Narrative:

We were on an approach at cdg after a 7 hour, 30 min flight form the us that departed mid-evening. The altimeters were incorrectly set to QFE (field elevation) rather than qnh, which procedures call for. Although no incident occurred since the landing was VMC, after landing was looked for the reason why the altimeters were incorrect. It took us 6 times of concentrated listening to cdg ATIS to interpret and 'pick out' the correct altimeter. The accent was so heavy with an obvious lack of any attempt to clarify the english. The french also gives the ATIS in french, which further complicates listening to and understanding the broadcast. While trying to interpret the ATIS after landing, the only clear altimeter setting was QFE, given for both runways. Qnh was garbled. This could have been potentially dangerous and further demonstrates how the french (in europe and canada) continually violate the 'idea' of only using english in ATC communications. This continued non standard action further degrades overall safety because all pilots on the frequency lose the overall big picture of how traffic is being moved and controled.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WDB FLT CREW CLAIMS LANGUAGE BARRIER RESPONSIBLE FOR LNDG WITH INCORRECT ALT SETTING.

Narrative: WE WERE ON AN APCH AT CDG AFTER A 7 HR, 30 MIN FLT FORM THE U.S. THAT DEPARTED MID-EVENING. THE ALTIMETERS WERE INCORRECTLY SET TO QFE (FIELD ELEVATION) RATHER THAN QNH, WHICH PROCS CALL FOR. ALTHOUGH NO INCIDENT OCCURRED SINCE THE LNDG WAS VMC, AFTER LNDG WAS LOOKED FOR THE REASON WHY THE ALTIMETERS WERE INCORRECT. IT TOOK US 6 TIMES OF CONCENTRATED LISTENING TO CDG ATIS TO INTERPRET AND 'PICK OUT' THE CORRECT ALTIMETER. THE ACCENT WAS SO HEAVY WITH AN OBVIOUS LACK OF ANY ATTEMPT TO CLARIFY THE ENGLISH. THE FRENCH ALSO GIVES THE ATIS IN FRENCH, WHICH FURTHER COMPLICATES LISTENING TO AND UNDERSTANDING THE BROADCAST. WHILE TRYING TO INTERPRET THE ATIS AFTER LNDG, THE ONLY CLEAR ALTIMETER SETTING WAS QFE, GIVEN FOR BOTH RWYS. QNH WAS GARBLED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND FURTHER DEMONSTRATES HOW THE FRENCH (IN EUROPE AND CANADA) CONTINUALLY VIOLATE THE 'IDEA' OF ONLY USING ENGLISH IN ATC COMS. THIS CONTINUED NON STANDARD ACTION FURTHER DEGRADES OVERALL SAFETY BECAUSE ALL PLTS ON THE FREQ LOSE THE OVERALL BIG PICTURE OF HOW TFC IS BEING MOVED AND CTLED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.