Flight crew reports approach controller at svmi cannot be understood due to language barrier. Solici...

Attributes
ACN	794424
Time
Date	200806
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : svmi.airport
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl single value : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzzz.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
ASRS Report	794424
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

After being handed off to the ccs final approach control; neither the captain or I could understand the instructions of the controller; even after repeated requests to repeat the instructions. For example; the controller would say something; which we thought was possibly a heading of 150 but could have been a flight level. The captain asked the controller 'understand turn to 150 heading?' and still; we could not understand the answer to the question. In all my yrs of flying; all over the world; africa; turkey; all over the middle east; that was the worst english speaking controller I've ever heard. Not only was his english non-existent; he held the microphone too close to his mouth; further disrupting his transmission. Finally; the captain brought the #1 flight attendant into the cockpit because she was spanish speaking and maybe that would help. The WX was IMC at the time; and not so comfortable considering the language barrier. Eventually; we got it straightened out; and landed uneventfully.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW REPORTS APCH CTLR AT SVMI CANNOT BE UNDERSTOOD DUE TO LANGUAGE BARRIER. SOLICIT ASSISTANCE FROM SPANISH SPEAKING CABIN ATTENDANT TO COMPLETE APCH AND LNDG.

Narrative: AFTER BEING HANDED OFF TO THE CCS FINAL APCH CTL; NEITHER THE CAPT OR I COULD UNDERSTAND THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE CTLR; EVEN AFTER REPEATED REQUESTS TO REPEAT THE INSTRUCTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE; THE CTLR WOULD SAY SOMETHING; WHICH WE THOUGHT WAS POSSIBLY A HDG OF 150 BUT COULD HAVE BEEN A FLT LEVEL. THE CAPT ASKED THE CTLR 'UNDERSTAND TURN TO 150 HDG?' AND STILL; WE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION. IN ALL MY YRS OF FLYING; ALL OVER THE WORLD; AFRICA; TURKEY; ALL OVER THE MIDDLE EAST; THAT WAS THE WORST ENGLISH SPEAKING CTLR I'VE EVER HEARD. NOT ONLY WAS HIS ENGLISH NON-EXISTENT; HE HELD THE MIKE TOO CLOSE TO HIS MOUTH; FURTHER DISRUPTING HIS XMISSION. FINALLY; THE CAPT BROUGHT THE #1 FLT ATTENDANT INTO THE COCKPIT BECAUSE SHE WAS SPANISH SPEAKING AND MAYBE THAT WOULD HELP. THE WX WAS IMC AT THE TIME; AND NOT SO COMFORTABLE CONSIDERING THE LANGUAGE BARRIER. EVENTUALLY; WE GOT IT STRAIGHTENED OUT; AND LANDED UNEVENTFULLY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.

Flight crew reports approach controller at svmi cannot be understood due to language barrier. Solicit assistance from spanish speaking cabin attendant to complete approach and landing.