Melburnian1
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2013
- Posts
- 25,548
At about 1125 this morning, CZ326 from SYD to CAN (an A333, registration number B 5928) was lined up at SYD runway 34L ready for takeoff and first in the queue but at the last minute, the pilot decided to return to base. I could not ascertain why.
The pilot took a while to repeat instructions as his English was 'halting.' This in turn delayed AC34, the 1125 morning flight to YVR that had departed early and slightly delayed QF842 to DRW as the CZ flight went back to the international terminal.
This was a small window into the way in which ATC sometimes has to patiently communicate with pilots for whom English is not the first language.
Pilots are individuals whose English skills vary, but of the 50 or so international airlines that fly to Australia, is it fair to suggest that the mainland Chinese airlines have aircrews with the poorest English (noting that a certain level of proficiency is mandatory given English's status as the tongue used by most ATC worldwide)?
The pilot took a while to repeat instructions as his English was 'halting.' This in turn delayed AC34, the 1125 morning flight to YVR that had departed early and slightly delayed QF842 to DRW as the CZ flight went back to the international terminal.
This was a small window into the way in which ATC sometimes has to patiently communicate with pilots for whom English is not the first language.
Pilots are individuals whose English skills vary, but of the 50 or so international airlines that fly to Australia, is it fair to suggest that the mainland Chinese airlines have aircrews with the poorest English (noting that a certain level of proficiency is mandatory given English's status as the tongue used by most ATC worldwide)?
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