The pilot's CHIRP report sets out the sequence of events - and he should be congratulated for submitting it, especially because it is to some degree critical of himself. All I am saying is that, but for the inappropriate intervention of ATC in this case, the event would not have occurred and that intervention was therefore, IMHO, the causal factor for the sequence of events. That is not the same as saying that only one party is to blame; I believe (as is often the case in aviation events) that both parties involved would benefit from reviewing their actions and responsibilities.
Jumbo Pilot
I agree with you that both parties would benefit from reviewing their actions.
Very often things like this happen because of poor communication. What I cannot stress enough is the role of the pilot as a commander and ATC as his servant not ATC as the commander and the pilot as a servant. Ok ATC give commands every day of the week which we comply with but it is ultimately the Captains descision to accept that command He has the ultimate authority.
So yes I am being pedantic hairsplitting or whatever and yes both parties were at fault but the pilot having the ultimate authority has the ultimate responsability.
It is for whatever reasons his failure to take that ultimate responsability which allowed the situation to develop. He had the power to stop the situation but didnt.
I am making this point because only too often pilots are in awe of what they percieve of authority and only too readily accept instructions. They are the ones flying the aircraft, they are the ones who will hit a hill, fly into a storm not the guy in the warmth of the control tower sipping a coffee.
Flying involves so much instruction that we are almost taught to wait for someone to tell us what to do.
Even going into commercial flying as a co pilot/ first officer it becomes inground into us to turn to the Captain for a decision. Nowadays it is becoming more common for co-pilots/first officers to be encouraged to challenge and be more involved in the descision making.
It is that mental attitude change which is all important in making a pilot into a Captain whether he/she flies a Piper Cub or a 747.
Pace