ATC question??

[Flying_Corporal]

The tower clears you to land. Then the controller says:

"N****, I will change your sequence, you're now number 2".

Do you still have a clearance to land? What if they say things like:

"There will be a departure prior to your arrival"

or

"Make S-turns for spacing"

?

 

[Alchemy]

Yeah, you're still cleared to land unless ATC tells you to go missed or gives you a heading to fly and an altitude to climb to.

 

[Mr_Creepy]

I would key the mic and say "Am I cleared to land still?"

There is no way you can reliably expect every controller to do the same thing in that situation.

 

[MikeD]

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, you're still cleared to land unless ATC tells you to go missed or give you a heading to fly and an altitude to climb to.

[/ QUOTE ]

True. And in addition, most ATC controllers will reiterate the landing clearance following the re-sequence.

As JT said, if in doubt at any time, query ATC.

 

[bluelake]

[ QUOTE ]
The tower clears you to land. Then the controller says:

"N****, I will change your sequence, you're now number 2".

Do you still have a clearance to land? What if they say things like:

[/ QUOTE ]

My appreciation of this example is that your clearance to land is still valid contingent on you seeing the other aircraft. My feeling is that until I have the ahead airplane in sight, then I am not cleared to land.

 

[mtsu_av8er]

[ QUOTE ]
My feeling is that until I have the ahead airplane in sight, then I am not cleared to land.

[/ QUOTE ]

I can see your point clearly, Bluelake. That being said, if you don't land and you create a traffic conflict yourself, you could possibly be violate for deviating from an ATC clearance without a good reason.

Remember, the local controller can issue a landing clearance based on anticipated seperation.

 

[bluelake]

like if I extended my downwind 5 miles while looking for traffic that was reported to be on short final ???

Agreed.

That said, at the Class D airport I teach in/around, I know the dirty little secret that the dude in the tower is really a RUNWAY SEPERATION CONTROLLER (oft referred to as 'ATC'), so I will always edge in the direction that favors the controllers one and only responsibility.

As a common example, If I (on downwind to base) got to choose between cutting in behind too close to traffic on short final and cutting off the guy on a 4 mile straight in... i prioritize for the guy ahead of me and the controllers responsibilities.