Antonio really made my day! This helicopter pilot has been dropping water to tackle – and put out – wildfires all over Europe for many years. As he needed the FCL .055 rating in French, he started working on aviation French in early May. After only 19 training hours he managed to pass his FCL .055 with flying colours – ICAO level 5. He’s going to extinguish wildfires in the south of France. Congratulations Antonio as it is well deserved! Here below a video with feedback about the kind of test you can expect as a helicopter pilot when you take it at the DGAC.
Helicopter pilot passed FCL .055 in French – Feedback
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Altitudes and flight levels at stake – « AU-DESSUS » and « PLUS BAS » to be used in French R/T communications
There have been some changes in radio communications – here altitudes, flight levels and heights – between pilots and air traffic controllers since the new French radiotelephony manual was published this summer. For example, relative altitudes or levels between aircraft are no longer called out as they used to be. Well, theoretically at least. From now on, you won’t be allowed to say « plus haut » or « dessous ». If you’re flying in France, you’ll have to say « AU-DESSUS » or « PLUS BAS » on the radio instead. No one would normally be allowed to say « plus haut » or « dessous ». After reading the official document, it’s not so obvious because « plus haut » appears nine times. Perhaps I’ve forgotten something. Maybe I didn’t quite understand. I’ll let you know if I get any new information.
Altitudes relatives selon la nouvelle phraséologie de la DGAC
Depuis la publication cet été du nouveau manuel de radiotéléphonie en français, les communications radio – ici les altitudes, niveaux de vol et hauteurs – entre les pilotes et les contrôleurs aériens ont changé. Par exemple, les altitudes ou niveaux de vol relatifs entre les avions ne sont plus annoncés comme ils l’étaient avant. En théorie du moins. Désormais, on ne peut plus dire « plus haut » ou « dessous ». Si on vole en France, il faut dire « AU-DESSUS » ou « PLUS BAS » à la radio. Normalement, on ne peut plus dire « plus haut » ou « dessous ». Après avoir lu le document officiel, ce n’est pas si évident car « plus haut » apparaît neuf fois. J’ai peut-être oublié quelque chose. Je n’ai peut-être pas bien compris. Je vous tiendrai au courant si j’ai de nouvelles informations. La version 10 du Manuel de phraséologie de la DGAC (Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile) a subi plusieurs modifications.
Flight safety – Progress made and further expected
All in all, it’s a step forward. The combination of « above » and « below » is likely to contribute to flight safety. Provided that everyone gets on board (including official documents). The VPT approach procedure is very welcome. Just FYI, the EU has published and enforced the SERA part C and especially 14 describing R/T procedures. It remains legal theoretically even though the DGAC has stated some differences. It turns out here are still a few debatable points. This is why we’ll return to altitudes in another post dedicated to aviation French. To be continued…
Sécurité des vols – Progrès accomplis et d’autres attendus
Dans l’ensemble, il s’agit d’un progrès. L’association « au-dessus » et « plus bas » est de nature à contribuer à la sécurité des vols. A condition que tout le monde s’y mette (y compris les documents officiels). La procédure d’approche VPT est appréciable. Il reste cependant quelques points discutables. C’est pourquoi nous reviendrons sur les altitudes dans un autre article consacré au français de l’aviation. A suivre…
I know that taking an ICAO French exam may sound weird – not to say preposterous – as I’m neither a pilot, nor an air traffic controller, and I’m a native French speaker. I just sat for this exam for I needed to learn further about the aviation French test format. I did that to help native English speakers fly in French airspace. I passed the exam, but it wasn’t that easy.
ICAO French exam centre
The DGAC ICAO French exam centre is to the southwest of Paris. You just need to go to Orly airport, and it’s next door. It’s not exactly in Paris-Orly. The test facilities are in Paray-Vieille-Poste, i.e. right here:
Three papers
As I’d taken the English FCL .O55 in the very DGAC exam centre ten years before, I expected about the same methodology. Yet I was a bit wrong. The test is made up of three papers:
Listening
Simulated flight
Accident or incident report
Listening test
Each of us was given a seat, a computer and a headset in the DGAC lab. A jury member explained very well what we had to do. He spoke in French only. We were told that it wouldn’t be a language proficiency test but a professional test. We typed our names before starting, then we stowed the keyboard behind the screen so that we could have room for writing down our answers. We were then given a bundle of sheets which looked like the English listening test I’d taken in 2013. As expected, here are the specifications:
19 questions
Gap-filling test
Pen needed for filling the gaps
The first question is an ATIS in French with several blanks.
Each soundtrack is played twice
You can’t know the context of the clearance or soundtrack, nor can you have a map or a chart relating to the situation
Listening score out of twenty
The ATIS is counted as two points.
I’d advise jotting down as soon as possible. Don’t waste time during the first listening. You can correct everything during the second listening and even after if you have time.
Simulated flight
The DGAC simulated flight in French is almost the same as the one in English, i.e. you shall read back everything. As the version #10 of the DGAC manual of phraseology has recently been published, you can say what you like in terms of numbers. There’s no problem with that provided that the virtual ATC and the virtual pilot understand each other. The main difficulty remains in reading back everything. You’ve got to be well organised and well trained before taking the exam. Here is what you are given during this paper:
The call signs used for that simulated flight
Where you come from
Where you are flying to
Your position
Your type of aircraft
4 sequences which can be prepared in advance on a draft sheet
It’s completely virtual as you shall be speaking in French when entering English-speaking airspace.
Accident / incident report
Again, the examiner explained in French this paper. We were given an accident / incident summary which came from a British article or investigation report. We had enough elements and topics to deal with. We summarised in speaking French about our unusual situation after reading. We then had one or two questions about the report summary.
ICAO French levels and debrief
We all waited for the results in the waiting room. We were given our ICAO levels, and a short debrief after around a quarter of an hour. We started at 10am, and we left at 12.15pm. We weren’t given our individual language skill levels, nor did I receive them when I received the pass attestation. As we were explained during the introduction, it isn’t a language skill evaluation. At least it can’t be a language proficiency exam as recommended in ICAO DOC 9835. The importance of listening without context and reading back everything is capital. There’s little interaction but during the simulated flight. You can get prepared thanks to this training:
If you want to take it – many thanks to Lingaero CEO, James Emery for the tip – you just have to contact valerie.amaranthe@aviation-civile.gouv.fr or call +33158094404 / +33149755641 .
Si vous voulez le passer – merci au dirigeant de Lingaero, James Emery, pour l’info – il vous suffit de contacter valerie.amaranthe@aviation-civile.gouv.fr ou d’appeler le +33158094404 ou +33149755641
Mis à jour le 27/08/2023 – Formation en FRANÇAIS AÉRONAUTIQUE – plus d’informationsici. Cette vidéo commence en anglais, puis en français à 02′:16 ».
COURS DE FRANÇAIS DE L’AVIATION EN LIGNE POUR VOUS
Vous voulez devenir plus efficace en français mais vous ne savez pas comment ? Allons, si un locuteur natif vous écoute régulièrement et corrige ce qui vous empêche d’être un locuteur courant, ça marchera.
UN LOCUTEUR NATIF À VOTRE SERVICE
Toni est français, étant né en France. Il vit à Tours, en plein cœur du Val-de-Loire. La plupart des gens parlent le français sans aucun accent dans cette région. Toni a été mécanicien avion, pilote de planeurs, instructeur ATPL (050 Météorologie & 081 Principes de vol) et traducteur. Il a enseigné l’anglais de l’aviation pendant plus de vingt ans et maintenant le français de l’aviation. Il enseigne le français comme langue étrangère (FLE) depuis août 2021. Ses méthodes sont celles des recommandations de l’OACI : la sécurité des vols par la communication. C’est pourquoi il cible d’abord les compétences langagières les plus faibles. Puis il les regroupe pour les traiter dans leur ensemble. En effet, la conversation est à la fois le moyen et le but.
LA LANGUE FRANÇAISE EST DIFFICILE
Le français est difficile avec des sons spéciaux, des voyelles et des consonnes, sans parler de toutes les liaisons et exceptions. La grammaire et la syntaxe sont également difficiles avec des locutions spéciales, la conjugaison et les temps qui peuvent être délicats. La bonne nouvelle est que le français et l’anglais ont beaucoup en commun. Vous pouvez demander un premier créneau de vingt minutes. C’est gratuit, et cela vous permet de faire une première évaluation de vos besoins et de vos objectifs. Vous pouvez poser vos questions à la page CONTACT, ou au +33667157562 ou par email: fclanglais@gmail.com FCL ANGLAIS donne des cours d’anglais aéronautique principalement, et maintenant de FRANÇAIS DE L’AVIATION. Formation pour préparer les examens OACI FCL .055 en anglais et en français, services de briefing et de débriefing en anglais et traductions sur l’anglais de l’aviation. Français langue étrangère, voix off en français et sous-titrage.
Some online face-to-face time slots will be proposed in aviation French ie ICAO/DGAC French by 2023. As the demand is growing, I do believe it’s time pilots had training available online. The first time slots will focus on vocabulary. Then some radiotelephony aviation French will be taught. The phraseology used will abide by the DGAC manual of radiotelephony, the Arrêté du 27 juin 2000 modifié, and the ICAO DOC 9432 as well as ICAO DOC 4444, Chapter 12. Further information here below:
Des plages horaires de face-à-face en ligne seront proposées en français aéronautique d’ici 2023. Comme la demande est croissante, je pense qu’il est temps que les pilotes aient une formation disponible en ligne. Les premiers créneaux horaires porteront sur le vocabulaire. Par la suite, un peu de français aéronautique de la radiotéléphonie sera enseigné. La phraséologie utilisée sera conforme au manuel de radiotéléphonie de la DGAC, à l’Arrêté du 27 juin 2000 modifié, et au DOC 9432 de l’OACI ainsi qu’au chapitre 12 du DOC 4444 de l’OACI. Plus d’informations ci-dessous :
Native French speaker conversation might become the next service on FCL ANGLAIS. It is available on PREPLY. Toni – an experienced aviation English teacher from Tours, France, is at your service. Do you know that Tours is deemed to be the best place in the world to learn French? Look up in any browser and read about that. Speaking with a native French tutor may not be so academic, but the method is quite effective to make headway in French: you can learn and make headway by speaking. The tutor tackles your weakest language skills, then lets you speak, and so on. You can even have fun at times! Toni is ready to help you pronounce better in French. He can correct your grammar and syntax while speaking.
Speaking activity available online
Face-to-face conversation online is the best way to make progress as far as speaking is concerned. Chatting is quite important because Toni can give you some exercises, and you can succeed with flying colours, but when it comes to speaking, you need to activate all your language skills, and it may get more difficult to make a no-mistake. Book now on PREPLY. For further information on NATIVEFRENCHSPEAKERCONVERSATION, please click on the page CONTACT. Here is the trailer on the gist of this service. The first part is spoken in French while the second is in English.
