On Fri, 29 Jun 2007 16:34:07 -0700, C J Campbell wrote:

That is not what the regulations say. He is required to understand
English.

The ICAO will require as of March of 2008, that all pilots flying
internationally and all Air Traffic Controllers must pass the ICAO level 4
language standards exam for English proficiency.

In this case:
d. handle successfully and with relative ease the linguistic challenges
presented by a complication or unexpected turn of events that occurs within
the context of a routine work situation or communicative task with which
they are otherwise familiar; and

e. use a dialect or accent which is intelligible to the aeronautical
community.


Details:
http://www.icao.int/icao/en/trivia/peltrgFAQ.htm#20

--
Dallas