Everybody in aviation speaks English, right? Pretty much. But still, in many European countries, the tendering process takes place in the national language. Let's face it: this is not something ANSPs and airports decide themselves. This decision has been made at a much higher level, often at the lawmakers' level. The European Union could focus on this topic, but trying to change this would reach a whole new dimension of complexity.
With that said, what can we do? We are in the days of AI and automated translations and this gives us a great starting point. At FoxATM, we often look at calls for tenders using automated translations to form an initial opinion. Such translations are not perfect, but they are sufficient to make a first 'go' or 'no-go' decision. When it comes to the lingo, AI is often wrong, and it is still common to see incorrect contextual translations. Assuming that ATM means an automated transaction machine, for example. Nevertheless, with a bit of extra elbow grease, this works fine.
When it comes to reading and preparing documents for a call for tenders, though, it is not enough. Preparing them in English (or any language you master) and then using an automated translation service can work as a basis, but not more. Your document must be proofread by a native speaker with experience in ATM. Even if you use a human-based translation service, the industry specifics are such that a review by a knowledgeable person remains a must.
The next step is even more delicate: in-person negotiations. Even if they are held remotely via teleconference, they require a high level of language fluency. The sad part is that also when every party in the room can speak English, it is legally not possible to negotiate in any other language than what is stated in the law. Also, it's important to consider the psychological aspects and biases involved in this. A non-native, fluent speaker with an accent will likely get fewer chances than a native speaker. Even if this is unconscious, we all are biased.
What FoxATM can offer — and has offered in multiple cases in the past — is support with bid preparation and participation in negotiations. We speak ATM and are ready to be productive from day one. The team covers quite a range of languages: German, French, Lithuanian, Polish, and a few more. Don't let language be the deciding factor in your no-go decision before contacting us. In a vast majority of cases, the project work can be done in English, and the requirement for local languages applies only to the procurement process.
On a separate note, don't miss our
new podcast episode with
Benjamin Baier, CEO of
Imtradex. We speak about
Benjamin and the company, why the manufacturing process is in Germany, the new features of the ATC headset model designed for remote towers ATCOs and more.
Vincent