Considering that in Europe all commercial pilots flying internationally will speak English and that all controllers at international airports will also speak English I don't see why all routine transmissions for IFR traffic at least should not be in English.
In countries where a lot of the pilots just fly domestically and don't speak English then that is different but as I see it all that stands in the way of international airports and the airways being English only is national pride.
I don't mind speaking French in the circuit at a smaller French airfield because I know that a lot of the small airfields the pilots may not speak English but for international traffic if everyone can understand it why not everyone speak it?
Last edited by Contacttower; 27th Aug 2012 at 14:28.