So, eal401, now tell me who's being clueless ?!
The one looking at it from the pilot's viewpoint and no other. (Hard to believe such an occurrence I know) The original post is from the point of view of those on the ground and does not refer to R/T comms between a/c and the ground.
Airside operations personnel routinely use the term "full emergency." I have heard those words coming out from the mouths of such people. I have heard the head of airside operations use the term.
So, I guess I am not being clueless.