English THE international language of aviation?
Hmmm, a lot of people here are saying that English is "the" international language of aviation and as such should be spoken everywhere.
I may be wrong but I seem to remember that this particular ICAO recommendation applies only to IFR flights.
The ICAO document specifies a number of ICAO languages (French, Russian, Spanish, Chinese (don't know if Cantonese or Mandarine or both)etc). It also says that in countries where the first language is not English, the alternative shall be English. However, all this only applies to IFR flights if I remember correctly.
I know German (uncontrolled) VFR airfields where AFIS comms are in German only and that's according the AIP. Lot's of others are GER/ENG
So the French are really not a special case.
It's a shame, but that's the way it is. I wish English was the only language in aviation but it is not.