On Sat, 30 Jun 2007 23:29:32 -0700, Shirl
wrote in
:

Shirl:
I admit, I quoted the wrong reg -- that *is* what the reg says,
verbatim, for a US pilot;

Larry Dighera wrote:
Are you able to identify that particular regulation? I am unaware of
an FAA regulation that requires reading and writing English.

61.103 Eligibility requirements
General.
To be eligible for a private pilot certificate, a person must:
[a, b...]
(c) Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language.
If the applicant is unable to meet one of these requirements due to
medical reasons, then the Administrator may place such operating
limitations on that applicant's pilot certificate as are necessary for
the safe operation of the aircraft.

Thank you.

In deed it appears that US regulations require an applicant for any
airmans certificate (private, instrument, commercial, ATP, ...) issued
by the FAA to " Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the
English language."*

However, it would seem that "PART 129—OPERATIONS: FOREIGN AIR CARRIERS
AND FOREIGN OPERATORS OF U.S.-REGISTERED AIRCRAFT ENGAGED IN COMMON
CARRIAGE" may be more applicable in the Air China incident. It would
appear that there is no such requirement for English usage by foreign
air crews operating in the US. Instead, foreign air carriers must
provide bilingual ground personnel for handling their traffic:



http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text...1.4.21.0.11.11
§ 129.21 Control of traffic.

Link to an amendment published at 72 FR 31683, June 7, 2007.

(a) Subject to applicable immigration laws and regulations, each
foreign air carrier shall furnish the ground personnel necessary
to provide for two-way voice communication between its aircraft
and ground stations, at places where the Administrator finds that
voice communication is necessary and that communications cannot be
maintained in a language with which ground station operators are
familiar.

(b) Each person furnished by a foreign air carrier under paragraph
(a) of this section must be able to speak both English and the
language necessary to maintain communications with the aircraft
concerned, and shall assist ground personnel in directing traffic.



http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text...tart=1;size=25
Amendment from June 07, 2007

14 CFR--PART 129
View Printed Federal Register page72 FR 31683in PDF format.
Amendment(s) published June 7, 2007, in 72 FR 31683
Effective Date(s): August 6, 2007

46. Revise §129.21 to read as follows:

§ 129.21 Control of traffic.
(a) Subject to applicable immigration laws and regulations, each
foreign air carrier must furnish sufficient personnel necessary to
provide two-way voice communications between its aircraft and
stations at places where the FAA finds that communication is
necessary but cannot be maintained in a language with which
station operators are familiar.

(b) Each person furnished by a foreign air carrier under paragraph
(a) of this section must be able to speak English and the language
necessary to maintain communications with its aircraft and must
assist station operators in directing traffic.


Given the number of foreign air carriers and the numerous FAA
facilities they must communicate with, this regulation seems
unworkable in the event that they should ALL attempt to comply with
it.

*
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text....1.1.2&idno=14