Not true, it is merely being pointed out that comprehension is as important as the rest of "read, speak and understand English. It is the aviation standard. When I fly in Mexico or other countries, I may not know or understand Spanish or the native language which is spoken over the frequencies. If I had to you'd be darn skippy I would learn it before trying my hand at putting myself and others at risk of an accident because of lack of comprehension.
He is responding to the other point that these guys are in a different and more difficult learning situation, than the majority of us native english speakers were, with some seemingly dismissive and condescending phrases like "that's all well and good" and "that's dandy". And he brings up an issue of concern, which is the English comprehension of some of these foreign carriers' pilots, to qualify his admission that the guys over here have a tough row to hoe.
His point is totally valid. I just take issue with how he used it to disqualify the other one. Also, it's a little further down the line in the conversation in my opinion. I think we should be talking about the foreign carriers' training programs and hiring practices in addition to FAA approval and oversight on that one. They are only going to do what they have to do. Just like you don't learn Spanish, although I don't think you can argue it wouldn't make you safer down there, maybe to a miniscule degree maybe more I don't know, but safer none the less. So if standards are set low or not enforced... well cause and effect.
Reading the forums on the Asiana crash vs. the UPS may have gotten me a little overzealous on this one. In my opinion, the UPS one seems way more respectful and objective, as it should be, than the former even by many who criticized the media for speculation. There seems to be a willingness to throw a fellow pilot from another country under the bus, and maybe it could be justified in the Asiana case, but we don't have all the facts. I'm sure I'm guilty of it too but I try to pull the reigns in on that sort of stuff.
I definitely feel invested in this one because of my past experience of dealing with a lot of international students. I feel I owe it to the good ones to speak up, but apologize if I'm coming off as combative. Everyone's shih tzu does stink, and when I think mine doesn't I hope I quit flying. I've heard many good controllers slow down a little and speak like a robot for the international guys to clear up any difficulty they may be having.
Anyways that's where I'm coming from
