Top Bunk:
I agree with you. Landing clearance should be reasonably expected on approach and given when the tower has you in sight (if vmc) and has visually cleared the runway.
TCAS is very nice. enhanced ground prox is too. but what would be really nice is to not overburden an airport to allow competition to reduce air fares.
Shall I tell you about the time I was cleared for takeoff, beautiful clear day, with a fuel truck stopped 3000' ahead of me on the runway?
Or the time I was cleared to land/cleared for the approach to runway 9r and a United DC10 was cleared for takeoff on 27left? Both times I informed ATC that something was wrong and they insisted that I didn't know what I was talking about. (in both cases the controllers were decertified the same day)(both before TCAS)
Pushing more tin per mile (or km if you like) is not something to be proud of (ok, maybe for the Berlin airlift). Reduce operations, demand the highest respect for rules by pilots and ATC, proper RT technique (american RT phraseology can be awful!)
whadya think?