If other countries wish to speak in their ICAO language then I (English speaker) will just have to listen out even more carefully and learn a few phrases.
What is irritating is when the ATCO and the pilot decide to have a long conversation. I can't follow that and more importantly, can't get a call in. I guess this is just as irritating for non English speaking pilots when they're in UK/Aus/USA etc airspace.
Now what I find really irritating is abbreviated calls.
Recently on departure from a Spanish airport, my instructions were "aircraft c/s 190"
190 what? Heading? Flight Level?
Another thing that would certainly help understanding the RT would be for every one to slow down their delivery just a bit. Rapid fire heavily accented English is pretty hard to understand.
A big thank you to all the ATCOs who deliver their calls clearly and phonetically spell out the interesting waypoints.
