Jump to content

You're browsing the 2004-2023 VATSIM Forums archive. All content is preserved in a read-only fashion.
For the latest forum posts, please visit https://forum.vatsim.net.

Need to find something? Use the Google search below.

Local language proficiency requirements


Lars Bergmann
 Share

Recommended Posts

Phil Dowling
Posted
Posted

Hey Everyone.

I have waited for a while in order to get a view of all the opinions on this.  And so I want to add my own thoughts as a division director of a division that has one FIR that has a language requirement that is enforced.  Specifically our Montreal FIR.  As you all may know, Canada IRL has two official national languages.  English and French.  In Quebec French is the dominant language, so much so in order to preserve the Quebec culture there is varying laws dictating how and when English may be used.

Now, back to VATSIM.  I have a Division where there is 6 FIRs which are predominantly English speaking and 1 FIR where there is a requirement for the controller to speak French to a level of being able to control.  The FIR can provide training in English and some if not all of the documentation is both in French and English.  In other words, the FIR has gone to every length to accomodate the visiting controller short of one thing.  They must be able to control in French as there is a large number of pilots that ONLY want to converse in french.  Then fly within the Montreal Airspace and not outside it.  And IRL this is also applicable.

I have and will continue to support Montreals language requirement.  While CoR dictates that all controllers must be capable of controlling in English (again which aligns with RW), I see no reason why we need to inflict those same rules on Pilots.  I would rather pilots focus their time on being able to fly and follow instructions properly than learning a new language!  At the end of the day there is a WEALTH of places where a controller looking for a new challenge can go control, in a language they are comfortable with.  There is no reason to inflict uncomfortable situations on pilots just to satisfy either a visiting controller or a "quantity first" style argument.  When there really, to my view thus far, is no empiracle data that supports that this actually is a real issue.

One thing that always sticks in my head about the Montreal FIR was a while back, they were in need of help from the training perspective.  My Divisional Training Director took the time to learn French sufficiently to be able to adequately control in the language and thus, then be able to train controllers in that FIR.  To me THAT was the right and most supportive thing to do.  And kudos to him for doing so, for myself, I am lucky that all the staff in Montreal speak English so well and are willing to hold their meetings in English when I decide to turn up 😉

I'll admit, in the initial reviews of GCAP this one slipped past me as I was overly focused on other areas.  However with the benefit of reading so many impassioned responses about this.  I have to agree this is something that is important to many areas and I am unsure there is real tangiable benefit in dictating a path in a high level policy.  Beyond, of course, it's up to the local division with RVP oversight.

I think David has put this nicely.  This is not something that should be dictated by GCAP.  This should be left at the discretion of the RVP's.  I think they are smart enough and know their respective area's well enough to make informed decisions with their divisions on what is best for each area.

Phil

  • Like 6
  • Thanks 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Replies 102
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Andreas Fuchs

    17

  • Lars Bergmann

    9

  • 1341101

    7

  • Torben Andersen

    6

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Andreas Fuchs

    Andreas Fuchs 17 posts

  • Lars Bergmann

    Lars Bergmann 9 posts

  • 1341101

    1341101 7 posts

  • Torben Andersen

    Torben Andersen 6 posts

Popular Days

  • Aug 13 2021

    35 posts

  • Aug 4 2021

    15 posts

  • Jul 21 2021

    10 posts

  • Jul 23 2021

    9 posts

Popular Posts

Phil Dowling

Hey Everyone. I have waited for a while in order to get a view of all the opinions on this.  And so I want to add my own thoughts as a division director of a division that has one FIR that has a

Maxim Tsygankov

Hello all, On behalf of Russian-speaking community I want to say some things here. There was said all members should know English. Well, I agree it's necessary for reading and understanding

Felix Zapata Berlinches

Hi all, after checking the new draft I've not found any specific rule about the language and like Lars and Todd say, I would like seriously to have an official answer / specific rule. Here at VAT

Posted Images

Lars Bergmann
Posted
Posted

Should this part of the policy be implemented as it is right now I would like to see a publicly available list of all Divisions and Sub-Divisions that have been granted a waiver 🙂

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Liesel Downes
Posted
Posted
13 hours ago, Lars Bergmann said:

Should this part of the policy be implemented as it is right now I would like to see a publicly available list of all Divisions and Sub-Divisions that have been granted a waiver 🙂

 

This information should absolutely be public.

Liesel Downes
she/her/hers

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 Share