Originally Posted by jrmyl

This is one thing that I don't miss flying overseas. It is amazing how well your RT will become when you are working in an environment that others do not speak English as a first language. We monitor guard from the time we start our pushback until we block in. That is just how it is. If there is an ELT going off, of course we turn it down. (Not off). Once the ELT fades, we turn it back to a low level. Just so we can hear if someone is calling us.

Pet peeves are something different. I am always amazed at how bad the mainline US carriers RT are when they are outside of the US. It is like it is their first day on the radio over here. Do you guys even prepare for the arrival or approach prior to switching to approach control? It would seem not with all of the "say agains" that I hear. I mean really, get the ATIS, look at the approach plates, and you can figure out what arrival you are going to get at 99% of the airports you operate at.