The Chinese pilot replied enthusiastically, “Alternator!”

“The alternator?” asked my son.

Yes, Alternator! Said the Chinese student.

“Hmmm, so what does the alternator DO?” asked my son.

“It tells how high airplane is!” said the student.

My son explained that is the Altimeter not the ALTERNATOR.

The student was correct in that he would lose the ability to know the altitude- but the language caused MANY such problems.

(For safety reasons---ALL International Pilots MUST be fluent in the ENGLISH language regardless where they fly)