Originally Posted by
tocamak
The discussion on "Mayday" or not has centred around the assumption that the level of the problem is quite clear to ATC and others from a pretty clear message from the crew; "hit birds, lost power on both engines" . But what about similar problem from a crew less adept at English in a country where the language does not coincide at all. At a time of stress people will revert quickly to their native tongue (or all the time in France!) so at least "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday" will cut to the chase straight away.
This leads well into what I was going to say and I am not talking about this accident but about the US-Europe spilt between how an emergency is declared.
This airspace may have been in US airspace and relate to a US domestic flight. This airspace is not however US domestic airspace but US airspace in an international terminal area. The only way that you can be sure that everyone, not just the local ATC, is aware is to use the proper international prowords.
Slick, smart alec answers are fine out in the boondocks but not where non-native speakers are also present. There is a European country, not far from UK and Germany where aircrews and ATC use the national language; doesn't make it right though.