*****hawk er sorry ShyTalk; at the end of the day we are all pros (pilots and ATCOs), trained and well practised in judgement and decision making. If your colleague judged the call to be appropriate, then it was. As my old dad used to say - rules are for the blind obeyance of fools and the guidance of wise men. Air Traffic is sometimes a classic example and it's taken me over 30 years to become wise.
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Pint of middle please George.