Sir - Invited, a few decades ago, by Sud-Aviation to visit its Suresnes factory where Alouette helicopters were manufactured for the Royal Netherlands Air Force, I went inside one for inspection. I discovered that the instrument panel (and the handbook) was in French.
My hosts refused to believe that no Dutch pilot would be able to read these, although every word was changed into the international aviation language (English), which caused considerable delay.
I recalled this incident after reading Hans-Peter Janotte's letter (Flight International, 15-21 January) which advised a Belgian pilot not to be naive in using languages other than aviation French in France.
ANTHONY PRINZEN
Pi-Arrow
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Source: Flight International
