LINGUISTIC SEGREGATION

[William73]

A “Swiss” airline.
Again and again, since the last 50 years, airlines from the german part of Switzerland, have forgotten that we have 4 national languages. If you don’t speak swiss-german fluently, forget, cannot fly for them as pilot.
Despite having EASA licences delivered by our Swiss authorities, despite having operational books written in English,
despite having a majority of Swiss citizen (passengers) speaking 2 or 3 languages, still not good enough. Cannot.
Not good enough for PA? Who listen to what we say anyway?
Helvetic Airways thank you for your open linguistic segregation. This without mentioning our former “national airline”
(does not national means the whole country) Swissair, then now Swiss Airlines.
Thanks to (former) CROSSAIR and TEA Basel, which both opened their doors in the past to the entire pilots community,whatever was your mother thong, as long as you were able to speak English.

[EDDT]

There is enough pilots knowing German. Most don't prefer communicating in English. Its just the smallest common denominator and easiest to learn.

​​​​​​Kind of discriminating, yes. But understandable.

I observe the same in job adverts of Portugal Spain France etc.

[arketip]

Originally Posted by EDDT

There is enough pilots knowing German. Most don't prefer communicating in English. Its just the smallest common denominator and easiest to learn.

​​​​​​Kind of discriminating, yes. But understandable.

I observe the same in job adverts of Portugal Spain France etc.

Well, that is a bit different

[Intrance]

If there are four national languages, I'd say it would be in your own interest to be fluent or at least capable in all of them. As I understand it, Switzerland is about two-thirds "Germanschweiz" and Swiss German is therefore the most common language spoken in the country. I don't think it is unreasonable for an airline that has to live with that reality, to expect their employees to speak the local language. Remember that you don't only communicate with other crew, but passengers, other staff, authorities etc. etc.

Besides that, it's an easy filter. If they can't get enough pilots, it will be one of the first requirements that will be waived. Either officially or unofficially. I'd say it's not exactly discriminatory since it's a skill you can acquire. You are not being rejected on a quality that you can't change about yourself such as skin color, nationality, age etc. But hey, that's just me.

[Alsacienne]

I find it more telling that amongst the abilities sought in a prospective Commander that the text reads

Clearly taking responsibility for his actions

(my emboldening and italics).

[meleagertoo]

Originally Posted by Alsacienne

I find it more telling that amongst the abilities sought in a prospective Commander that the text reads (my emboldening and italics) "Clearly taking responsibility for his actions."

Because they also posess good English skills they know that "his" in this context is clearly not read (by any but agenda-fanatics) as gender-specific and is a normal and acceptable form of conveying a posessive - without using unpleasant nd unnecessary aaberrations like his/hers or the excruciatingly incorrect "their".

There there.

[Alsacienne]

posess
posessive
nd
aaberrations

Well well! Didn't know I was an agenda-fanatic (must look this up!) but I do prefer to read correctly-spelled English or use my spellcheck before posting! Might it not be just as acceptable to use 'her' in place of 'his' as a normal and acceptable form of conveying a possessive or is there somewhere an inbuilt assumption that 'Commanders' are likely to be male in gender and in sex?

Oh, and I did 'google' agenda-fanatic, but found nothing .... so thank you for a potentially new personal attribute and even maybe a new word! It's pleasant to banter between new acquaintances, and no offense was intended. ;-)

[groundbum]

when will Air Wales insist on Welsh speakers only? ;-)

G

[JPJP]

Originally Posted by William73

your mother thong

Since we’re on the subject of language - I have no desire to discuss my mother in a thong. The entry requirements also specify a “Traffic Pilots License (ATPL)”. The Swiss certainly do things a little differently

[Alpine Flyer]

AFAIK Switzerland the real challenge there is to learn good English because you're expected to learn at least one of the other national languages before tackling it. I can't imagine that anyone attending a Swiss middle/high school would be denied the opportunity to learn German.

I suspect that lack of such knowledge could only be attained by choosing the "other" romanic language, i.e. learning Italian when from French-speaking Switzerland or French when from Ticino. Like Spanish pupils choosing Italian as a foreign language.

Knowledge of the national language is a prerequisite for being hired in many if not most countries. Any other choice will have side effects like having to conduct trainings in English even if that makes them less effective for the majority of participants whose first language isn't English, people not understanding non-operational company mailings, having difficulty dealing with HR, etc.