive to do better and prioritize their communication skills. For example, they may seek assistance from a speech-language pathologist to improve intelligibility when speaking via radiotelephony.
5. Clarity and Intelligibility: They speak clearly and are highly intelligible communicators.

Communication connects us all. Without clear communication, the first communication satellite, the first human space flight, breaking the sound barrier, or collaborations on the International Space Station (ISS) would have never been possible. When communication is successful, there are no limits to what we can talk about and turn into reality.

Unfortunately, many situations hinder verbal communication. Everyone has experienced someone talking to them from another room, often resulting in frustration as words are muffled through the wall. This holds true for those attending meetings via phone when the connection drops, resulting in intermittent words and blank spaces that decrease understanding.

Internationally, all commercial pilots must pass the English Proficiency Standards created by The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a sector of the United Nations (UN). These standards were created and internationally mandated due to repeated catastrophic accidents resulting from miscommunications and language problems between pilots and Air Traffic Control (ATC).

Additionally, communication breakdowns occur in the aerospace industry. Miscommunications have occurred onboard the ISS and between the ISS and ground control. Since the early 2000s, there have been at least 17 reported incidents of miscommunication on the ISS, resulting in significant negative impacts on space missions. It is likely that not all incidents are reported, especially those leading to moderate or minor misunderstandings.

Verbal miscommunications, particularly during fast-paced and multifaceted emergencies, can result in disasters and fatalities. All astronauts must be English proficient per NASA’s Memorandums of Understanding (MOU). However, it is also important that astronauts can understand and be proficient in Russian. Many astronauts have indicated that language abilities are of utmost importance and have provided examples of what happens when they are not understood. One space language researcher writes, “The importance of language protocols with regards to safety and efficiency, however, is often underestimated. Although there has been a striking lack of formal discussion on this issue, those who have flown or directly supported such missions are remarkably vocal about what they consider to be one of the greatest challenges of their experiences” (Ansdell, p. 53).

Speech with an accent can contribute significantly to miscommunications. An accent is a transference of language traits from a first language to a second or learned language. At times, the accent is perceived as “heavy” to a listener, making it tough to understand what is said. Astronauts and cosmonauts who are also pilots often mention the importance of language safety concerning clear communication. One can be talking via radiotelephony or through a spacesuit without the assistance of nonverbal communication.

There are three ways to improve intelligibility in those who speak English as a non-native language:

1. Speak Up: Individuals who struggle with English pronunciation tend to soften their volume. Speaking louder helps others hear their message.
2. Over-Articulate: Over-articulation helps the listener hear all related speech sounds. Insecure speakers may skip over difficult sounds. Over-articulation is crucial for acronyms, which are common in aerospace. Missing a consonant can disrupt and confuse the entire message.
3. Slow Down: Non-native speakers often speak rapidly, decreasing understanding. Speaking quickly makes it hard for articulators (mouth, tongue, jaw) to keep up, resulting in dropped sounds and messy messages, which is detrimental in a field where precision is key.

While these strategies seem like common sense, they are exceedingly difficult to implement in an emergency or under extreme psychological stress. Consider how challenging it would be to speak louder, over-articulate, and slow down to describe a car accident in your native language. One must marvel at the 101 requirements for astronauts, cosmonauts, and pilots alike.

There are certain individuals who would benefit from assistance from a speech-language pathologist, a professional who investigates specifically how an individual produces speech and puts a plan in place to change current speech patterns to improve intelligibility. Recently, Dr. Pierson’s work has been published by the International Journal of Aerospace Psychology, marking the first time speech-language pathologists have been introduced in the aerospace industry. Together, improved communication can transform safety margins through improved intelligibility, which in turn means clearer conversations and better mission results.

The aerospace industry is regularly evolving to improve the future of spaceflight. It is time for speech-language pathology to join the aerospace sector to support and make communication easier for everyone who is brave enough to learn another language and leave Earth on behalf of humankind. There is nothing an individual with a strong voice, intelligent mind and passion cannot achieve.

Sources:?

Ansdell, M. (2011). 2011 Winner of Sacknoff Prize for Space History: Language Protocols in International Human Spaceflight. Quest: The History of Spaceflight Quarterly, 18(4), 47-54.

International Civil Aviation Organization. (2010). Manual on the implementation of ICAO language proficiency requirements (Vol. 9835). International Civil Aviation Organization.

Kanas, N. (1998). Psychosocial issues affecting crews during long-duration international space missions. Acta Astronautica, 42(1–8), 339-361. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0094-5765(98)00130-1.

Kelly, A.D., & Kanas, N. (1992). Crewmember communication in space: a survey of astronauts and cosmonauts. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 63(8), 721-726. PMID: 1510648.

Kharoufah, H., Murray, J., Baxter, G., & Wild, G. (2018). A review of human factors causations in commercial air transport accidents and incidents: from 2000 to 2016. Progress in Aerospace Sciences, 99(1). doi:10.1016/j.paerosci.2018.03.002.