Hi CIM
Sticky stuff, but a good decision under pressure...ATC must simply have forgotten you. You had the right under air law - being the a/c on approach to land at the lowest height - but as everyone has said, you need permission, and once the ATC passed over you to the next geezer, all you could do is go around. I think most of us who fly in and out of larger airports have been close to going around before we've gotten a clearance - despite a few reminders. They're only human! No idea what the garble stuff was about. If you have a chance, visit the tower and ask someone what it was about - chances are actually having the temerity to show up will get you an apology/explanation. Some controllers have been kind enough to give me one over the air after a minor foul up. Sounds like another busy day. But isn't it funny how the mood of the ATC can affect how you think of your flight - you did an admirable job, all was well, yet you've probably been thinking about it a lot - yet if ATC had
asked you to go around, you'd probably have felt ok about it and no more would have been said.
All good experience.....!
