In article ,
Nils Rostedt wrote:
Slightly OT: Is there a difference between the meaning of "clear to land"
between US and Europe?

The reason I ask is because while watching the traffic flow at FLL, I got
the impression landing clearance for airplane X was given even though there
were still other planes ahead, as soon as ATC is sure the separation is big
enough for safety. In contrast, up here ATC gives the landing clearance only
when the previous plane has actually vacated the runway.


Your understanding of the way it works in the US is correct. ATC
can issue the landing clearance on the expectation that the runway
will be free when you get there.

I've been "number 12, cleared to land" at Palo Alto (KPAO), and on
a different day, heard someone else get "number 15, cleared to
land". When I was number 12, only one plane before me had to go
around for traffic on the runway, which isn't bad at all.

John
--
John Clear - http://www.clear-prop.org/