NB For easier reference, we have re-posted this very popular article as a permanent page directly accessible from the sidebar of this blog.
As a general rule, English is the language used by all French Air Traffic Control services unless you address them in French when they will respond accordingly
At ‘uncontrolled’ airfields, however, all radio traffic is conducted in French between pilots operating in the local area.
Even if you can’t hear any other traffic, it is important to announce your position and intentions for the benefit of those who may be in the vicinity.
Note that many controlled airfields revert to being uncontrolled, but still available for use, outside of normal operating hours.
Because many small airfields use the common frequency of 123.5 MHz (130.0 MHz in mountain areas) and those with their own frequency will have nobody to confirm that users have selected it correctly, it is good practice to prefix radio calls with the name of the uncontrolled airfield being addressed.
Radio conversations in the vicinity of uncontrolled airfields are naturally ‘sparse’ compared with those in controlled airspace as other aircraft won’t be particularly interested in your origin, aircraft type or approach altitude.
This is a typical sequence of calls (with English translations) for visiting the uncontrolled airfield at Marmande:
NB Knowledge of English-language radiotelephony is assumed
NB1 Click on the highlighted French text for audio.
Numbers | |
0 | Zéro |
1 | Unité |
2 | Deux |
3 | Trois |
4 | Quatre |
5 | Cinq |
6 | Six |
7 | Sept |
8 | Huit |
9 | Neuf |
Numbers 0-9 | |
100 | Cent |
200 | Deux Cent |
1000 | Mille |
2000 | Deux Mille |
2200 | Deux Mille Deux Cent |
Follow same principle for constructing larger numbers | |
● | Décimale |
Example: Fréquence Unité, Deux, Trois, Décimale, Quatre (Frequency 123.4) |
Runway Numbers Runway numbers may be read out as single digits as in the UK (e.g. runway one three) or as complete numbers (e.g. runway thirteen). For pilots new to speaking French, we would recommend the single-digit approach initially though you should learn to recognise the following additional numbers ASAP. |
|||
10 | Dix | 24 | Vingt-quatre |
11 | Onze | 25 | Vingt-cinq |
12 | Douze | 26 | Vingt-six |
13 | Treize | 27 | Vingt-sept |
14 | Quatorze | 28 | Vingt-huit |
15 | Quinze | 29 | Vingt-neuf |
16 | Seize | 30 | Trente |
17 | Dix-sept | 31 | Trente et un |
18 | Dix-huit | 32 | Trente-deux |
19 | Dix-neuf | 33 | Trente-trois |
20 | Vingt | 34 | Trente-quatre |
21 | Vingt et un | 35 | Trente-cinq |
22 | Vingt-deux | 36 | Trente-six |
23 | Vingt-trois | Numbers 10-36 | |
Other values, such as time and aircraft-type, may also be expressed using either single digits or full numbers. |
Phonetic Alphabet pronunciation | |
Alpha | November (Fr: Novembre ) |
Bravo | Oscar |
Charlie | Papa |
Delta | Quebec (Fr: Québec) |
Echo | Romeo (Fr: Roméo ) |
Foxtrot | Sierra |
Golf | Tango |
Hotel | Uniform (Fr: Uniforme ) |
India | Victor |
Juliet (Fr: Juliette) | Whisky |
Kilo | X-Ray |
Lima | Yankee |
Mike | Zulu (Fr: Zoulou ) |
Standard Alphabet pronunciation
As with the UK, acronyms such as QFE, ETA, etc, are usually spoken using the standard alphabet though the phonetic alphabet may be used to avoid misunderstanding. Standard alphabet pronunciation is a little bit different in French. |
||
A B C | D E F | G H I |
J K L | M N O | P Q R S |
T U V | W X Y Z | Whole Alphabet |
Airfield position |
(English) |
Verticale | overhead |
Vent Arrière | downwind |
Vent Arrière prolongée | late downwind |
Etape de Base | base leg |
Dernier Virage | final turn |
Longue Finale | long final |
Finale | final |
Courte Finale | short final |
Piste Dégagée | runway vacated |
Sortie de zone—vers le nord |
leaving the area—to the north |
Taxiway | |
Point d’arrêt | holding point |
Virage a gauche | left turn |
Virage a droite | right turn |
Vent Traversier | crosswind |
Other useful terms |
(English) |
Affirme | affirm |
Altitude | altitude |
Atterrissage | landing |
Circuit à gauche | left-hand circuit |
Circuit à droite | right-hand circuit |
Complet | in this context, a full-stop landing |
Décollage | taking-off |
Fréquence | frequency |
Négatif | negative |
Nuages | cloud |
Pieds | feet |
Piste | runway |
Piste en Service | runway in use |
Prêt au Décollage | ready for departure |
QFE | |
QNH | |
Remise de Gaz | going round |
Touche-Décollé | touch and go |
Tour de Contrôle | control tower |
Vol VFR | VFR Flight |
For further study of French radiotelephony, I can recommend
La Maîtrise de la Radio pour pilote privé et pilote professionnel (CD-ROM) which is available from www.amazon.fr or www.boutique.aero
We would welcome comments on all aspects of French air traffic control, including those which are outside the scope of this article.
Acknowledgements
I would like to acknowledge the contributions of those who assisted with the checking of content and French R/T phraseology:
Gorges Thety—Flying Instructor, Aéro-club de Limoges
Jean Pierre Neymond—Air Traffic Controller, Limoges (Bellegarde) Airport
Esteban Dwarka—Member, Aéro-club de Limoges (French translation and audio recording)
Excellent idea,this "french radio call" is a perfect basic package for english spoken pilots to operate safely on uncontrolled airfield
Bravo SUE
Pierre
Posted by: Pierre CROZET | 20 February 2008 at 07:16 PM
Hi Pierre
many thanks for your message.I am delighted that you have seen my new site.
My next project is to write a similar file, this time the audio will be in English for the French pilots who wish to fly to England or Europe, I hope that this will make it easier for them to speak with the English speaking controllers.
Posted by: sue virr | 20 February 2008 at 08:45 PM
Very impressive - well done. It will help me learn the French radio patter and also the pronunciation...
Posted by: Roger | 25 February 2008 at 07:42 PM
Hi Roger
Thank you for your posting I am delighted to be of assistance to you.
Good luck with your French Radio calls in the future!Perhaps you can report back to us after putting it into practice in France.
Posted by: sue virr | 26 February 2008 at 08:39 AM
Hi Sue
This is great, just what I have been looking for.
I did visit you 2 years ago when you were away.
Went flying with Philippe at the aero club (twice)
We especially remember the mushroom pickers and your husbands socks catching fire in the lounge!!!
Hope to see you in 2008
George and Mary.
G-GERY
Posted by: George Brown | 15 March 2008 at 10:35 PM
Hi George
i am delighted that you are enjoying the site.We usually add something new each day so keep watching this space.
It would be superb if you can make the time to visit me in 2008.Please give me plenty of notice as i get very booked up in the summer months.
Posted by: sue virr | 17 March 2008 at 07:16 PM
This basic French RT stuff is great. Well done.
Our microlight club, N Yorkshire Fling Club, is planning a French Trip in May / June and this will be a tremendous help. Hoping that some of us can make it to Limoges.
A couple of Questions:
1. How do you ask for "Airfield Information"? .. and anyway would you expect a reply at an uncontrolled airfield.
2. In the above files, you refer to "estime cinq minutes". In English RT this would mean that you expected to be at the designated point at 05 mins past the hour and NOT in 5 minutes time. What is the French meaning .. I suspect the "in 5 mins"
3. Are distances referred to in KM, SM or NM?
.. and is height in feet or metres (M on maps)?
Thanks
David
Posted by: david thelwall | 23 March 2008 at 09:16 AM
Hi David
Glad you enjoyed the article on French R/T which has generally gone down well.
In fact, R/T is a language of it's own with many variations of use, even in the UK.
In answer to your specific questions:
1/ At uncontrolled airfields, the only source of information, apart from the signals square, is the other pilots who will generally provide the required information.
As a French speaker of limited ability, I tend to keep the language as simple as possible with questions such as "quelle piste en service" (which runway in use) or "demande QFE" (request QFE).
If you get no reply, the idea is to announce your position/intentions at each stage which is a lot easier than having an actual conversation.
2/ We checked out our script with one of the Limoges Air Traffic Controllers and are fairly happy that "estime cinq minutes" means that you will arrive in 5 minutes.
In the UK, I would say "ETA zero-five" to mean 5 minutes past the hour but I find this a bit confusing so usually cop-out and give the complete time.
3/ Units of measurement did cause a lot of confusion several years back when lower airspace was shown in Metres and Flight Levels were shown in feet—even more confusing on the Southern UK maps where the units changed mid-channel.
I use the popular French half-million charts where all vertical measurements are now shown in feet or flight levels (also feet).
Horizontal distances may be measured directly in Nautical Miles with your 'Nav Rule', as with UK maps to the same scale.
Note that these charts only show airspace up to 5000' AMSL (above sea level) or 2000' ASFC (above surface) where this is higher.
On French airfield charts, runway dimensions are shown in Metres and distances from nav-aids, etc, are shown in Nautical Miles, just like the UK in both cases.
Regards
Les King
Site Administrator
Posted by: Les King | 23 March 2008 at 10:35 AM
Dear Sue,
Excellent. There was a handy sheet printed in Pilot a few years ago but nothing as user friendly as your site. Please pass on my thanks to Les King.
Good luck with the pups.
Kind regards,
Roger Bell
Posted by: Roger Bell | 23 March 2008 at 03:41 PM
Les
Thanks for reply.
I think the reason for not giving the Hours in UK situation is that the Local Vs Zulu time confusion is removed.
Anyway French etime meaning is very helpful.
Cheers
D
Posted by: david thelwall | 23 March 2008 at 07:01 PM
How do you ask for Zone Transit in French? My thought is that full ATC service would be in English but what about military airfields (say Creil which is directly en route from Abbeville to Fontenay-Tresigny and looks as if you can go acroos at >2500 feet without asking) .. do military operate in English?.
David
Posted by: david thelwall | 24 March 2008 at 04:05 PM
I have always spoken to the military in English.
They have been extremely courteous and helpful at all times.
Do remember that most military areas are unrestricted at weekends and bank holidays.
If you have any problems about ANYTHING, speak to your nearest FIS in English and ask them to ask for zone transit for you or for confirmation that the area is active or not.
The French ATC (in English) is exactly the same as the British ATC apart from the French accent!
Posted by: sue virr | 24 March 2008 at 04:29 PM