Flying in Quebec - Don't speak French
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Number1 is Jean-Luc Picards first officer. Not sure who number2 is...maybe Data.
I used to work in Quebec for 6 Years and have never had a bad feeling about the situational awareness because of the 2 languages spoken on atc. Just the same as it is in France and many places around the world.
As for the safety issues, I believe that in the smaller airports around Quebec it would be more dangerous to have english only as many pilots who fly in those areas do not speak English or their English is poor. We can not expect some guy to learn English if he never leaves Quebec airspace.
And another point, I have flown all over the world and the Canadian airspace is definately among the best hands down. This includes Quebec.
7
I used to work in Quebec for 6 Years and have never had a bad feeling about the situational awareness because of the 2 languages spoken on atc. Just the same as it is in France and many places around the world.
As for the safety issues, I believe that in the smaller airports around Quebec it would be more dangerous to have english only as many pilots who fly in those areas do not speak English or their English is poor. We can not expect some guy to learn English if he never leaves Quebec airspace.
And another point, I have flown all over the world and the Canadian airspace is definately among the best hands down. This includes Quebec.
7
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Hello,
I fly everyday out of montreal YHU and you will be safer if you can speak both French And English. You have french speaking pilots that don't know a word of english and english speaking pilots that don't know a word of french. ATC is excellent both in french and english. I adapt my language to the area and I sometimes have to do traffic advisories in both french and english.
Absolutely 
I fly everyday out of montreal YHU and you will be safer if you can speak both French And English. You have french speaking pilots that don't know a word of english and english speaking pilots that don't know a word of french. ATC is excellent both in french and english. I adapt my language to the area and I sometimes have to do traffic advisories in both french and english.
As for the safety issues, I believe that in the smaller airports around Quebec it would be more dangerous to have english only as many pilots who fly in those areas do not speak English or their English is poor. We can not expect some guy to learn English if he never leaves Quebec airspace.
Learning to Fly in Montreal
Back to the OP. I fly into Montreal as a GA pilot several times a year. I also grew up there.
As a practical matter the language issue is a non issue. You will figure out all the French you need to know, and it is not a lot, pretty quickly. Despite all the Canadian angst and BS I am not aware of a single incident in Canada where language was a factor in an aviation incident. If there was one several on here would have let you know by now.
If I had to chose for the locale it would be Montreal or Vancouver, I'd skip the rest though Harvs Air is MB seems to get good ratings for the program.
The real issue is what flight school. It is a lot of money and buyer beware, really beware. In all honestly you are going to be so busy that Sudbury might look good after a while.
I would focus on what school offers the best package. Do your research and dig deep. I would visit each one in person. Pay a few bucks, save a lot of bucks.
20driver
As a practical matter the language issue is a non issue. You will figure out all the French you need to know, and it is not a lot, pretty quickly. Despite all the Canadian angst and BS I am not aware of a single incident in Canada where language was a factor in an aviation incident. If there was one several on here would have let you know by now.
If I had to chose for the locale it would be Montreal or Vancouver, I'd skip the rest though Harvs Air is MB seems to get good ratings for the program.
The real issue is what flight school. It is a lot of money and buyer beware, really beware. In all honestly you are going to be so busy that Sudbury might look good after a while.
I would focus on what school offers the best package. Do your research and dig deep. I would visit each one in person. Pay a few bucks, save a lot of bucks.
20driver
Join Date: Jan 2007
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I agree with a comment about Carrier, you should travel by train or auto, maybe submarine.
I have worked quite extensively in Quebec, being unilingually English, I have endeavoured at times to improve my communicating ability in French.
I, along with an American crew, were recently released from fire duties in PQ because of a language barrier. Remember we are in a French speaking province, in special purpose airspace and the bureaucrats sometimes have to waive regulation to maintain safety. Two English speaking pilots required to communicate with all sorts of people on the ground, while these people strive to coordinate an airborne attack on a major fire in French. This could possibly lead to major safety problems. Just the way it works. Am I angry. Ofcourse not, French speaking citizens that work the skies anywhere else in Canada have to learn English. A bit of a double standard I guess when I hear of English people bigoting the French.
As for flying in Quebec generally, I shouldn't think an English speaking pilot would have much difficulty unless he/she has an attitude and PO's a controller. Be professional and polite, like anywhere else and you should be fine.
For the most part, English speaking pilots will never encounter a problem in Quebec airspace in general aviation circumstances.
Cheers.
I have worked quite extensively in Quebec, being unilingually English, I have endeavoured at times to improve my communicating ability in French.
I, along with an American crew, were recently released from fire duties in PQ because of a language barrier. Remember we are in a French speaking province, in special purpose airspace and the bureaucrats sometimes have to waive regulation to maintain safety. Two English speaking pilots required to communicate with all sorts of people on the ground, while these people strive to coordinate an airborne attack on a major fire in French. This could possibly lead to major safety problems. Just the way it works. Am I angry. Ofcourse not, French speaking citizens that work the skies anywhere else in Canada have to learn English. A bit of a double standard I guess when I hear of English people bigoting the French.
As for flying in Quebec generally, I shouldn't think an English speaking pilot would have much difficulty unless he/she has an attitude and PO's a controller. Be professional and polite, like anywhere else and you should be fine.
For the most part, English speaking pilots will never encounter a problem in Quebec airspace in general aviation circumstances.
Cheers.
