This is getting serious.
Imagine a nice day at your local airfield. The circuit is busy with many aircraft. A foreign machine appears overhead, and the pilot talks an incomprehensible language. He descends on the live side, and lands on the wrong end of the active runway, causing someone on final to make an emergency go-around. When interrogated by angry pilots in the clubhouse, he says it was not his fault, as they should have understood his language.
This is happening more & more at airfields in France and the offending pilots are us Brits. Not only the French aviation mags, but now our own CHIRP GA Feedback are reporting incidents with British pilots.
I have received lots of help from French aviators and enjoy flying round France. But to have that goodwill put at risk by a few ignorant British pilots is not to be countenanced.
So: Two facts for those about to cross the channel.
(1)“The international language of aviation is English” – If you are flying an airliner yes it is. If you are flying GA, NO IT IS NOT.
All the Worlds international airports use their national language to communicate but can use English if required. All other airfields use their own national language. Even some of my airline colleagues who should know better believe the myth that everyone speaks English. Surprise surprise if you arrive at Caracas, ATC will be talking Spanish. Similarly Russian is used at Sheremetevo, and French at Lille.
(2)There are many uncontrolled airfields in France and to avoid collisions the “Auto-information” frequency 123.5 is used by all pilots. The idea is situation awareness; with position, intentions, height, speed etc broadcast so that everyone can figure out the picture. Imagine John Smith turning up unable to understand the radio calls and unable to give his own position. French friends have suggested that the safest action is for all the French to scatter or divert until “Les Anglais” have landed! Others would like to restrict non-French speaking pilots to international airports only.
One thing is for sure- If there is a major incident involving a non-French speaking pilot, there will very quickly be a requirement for all visiting pilots to demonstrate competency in aviation French before landing at local French airfields.
For help:
http://flyinfrance.free.fr www.pilotfriend.com
MG