Simviation Forums

Is English standard ATC talk everywhere?

If not, explain how ATC systems work in places like Europe where languages shift between countries

Is English standard ATC talk everywhere?

Yup.  It's not always used 100% of the time in certain countries, but it is the official language.

French and spain are notorious for speaking their native languages, which is really not a crime.
In europe it's standard for all students to take their radio certificate in two languages.

I did my radio test in both swedish and english, always good to master two languages, but I dont need english to fly in Sweden. If I fly to Germany however, I can choose to communicate with them in either English or german.

Yup.  It's not always used 100% of the time in certain countries, but it is the official language.

Nice politicaly correct answer

Go on, say it...........France!

Matt

It's a funny old do...
But although I am an Englishman, I find that American Air Traffic Controllers are the easiest to understand when listening to them live on the air... ...!
...it's the way they speak... ...!
LOL...!
http://atcmonitor.com/

Cheers ...!

Paul... ...!

It's a funny old do...
But although I am an Englishman, I find that American Air Traffic Controllers are the easiest to understand when listening to them live on the air... ...!
...it's the way they speak... ...!
LOL...!
http://atcmonitor.com/

Cheers ...!

Paul... ...!

And Sir, they are also very polite.

Matt

It should be english for everyone, however the frenchies have a bad habit of poopooing all over that rule..

And Sir, they are also very polite.

Matt

POLITE?

Where do you fly?

French and spain are notorious for speaking their native languages, which is really not a crime.

When it involves people being killed, it could well be a crime of negligence (thinking British Shorts 360(?) co pilot killed at Paris CDG by an aircraft which had had its clearance in French)

Nice politicaly correct answer

Go on, say it...........France!

Matt

I've learned to be very subtle... you caught me

I've also heard it's literally dangerous to fly to certain parts of China (possibly Asia in general, but I've only heard China) without a native Chinese speaker on board.

For the Airline stuff:
Official ATC languages are English, Russian and maybe French.

For flights over Russia you are required to have a russian speaking crewmember in the cockpit.

In France and Canada, if the ATC guy thinks that your french is good enough, they will try French first, and switch to english when there are difficulties.

In holland, if the ATC guy knows he has a Dutch speaking pilot, he will often do the 'goodbye' stuff in Dutch

General Aviation is usually done in the local language if there are no foreign aircraft hanging around.

In holland, if the ATC guy knows he has a Dutch speaking pilot, he will often do the 'goodbye' stuff in Dutch

As far as I'm aware it's regarded as common courtesy to greet the controller in their mother tongue regardless. For example on entering French airspace from the UK, I would expect my initial contact with the ATC agency to start "Bonjour..."

Correct Charlie, you're on a roll!  ;D  8)
(that was an attempt to be funny, and not sarcastic)

POLITE?

Where do you fly?

Not in your  Readneak of the woods then.

Matt

[quote]


Not in your