PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - CNN story on Chinese pilots and their English skills
Old 10th Jul 2007, 03:02
  #59 (permalink)  
triadic
 
Join Date: Jan 1999
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"cleared"

You are asking for big trouble if you use this word in other than an instruction or clearance in which you are providing a "clearance" .. ie "clear to land", "clear for take-off", "clear to taxi" etc...

Using it in any other context is just bad practice in that in increases the chance of having it misunderstood or jammed out and the pilot in fact believing he/she was in fact "cleared" when that was not the case or intention.

In this situation, I ask, why was the pilot asked such a question in the first place...? Don't the controllers co-ord their instructions/clearances issued. If there is doubt as to what clearance has been issued, the clearance should have been cancelled and/or re-issued.

In such a situation, then perhaps "confirm your (taxi) clearance" (with no other words) might have been more appropriate.

Keep it simple and don't create confusion by using too many words or words that may have another meaning - ICAO standard phrases is the way to go if in any doubt.
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