As a former controller for 17 years, it is called anticipated separation. “Number 3 following traffic ahead, cleared to land”....all day everyday...
atr-drivr,
I’m aware that this is “all day everyday”. I’ve received clearances like this every time, on the few occasions I’ve flown into a towered US airfield. I must admit the first time, I was really surprised.
I’m genuinely interested to know why this procedure is considered operationally desirable. I would have thought that a simple “Cleared to land”, when the runway really is clear, would use less air-time, is completely unambiguous and has the added benefit of priming the flight crew, before receiving the clearance, to be prepared to go around.