Sir Herbert wrote: [QUOTEI don't understand these young ones that seem to think absoloutely everything they do in an emergency has to be confirmed by an ATCO before they actually do it][/QUOTE]
I hope the reference to "young ones" was directed at me
...if it was, I wasn't suggesting that everything has to be confirmed by an ATCO...however, self positioning in very busy airspace onto a Runway that isn't in use for landing without giving ATC a chance to sort it out shows a huge lack of Airmanship in my opinion.
Ultimately it's the Captains responsability...yes, it's up to the Captain what he does with his a/c in an Emergency...yes, is it sensible that he should inform ATC of his intentions prior to actioning them...yes.
If he was soooo short of fuel that he couldn't afford to be vectored for 31R shouldn't he have diverted already?!