French speaking controllers....
Two days ago on a flight from LGW to DBV we where cleared direct TRA.
However, using the name of the VOR with heavy french accent will not be understood at all by us.
The conversation went like this:
ATC: ABCXXX Cleared direct Trasadingen (spoken with heavy french accent)
Us: Say point again for ABCXXX?
ATC: Trasadingen (even faster)
Us: Say again for ABCXXX!
ATC: Trasadingen ... Tango Romeo Alpha.
Us: Direct Tango Romeo Alpha, ABCZXXX
ATC: That's Correct.
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Later on when handed off to Swiss:
Us: Swiss Good Evening, ABCXXX, FL370, Direct Tango Romeo Alpha.
ATC: ABCXXX Good Evening, Maintain FL370, Direct Trasadingen (now the pronunciation is different but still not understandable)
Us: Maintain FL370 and say rest of message for ABCXXX?
ATC: Direct TAAAANGOOOO...RRRROOOMEOOO....ALPHAAA.. (Sloowly)
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Why do controllers insist on using names of VOR's that are obviously hard to comprehend unless you're a native speaker? And our Callsign clearly should give clues to the controller that we aren't native.