“This is not just a language or local politics issue, it is also a SAFETY issue. 176 died in the crash between a BA Trident and a DC-9 on 10 September 1976. A major contributing factor to this mid-air crash was: “The controller was speaking in Croatian to the Yugoslavian plane, which meant that the Trident crew was deprived of information that might have saved their lives.”
Do you consider the deaths of 176 passengers and crew to be a bogus argument? If so, I can only express my disgust at your political expediency and outright callousness!
First off.....what a horrible example! Remember that the controllers also speak english in YUL, YQB, YHU, YMX.....
Once you make initial contact in English, the service you will receive will always be in english. Not French nor Croatian!
My arguments are not politicial! Just stating facts about the reality of things. The bottom line is, the system works in Quebec for all pilots.
Bilingual ATC is not the danger. I strongly believe the bilingual problem arises in the CzE, MF, ATF zones & 126.7. That is where French & English pilot have to communicate & make conflict resolutions.
I was once told on a MF to speak French because other private pilots would not understand me......
But A,B,C,D zones are different. You get your instruction/ clearance & you do it.
It doesn't matter what language the other traffic is speaking in a control zone. You get your instructions from ATC & you do it!