controllers with broken english

[brockenspectre]

The reality is that airspace and flying in it requires its own language. I won't call it English (as in the language of the UK) but I will call it "aviation speak" which is closely based on English. How many non-aviation folk would have a clue what was being said if they were to receive an ATC instruction or hear a pilot read-back? Pilots and ATC need to be sure that the information being given and received (from all sources) is understandable ... there are many words in many languages that have come from somewhere else .. who cares! It is vital in the ever-increasingly crowded airspace of 2003 that "aviation-speak" is standardised... no-one at any time performing a pilot-in-command (or flight crew) or ATC function should have an information gap in such circumstances.

I have heard French pilots speaking immaculate "aviation" ... I have heard American ATC speaking incoherently fast "aviation" ... bottom line is to avoid doubt and be sure of instructions and have the greatest situational awareness there has to be "aviation-speak".

Correct English is rare, even in the UK, these days where there appears to be an entire generation of grunters and monosyllabic speakers. Aviation needs to rise above any sense of xenophobia or nationalism and recognise that the skies are the only "one world". Of course if we were to consider that Chinese is the most widely spoken language (in population terms) then maybe everyone involved with aviation should learn Chinese?? on second thoughts ... NO!

I wish a lot of pilots and ATC would tape-record themselves and realise how unintelligible they are! the world over!!

Key has to be clarity, accuracy and sky-wide comprehension! For now, and for the foreseeable future the language formerly known as English (from now on to be termed "aviation-speak") seems to be the most sensible one to use!