As is widely known, English is the “international language of aviation.” For example, according to a Frequently Asked Questions page sponsored by the International Civil Aviation Organization [ICAO],

“[P]ilots on international flights shall demonstrate language proficiency in either English or the language used by the station on the ground.”

However, this requirement apparently doesn’t impress pilots for Mexican Airlines flying into Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport [ORD], an airport where English is still frequently spoken. This nugget — also including an example of apparent Mexican machismo — is in Secrets From The Tower, a new “tell-all” book by Bob Richards, an air traffic controller retired from a career at ORD

Richards’s book is reviewed in the Chicago Tribune (”Author reflects on days in tower,” August 20, 2007). According to reviewer Jon Hilkevitch:

“[Richards] wrote a chapter titled ‘Yahoo Mexicana,’ which loudly echoes the complaints of many O’Hare controllers about the general unpredictability and inexperience of pilots flying into Chicago for Mexicana Airlines. It’s not unusual for Mexicana pilots, many speaking broken English and unable to keep up with the rat-tat-tat of radio communications, to take a wrong turn and get lost on the airfield, the controllers say.

“Richards recounts in the book an incident when a Mexicana plane roamed more than even the airline’s normal custom looking for the assigned parking gate. It was 2 a.m. and there was no other traffic on the airfield, so Richards and a fellow controller just watched ‘awestruck.’

“‘Many foreign pilots in this situation would ask for directions [from the tower], but we had come across the ones too proud to do so,’ he writes.

“Finally, Richards offered help and the pilot responded: ‘Buenos dias, amigo. I think me need progressive [turn-by-turn instructions] to the gate.’”

The reviewer also quotes Richards making light of the problem:

“Richards provided direction, ending his verbal instructions with a crisp ‘Buenos nachos.’

“‘Till the day I retired, I said “Buenos nachos” to every Mexicana pilot,’ Richards writes. ‘Many came back laughing, but mostly all felt relaxed, knowing Americans were just as capable at making simple mistakes.’”

Ha ha!

Except with the Mexicana pilots, of course, there’s this ICAO regulation mandating English proficiency. Well, maybe conforming to laws and regulations are tasks that Mexicans just won’t do.

Allan Wall was recently interviewed by pastor/activist Ralph Ovadal of Wisconsin, on his show “The Heart of the Matter”. You can listen to it by clicking here and go to the August 17th, 2007 Edition, my segment of the program begins at 31:50.

Well, it was a year late in coming, but we’ll take it, Immigration Rights Activist Elvira Arellano Arrested, Deported,Fox News, Los Angeles, Aug. 20.

But, many will ask, why didn’t ICE nail her she left her Chicago sanctuary? Didn’t the feds understand the risks of fulfilling this long overdue action in a city like Los Angeles that presents a much more volatile environment easily capable of spawning civil unrest?

Here’s what I think: The feds used this opportunity to send a message to anarchists like Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa that if illegals aren’t safe from arrest in his city, they’re not safe anywhere.