DGAC dropped this week the requirement for AFIS to hold pilot licences (ATPL, CPL, PPL) before taking the English Language Proficiency (FCL055), so I would expect more of them to be FR & EN soon
I hope @gallois keeps contributing here !
On personal note, it’s worth making an effort on local language on radio when flying, I found it to be helpful: I have no issues flying safely to small airfields in France, Switzerland and Germany, the wife has no issues doing that for Spain…without it one end up suffering from flying disability: there are plenty of places that are worth GA visit that do not have “English ATC”
so I would expect more of them to be FR & EN soon
What does that mean? FR-only and EN-only ???
The UK dropped the PPL requirement from ATC decades ago. Not sure it made any difference.
Also a PPL requirement is worth nothing (for ATC ELP) if you only ever fly locally.
So for us non-UK pilots, what exactly does “coasting in” mean? Power off approach :-) ?
What does that mean? FR-only and EN-only ???
They will have ELP with EN added to FR in AFIS licence, there are many AFIS airfields that are FR-only today (e.g. Reims, Ouessant…)
The UK dropped the PPL requirement from ATC decades ago
In France as well: ATC don’t need the PPL neither, maybe since ENAC creation in 1949
They have Engineering Degree which require far more excellence than PPL 
I was talking about ELP in AFIS (FISO) qualification not ELP ATCO (ATC) qualification
Historically, AFIS needed PPL to get their ELP sign-off
PS: AFIS regulations are sub-ICAO & sub-EASA
They will have ELP with EN added to FR in AFIS licence, there are many AFIS airfields that are FR-only today (e.g. Reims, Ouessant…)
What does that mean in reality?
ATC/AFIS at airports capable of international traffic (which could potentially be only during notified hours) need ELP4, legally and in reality so pilots can talk to them. How this is achieved, probably doesn’t matter if talking about just legalities.
So for us non-UK pilots, what exactly does “coasting in” mean? Power off approach :-) ?
It means crossing the coast. No, I would have never worked it out either 
But then, as I said, I almost never talk to “pretend we can’t see you on radar because we are the cheaper FISOs and not being radar qualified, union rules prevent us seeing a radar screen, which we actually do have, but we can’t tell you that” London INFO
They will have ELP with EN added to FR in AFIS licence, there are many AFIS airfields that are FR-only today (e.g. Reims, Ouessant…)
Reims is not correct.
AFIS at airports capable of international traffic
Yes big IFR airfields with international traffic have English speaking AFIS but again I don’t think it’s a legal requirement? the ones I listed are IFR airfields without English AFIS
Small VFR airfields are required to have AFIS if they have busy mixed operations: training, parachutists, gliding, banner towing…these don’t necessarily have English AFIS
Reims is not correct.
You are right, I was thinking LaBaule
airfields with international traffic have English speaking AFIS but again I don’t think it’s a legal requirement?
It must be.
