Medium Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Flight Engineer; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40; Flight Crew Total 11000; Flight Crew Type 900
Workload; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
General None Reported / Taken
Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
We were flying into Vnukouvo (Moscow). I had asked the Controller for a QNH approach. With no response I was left to believe we were doing a QFE which is what they always force you to do in the real world. When we descended down to 600M which is 1;900 FT QFE we were too low. We were supposed to be at 2;660 FT QNH. But as I said; without proper response I was lead to believe we were getting the QFE as usual. The English proficiency of these controllers is extremely weak at best. Not even close to what ICAO standards require. Take that along with very dangerous situations and unfamiliar areas and you have accidents. Just look at how many occur on their watch with no repercussions what so ever. This really needs serious work. We were fortunate that the weather was clear and day time. Simple mistake by an experienced pilot!
A medium transport First Officer reported that on approach to UUWW the crew requested a QNH approach but when ATC; with poor English skills did not respond; they assume QNH clearance but determined later they were not cleared and had descended too low.