Thanks Disco Stu. Very helpful.
I don't feel saying "behind" twice would have helped in their situation though.
I still get cleared to line up (unconditionally) with one on short final occasionally. When I query it I can almost hear the shiver run down the ATCOs spine.
Ultimately pilot beware.
Recently cleared in IMC below MSA
and radar terrain in error. Queried it, no problems. The level would have had me ( and the paying passengers) 400' above the tree tops in cloud.
Best to remember:
Pilot makes mistake, pilot dies.
Engineer makes mistake, pilot dies.
ATC make mistake, pilot dies.
I think most pilots approach safety that way ?
And before any twits jump in, I have the highest respect for engineers and ATCOs and confess to making far more mistakes than them.
