How would you make a pan pan type call in France when you cant speak French

As the title says
Please

The same way I made a pan pan call in Belgian waters ... in English

And that's not being arrogant, like in aviation English is the common language of the sea and the operators at French coastal radio stations will surely be able to handle a call in English
 
The same way I made a pan pan call in Belgian waters ... in English

And that's not being arrogant, like in aviation English is the common language of the sea and the operators at French coastal radio stations will surely be able to handle a call in English

And to be fair, in exchange the French got to keep "Pan Pan", "Mayday", "Securité" and "Seelonce" even if they were a bit bastardised in an 'Allo 'Alloo sort of way.
 
Perhaps I should have been more specific and included the nature and content of the pan pan call and not just the initial id burst as some are interpreting my OP .
Hopefully the first answers have solved my curiosity.
Thanks for answers.
 
The same way an Indian or Ukrainian watchkeeper would - in English, as others have said. The seafarers of the world cannot possibly learn all the local languages of the waters they pass through, so luckily for us English is the international standard.

Pete
 
Then there is .....
51O5bYrvYGL._SX348_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
 
Folks, even in France PLEASE communicate in English especially in a urgency situation. Other vessels might be able to provide assistance very quickly when they understand the situation. English is also used in the exams for the short and long range certificates.
English is THE global communication platform and in ATC you have to be proficient. Gone are luckily the old days when Air Trafffic Controllers in France, Italy and Spain where using the local lingo with Iberia , Air France and Alitalia.
I remember when the captain called me approaching French aerospace, "get your A... up front cause you understand the local lingo". Only on one occasion I had to give up, it was on Montreal approach ATC using Canadian French:)
 
Last edited:
A Pan Am 727 flight, waiting for start clearance in Munich, overheard the following: Lufthansa (in German): "Ground, what is our start clearance time?"
Ground (in English): "If you want an answer you must speak in English."
Lufthansa (in English): "I am a German, flying a German airplane, in Germany. Why must I speak English?"
Unknown voice from another plane (in a beautiful British accent): "Because you lost the bloody war!"
 
Top