Ok. I've done that now. On my machine with french layout - french (France) - it is NOT showing this weired behavior. I have a german Windows XP installation.
Strange, as I have the same configuration as you.
Did you make sure (by entering text in a MFD) that Q and A are really switched?
Please be aware that switching keyboard layouts is a bit tricky in WinXP.
I've enabled multiple layouts (DE, EN, FR) and can switch them in the Windows task bar (in the "Eingabegebietsschemaleiste"... lovely name).
It took me a while to figure out that
a) this setting is "per application" (you have to start Orbiter and then switch the keyboard layout while the launch pad is active)
b) Orbiter kills itself on CTRL-Q and starts a new process, resetting the layout to your default (probably DE) each time you leave the simulation and go back to the launch pad