Using an RT Translator in France

[bertiethebadger]

When I go to France, can I get Miss Badger to do the RT calls for me. She speaks French well & can easily learn a few key words in advance & tell me whats being said.. .. .I think I know the answer & why, but I'm going to ask anyway to get people's thoughts & comments & also to get hints from anybody who has done this before.. .. .A. No! No RT Lisence.. .. .BtB

[Lucifer]

Well that is a quite cheap solution is it not? A ground exam for Mrs Badger on the PPL RT exam, and a lesser problem surely. May lead to some interesting questions if she were not familiar with terminology/translates to a non-technical term and could also lead to interesting questions if you had a prang, though I won't judge as I am not an expert in Air Law.

[BlueLine]

Bertie,. .. .Read your Aircraft Radio Licence. . .. .The Licensee shall not permit or suffer any person to use the station (radio) unless that person:. .. .a. posesses a valid Flight Radio Telephony Operator's Licence issued by the CAA; or. .. .b. is under the supervision of a person posessing the above.. .. .So if you supervise her, no problem.

[CBG]

Alternatively you can get the French/English RT phrases translations published in Pilot a while back. (if you cannot get it, e-mail me a fax number at [email protected], I'll send it to you) . .. .It's not that difficult really, and I would hope that the French ATC would speak a bit more slowly to British pilots, just like the Jersey/Guernsey and Alderney ones kindly do when talking to French pilots.

[FNG]

Can you effectively supervise a person operating in a language you do not understand?. .. .In practice, the problem may not be especially significant even if operating at small GA fields: French GA pilots seem to show commendable restraint on the RT: ie they are not always chattering on it like we are, and often just a few blind position calls, in French, on the standard frequency will do (that Robin your wife just heard reporting vent-arriere is at another airfield fifty miles away). There is a list of the standard calls on the higher-flyer website, and in the Pooleys Delage.. .. .Still, no harm in you learning some French, or your wife getting an RT licence.

[Beethoven]

Many people have asked for information on English-French aviation phrase books in the past.As someone who speaks 4 languages to different levels,all I can say is that I think it is VERY dangerous to attempt to communicate in a foreign language that you don't understand (in a flying situation) with ATC either with a phrase book or with a non-pilot translator.The controllers will not speak slowly enough and clearly enough,words will sound entirely different over the r/t,and atc are hardly likely to stick to phrases in the book..also numbers can cause GREAT problems and the danger inherent in misunderstanding numbers whilst flying is enormous...In my view,it is best to stick to english unless you yourself have a solid grasp of the language in everyday life.. . I am presently studying Mandarin and Arabic,and there is no way I would try to communicate with atc in either of these even though I am doing (just about) OK on the ground.. . I remember one incident in America when the controller told me to "taxi into position and hold" and for the life of me I thought she said "taxi to Bull**** Hill"..Luckily my American companion put me right before I could read it back:).. .Ludwig

[FNG]

I'm not sure that the question was necessarily. .directed at full-on ATC communications, for which you may use English, but, when arriving at a small aeroclub in central or southern France, the locals will,not unreasonably, be speaking French on the radio. . .. .Having said that, it is depressing how few Brits can speak French or any other European language and how few bother to try learning. Que pensez vous, Monsieur Albert . .Blaireau?

[Julian]

Someone correct me if I am wrong but isnt English the 'language of the air' anyway?. .. .If so, in addition to the aruguments given about, is it wise to be using another language legally?. .. .I dont think I for one would be confident speaking to ATC in French, I hate to think what my request would translate as. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .Julian.

[bertiethebadger]

Je suis en accord. Mais est-ce que tu as appris car les instruments du CAP10 sont en francais?

[Noggin]

Julian,. .. .If you arrive at a French airfield when there is no ATC, e.g. Cherbourg at lunch time, you are required to make all your calls in French. It is clearly stated on the French plates for the aerodrome.. .. .English is only one international RT language.. . . . <small>[ 06 March 2002, 21:39: Message edited by: Noggin ]</small>

[bluskis]

I am with the Badger. When ever possible I carry a French person, the other half,when in France.. .. .Very useful when I misunderstand, or when non standard French is used. Numbers are certainly one of the difficulties from time to time.. .. .There is no need for the passenger to actually use the radio, merely listen and correct the pilot.. .. .Use of French is both legal and required, particularly at night and at small fields, in France.. .. .Obviously not sensible at the international airports, but evesdropping on the big boys forums, it is apparent that they are sometimes bilingual.. .. .This has lead to real incidents, and I do wonder how Air France pilots cope when faced with say Swahili or Mandarin. Perhaps they then use English??

[FNG]

Theory: "In accordance with ICAO Annex 10 - Aeronautical Telecommunications, air/ground communications should be conducted in the language normally used by the ground station. This will in most cases be the language of the nation responsible for the station. ICAO recommends that in cases where English is not the language of the ground station the English language should be available on request from any aircraft as a universal medium for radiotelephony communication.". .. .Practice: French ATCOS speak English, but bloke with radio in shack at Poubelle-la-Petite may not, and incoming bloke in Robin about to fly up your wazzoo certainly doesn't.. .. .M le Blaireau: vous avez raison, mais nous avons triché et remplacé les instruments avec lesquelles qu'indique les kts et pas les kms. Mais nous bien rappelons qu'est un avion Francais parce'que les ingénieurs sont toujours au déjeuner et ils n'ont pas avait fait l'annuelle. Bof!

[Julian]

Well as I am the only English engineer in a French team looks like I may be inviting one of them along when I decide to go there <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .Every day is a schoolday.... .. .Julian.

[arrow2]

Julian et al,. .. .As Corporal Jones used to say "don't panic" - there are really only a few phrases to learn that will be used at the typical uncontrolled French airfield and these are described well in the higher flyer website. It really is worth while practising these for the limited occasions when you will need them, and you will go down very well in the local's books as well - may even earn yourself a free beer after landing.. .. .A2

[Polar_stereographic]

Chaps/Chapesses,. .. .Time for a reality check me thinks.. .. .If I was flying with an examiner who'd recently lost his medical and the fan up front stopped turning, I ask you who'd me most able to get us down and out of trouble? Me who's done enough PFL's to get and keep a licence, or someone who's done literally thousands of them?. .. .The point is that it would not be legal for him to do so, but lets face it he's far more qualified than me to pull it off.. .. .I know what I'd do, so surely the same logic could be applied here.. .. .PS

[FNG]

What would be illegal in the scenario you describe?: I am unaware of a requirement that the PIC (you) has to be the handling pilot during a forced landing. The other week I flew as P1 with a friend in an aircraft which he had never flown before: he is an ATPL and QFI with a gazillion hours. If the engine had failed I would have handed over to him for the landing and he would have made a better job of it than me.. .. .Bertie: je m'excuse pour ce virage hors le fil.. . . . <small>[ 07 March 2002, 15:03: Message edited by: FNG ]</small>

[Polar_stereographic]

FNG . .. .I take your point, but if it went wrong, I bet the CAA would come down on you for not being the handling pilot - or is it me that needs a dose of reality?. .. .The point I'm trying to make, almost certainy not very well, is that regardless of what the book says, if what you end up doing you do for sound practical reasons, just get on with it and don't worry about it.. .. .PS

[bertiethebadger]

I guess that there would also be insurance issues. If it all goes horribly wrong, an easy cop out for them.. .. .FNG: il faut etre un jambe tres grand de grenouille.