The various responsibilities of aviators and ATCOs notwithstanding; the responsibility for keeping track of whether the ground is becoming a bigger threat than everything else, ultimately rests with the Aircraft Captain. You only get older, and perhaps bolder, if the hairs on the back of your neck start to twitch when you are pushing your luck. Personally I find it easier to fly something that can go lower and slower when it starts to get gloopy - unfortunately many do not have that option (but they can usually climb in a quite spectacular fashion) Sorry if I've strayed rather a long way off the thread. but I thought a break from the mud-slinging was in order.