No landing clearance on short final
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No landing clearance on short final
You are expecting a late landing clearance but someone is blocking the frequency, hence you don't receive the clearance in time. Or you lose communication on approach. What would you do?
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you don't receive the clearance...What would you do?
Is the status of Runway Occupancy known?
Is this a trick question?
Or a little joke?
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No tricky, Personally I think when loss of com. visual, and you can assure yourself there is no traffic on the runway, landing might be an option rather than make a go-around. You still have to shot a new approach with no com. or I'm I wrong?
Reason for asking is because this happened today, the aircraft concerned was cleared to land but did not receive the message, (don't know the reason) and they executed a missed approach. They where back on frequency during the go-around.
In situations like this when according to normal traffic flow you (as pilot) are expected to do something but the message is not received, like cleared ILS approach for example. What do you expect/prefer?
Reason for asking is because this happened today, the aircraft concerned was cleared to land but did not receive the message, (don't know the reason) and they executed a missed approach. They where back on frequency during the go-around.
In situations like this when according to normal traffic flow you (as pilot) are expected to do something but the message is not received, like cleared ILS approach for example. What do you expect/prefer?
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the aircraft concerned was cleared to land but did not receive the message.........and they executed a missed approach
you can assure yourself there is no traffic on the runway, landing might be an option rather than make a go-around.
How do you know for certain that , for example, AFS has not been cleared for an emergency crossing, or the preceding aircraft has not fully vacated, or an aircraft approaching the runway has ignored a red stop-bar etc ??
What IS the point of having AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL if you are going to DO-IT-YOURSELF ?? To land without ATC clearance whatever the crew's 'perceptions' is unjustifiable except in an emergency or when following radio failure procedures. The crew cannot possibly know the surface traffic situation.
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VMC/IMC doesn't really make all that much difference. No landing clearance = go around. Talkdownman explains why. The only exception would be if you were compelled to land and at that point perhaps some visual signal of distress ( remember them? ) might be appropriate. In any event if you land without a clearance make sure you have a good explanation ready.
Housecarl, it doesn't matter whether the controller hasn't been able to give you a landing clearance, or whether there's a dead whale on the runway. You don't land. End of story. You go around. I've done so a few times, keeping the wheels off the runway while some idiot wastes my time and money, but that's it.
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Every landing is an aborted go-around... No landing clearance = go around. End of story.
Loss of comms is a different story altogether. My Jepps state the following in the Emergency Section:
In this case it comes down to the PIC on the day to make the call. If I were on short final and the radio suddenly fizzed without receiving a landing clearance, my initial reaction would be to go around, click the transponder over and try another approach. It all comes down to the situation...
Loss of comms is a different story altogether. My Jepps state the following in the Emergency Section:
- Squawk the appropriate emergency code and listen out on ATIS and/or voice modulated navaids.
- Transmit Intentions and normal position reports. Assume Transmitter is Operating and prefix calls with "TRANSMITTING BLIND"
- If practible, leave/avoid controlled/restricted airspace and areas of dense traffic. Establish visual navigation as soon as possible and land at the most suitable aerodrome.
No landing clearance = overshoot, please.
But also, have a look at the tower. I've lost count of the number of times this sort of thing has happened, I've shone a green light at the aircraft, and nobody thought to look, so it wasn't seen.
Admittedly, where I work, the tower is some distance away from the actual aerodrome.
But also, have a look at the tower. I've lost count of the number of times this sort of thing has happened, I've shone a green light at the aircraft, and nobody thought to look, so it wasn't seen.
Admittedly, where I work, the tower is some distance away from the actual aerodrome.
HD, I think they are still mandated by the regulatory authority.
Because not many are accustomed to using them or looking for the light, they don't get used much.
The younger controllers tend to not even think of using them. Fair enough, too, I guess. No-one ever seems to see the light, unless it's a training exercise.
Where they would be useful is this sort of case, where you have a simple clearance to pass in a hurry to an aircraft nearby and the frequency is jammed at the critical time.
In other cases of a/c comm failure, nothing to be lost by trying a cellphone.
Because not many are accustomed to using them or looking for the light, they don't get used much.
The younger controllers tend to not even think of using them. Fair enough, too, I guess. No-one ever seems to see the light, unless it's a training exercise.
Where they would be useful is this sort of case, where you have a simple clearance to pass in a hurry to an aircraft nearby and the frequency is jammed at the critical time.
In other cases of a/c comm failure, nothing to be lost by trying a cellphone.
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Wonder if any of the younger pilots pumped out of these cadet schemes would even consider looking at the tower for light signals (or know they exist) ??
Edinburgh still has them .... that's a major UK airport !
Edinburgh still has them .... that's a major UK airport !
Recently had this occur in ypph and had to carry out a missed approach. The tower had shone a Steady Green however we were unable to discern that steady green from the multitude of other lights all visible at night on the perth skyline. As mentioned earlier, you are in controlled airspace so unless you are compelled to land and have declared an emergency you must go-round.
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Used the good old aldis lamp yesterday. All ended well, although, as the acft was squawking radio fail on 5nm final, I was pretty sure he'd be looking for a light 
The hardest bit was holding the green button in, light steady on the acft with one hand, whilst making calls to other acft (TWR/APP combined) and writing on strips with the other (dinosaurs, I know).
To the original OP, I concur with the suggestion to look for a green light. If TWR want to clear you, but due to frequency congestion and leaving the landing clearance a bit late etc can't, chances are they'll use the lamp (if they have one .... and are over 30!). Otherwise, you can check the "go round" box for that month
The hardest bit was holding the green button in, light steady on the acft with one hand, whilst making calls to other acft (TWR/APP combined) and writing on strips with the other (dinosaurs, I know).
To the original OP, I concur with the suggestion to look for a green light. If TWR want to clear you, but due to frequency congestion and leaving the landing clearance a bit late etc can't, chances are they'll use the lamp (if they have one .... and are over 30!). Otherwise, you can check the "go round" box for that month
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I know it's not correct that's why I raised the question. This was not a question of "DO-IT-YOURSELF" mentality. In this case the aircraft was no 2 for landing, the controller tried several times to give the clearance after the runway was vacated, the aircraft transmitted back they could not hear them.
You can also change the question to how does the controller know for sure there is nothing on the runway. Of course you can't be 100% but every landing I try to assure myself there is "no dead whale on the runway", even if I have been cleared to land. team work.
How can you "assure yourself there is no traffic on the runway"
Last edited by housecarl; 11th Dec 2009 at 10:35.