In article .com,
Dave wrote:

The usual answer, it depends.
Flying from farm strips, staying out of busy airspace and the like not
a problem without (good)communication.
Operating from a busy field with ground, twr, approach freq. and in
controled airspace I think having good communication is rather
important, even for VFR.

I'd agree. Some years ago I flew out of a busy Class C airport. Those
were the days when there were lots of foreign students around -
some of whom had a rather limited command of English. It sure threw a
monkey wrench into the works when one of them showed up.

David Johnson

On the other hand, airline pilots the world over manage to get by with only
a limited command of English, and the do it in the most hectic airspace you
can imagine. The secret is that ATC communications use a limited
vocabulary of words and phrases (listed in the pilot-controller glossary).

In many ways, flying an airliner into JFK during the afternoon rush is an
easier communication situation than doing pattern work at East Podunk.