Greeneth one,
>Well, ole' Santa Claus' favorite color *does* seem to be
>red!
ROFL!
Leave it to you to bring 'color' into this equation of science.
From what I saw of the Russians, when I flew over their airspace in the middle 90's.....after they had just opened that space up to the world airlines.....was that ANYTHING was possible...for a few rubles.
NWA trained the first 6 ATC controllers, for the most Northern Pacific Routes that took you into Russian airspace, at our MSP base. Most important was to teach a bit of "pilot English" to them. U.S. pilots do not often follow ICAO "suggested" English and or 'phrases' related to normal pilot reports.
As an example.......one of our most revered Chief Pilot's....on a day when he encountered severe headwinds.....was known to utter.........."Geesh...I have been sucking hind "mammary gland" all day at this altitude."
Knowing that the Russian ATC boys would NOT know just what this meant.....required a bit of extra special "study" at the most local Hooters in MSP.
I happened to make that gathering. Grin.
Regards,
Cap'n Tarmack