Absolute classic from Air Asia and CTR today, gave us a good laugh. Can't remember exact statements but the conversation went vaguely something like this...
(XAX)"Request 34 Arrival."
(CTR)"Requirement?"
(XAX)"Affirm, request runway 34."
(CTR)"Confirm requiring 34?"
(XAX)"Affirm, request runway 34."
Xanadu eventually accepted runway 27 albeit somewhat reluctantly judging by the tone.
Approx. 10mins pass....
(XAX New voice) "Xanadu XXX we're unable 27, require 34."
Now, I'm not having a dig at ATC at all but it sounded like the Air Asia guys may have initially been pressured into accepting something they weren't entirely happy with, be it through lack of understanding of local procedures or difficulties with English. So my question to the ATC guys and gals out there is...do you folks have any scope for interpreting situations like this as a "requirement" without the magic words being spoken verbatim, or are your hands pretty much tied?