Cobalt wrote:
I wonder about countries with multiple official languages, such as Switzerland. Can someone who grew up in Ticino and only speaks Italian fluently get German LP? (Most Swiss speak several languages, but that is not guaranteed)?No, even most Swissgermans don’t have a German LP, as this is not foreseen during flight training. Almost everybody (except French-speaking Romandie) gets their English LP, and that’s it.
The pilot who grew up in East Belgium speaking German at home won’t, right?Correct, eastern Belgium has German as their official (main) language. There is however not a single official airfield located in that area, except for the UL-only field Büllingen (EBBN).
etn wrote:
being born and raised in Alsace, I wonder if this would qualify as “German speaking country”
There is a fair risk both Alsace and Germany would take offence of this statement…
eri wrote:
I grew up in Luxembourg, a country with 3 official languages
We have 3 official languages in Norway also. None of them are eligible for any LP 
We only have English LP, and it’s valid and required for controlled airspace. In uncontrolled airspace there are no LP regulation AFAIK.
I grew up in Luxembourg, a country with 3 official languages (French, German, Luxembourgish) and it worked for me that way
etn wrote:
@Steve6443, do you have the BZF? if yes, this will be sufficient. Even if it is not a German LP 6, for all practical purposes it is identical. And has a lifetime validity.
Yes I do. But it does not equate to language proficiency in the sense of the regulations. You would still need to have a language proficiency either english or the language you are communicating in. As I have LP6 in english, all sorted….
Only if you are over 115 years old, then you would have fulfilled the “growing up in a country where German is the official language” test.
Just speaking it isn’t enough unless the bureaucrats do, too!
I wonder about countries with multiple official languages, such as Switzerland. Can someone who grew up in Ticino and only speaks Italian fluently get German LP? (Most Swiss speak several languages, but that is not guaranteed)?
The pilot who grew up in East Belgium speaking German at home won’t, right?
Interesting how things vary from country to country.
@Steve6443, do you have the BZF? if yes, this will be sufficient. Even if it is not a German LP 6, for all practical purposes it is identical. And has a lifetime validity.
In my case, I have been living >20 years in Germany, am fluent in German – also on the radio. At the time of having the DGAC update my (French) PPL with my English LP6, I asked if they could mention German on it too. This was declined, as German is not an official ICAO language. On the other side, German licenses state “German Level 6”… go figure. So I have French and English LP6 covered by my PPL paper, German by my BZF paper. No biggie I think!
EDIT: being born and raised in Alsace, I wonder if this would qualify as “German speaking country” for the LBA :D :D :D
eri wrote:
It is neither my native language, nor was I schooled in German. You have to fill in a form stating that you have lived for 8 years in a country with German as official language (no need for proof, more like a declaration of honour)
As others have said, for 8 years out of your first 14…. I’ve lived in Germany for 32 years, can converse freely in German but wouldn’t get an LP6 because I fail to comply with either of the rules determining native speaker…..
I was going to take a test but as I have LP6 english in my licence, what’s the point?
…and they usually check for plausability.
Same applies to L6 English for LBA.
Yes and yes. I just rechecked on the form from LBA: you have to live for 8 years in the first 14 years of your life in a country with German as national language.
