Originally Posted by
dsgtc0408
Was on UA 896 from Singapore to Hong Kong yesterday, listening to Channel 9. As we were getting close to HKG airport, I could have sworn I heard Mandarin Chinese being spoken in brief and sporadic snatches. (BTW I speak Mandarin although somewhat badly.)
1) Isn't English the standard language used for air traffic control worldwide?
2) If it isn't, how do the pilots figure out what's going on around them?
3) Could this be China military pilots talking to each other? Could it be that there are military manuevers taking place outside of HKG airspace but within range of the radio?
There is no prohibition against using another language if the controller and the pilot prefer or can communicate in another mutually intelligible language.
The notion tat no other language can be used for exchanges between the pilot and the ATC is rather naive.