Crap ATC at TFS today.
Guest
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Last year, at AGP, I was cleared to takeoff with another aircraft still blocking the runway. I readback the takeoff clearance and added the words, "after the runway has been vacated", the controller replied " no, you go now!". I filed an ASR, as I was not happy with the situation, and subsequently got a reply from the Spanish ATC appologising for the misunderstanding but adding that under the Spanish AIP that landing and takeoff clearances whilst the runway is occupied can be issued. So now you know.
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Here's a situation for you all:
I was going into Exeter on Saturday (admitedly in a C172) and was number 1 after a landing A320 I think. As the A320 was slowing to clear the runway, another A320 called up the tower and asked for his clearance. Tower then duly gave the guy all the info he needed which was then read back as usual. Before the controller had time to hit the transmit button, the A320 called for taxi. ALL this whilst I was pottering into 26 with a then clear runway in front of me and no landing clearance.
As we all know, the "decision" height in a C172 is about 3 feet, so I was cleared to land just before I hit the deck which wasn't enough warning to make me happy if you ask me.
Was this the correct way to go about things or was Mr A320 being a bit greedy and single-minded on the radio??
Answers on a postcard...
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DJ @ 87.7 Xpression FM
Pilot @ Exeter Airport...
I was going into Exeter on Saturday (admitedly in a C172) and was number 1 after a landing A320 I think. As the A320 was slowing to clear the runway, another A320 called up the tower and asked for his clearance. Tower then duly gave the guy all the info he needed which was then read back as usual. Before the controller had time to hit the transmit button, the A320 called for taxi. ALL this whilst I was pottering into 26 with a then clear runway in front of me and no landing clearance.
As we all know, the "decision" height in a C172 is about 3 feet, so I was cleared to land just before I hit the deck which wasn't enough warning to make me happy if you ask me.
Was this the correct way to go about things or was Mr A320 being a bit greedy and single-minded on the radio??
Answers on a postcard...
------------------
DJ @ 87.7 Xpression FM
Pilot @ Exeter Airport...
Guest
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Three possibilities here:
If you were not happy, you could have initiated a go-around yourself! Probably not worth the bother as you appear to have rightly concluded.
The ATC guy could have told the A320 to "standby" while he cleared you to land.
The A320 could have been more aware, but then he probably couldn't see you and wouldn't have had much idea about your proximity to landing.
Or they could just ban those big noisy Airbii from EXT...!!!
If you were not happy, you could have initiated a go-around yourself! Probably not worth the bother as you appear to have rightly concluded.
The ATC guy could have told the A320 to "standby" while he cleared you to land.
The A320 could have been more aware, but then he probably couldn't see you and wouldn't have had much idea about your proximity to landing.
Or they could just ban those big noisy Airbii from EXT...!!!
Guest
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Raw Data,
Completley agree with you that if something goes wrong its you guys at the sharp end, I always bear that in mind in my clearances and instructions ,hence my stringent defence of the use of the term "CLEAR". (Have to mention a stray NDB approach that had the tower personnel ducking behind there desks though!!!)
DJXL...for future reference you should not cross over a runway threshold without clearance to land ( this is not a critisism it is a safety point). Without knowing the full circumstances I cannot comment further but a controller should endevour to "control" the frequency,ever heard the slow drawl "x raaaay Liiima the suuuurfaccce wiiind is twooo sevvven zeero deeegreess at fifffffteeeeen knottts ,youareclearedtoland28" thats not the controller having a brainstorm, just stopping anyone else from calling in a critical situation.
Completley agree with you that if something goes wrong its you guys at the sharp end, I always bear that in mind in my clearances and instructions ,hence my stringent defence of the use of the term "CLEAR". (Have to mention a stray NDB approach that had the tower personnel ducking behind there desks though!!!)
DJXL...for future reference you should not cross over a runway threshold without clearance to land ( this is not a critisism it is a safety point). Without knowing the full circumstances I cannot comment further but a controller should endevour to "control" the frequency,ever heard the slow drawl "x raaaay Liiima the suuuurfaccce wiiind is twooo sevvven zeero deeegreess at fifffffteeeeen knottts ,youareclearedtoland28" thats not the controller having a brainstorm, just stopping anyone else from calling in a critical situation.
