"Full length"

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.

- Nils,
at 60 degrees north

Nils Rostedt schrieb:

enough for safety. In contrast, up here ATC gives the landing clearance only
when the previous plane has actually vacated the runway.

I don't know the exact regulation, but I remember having once received
the clearance to land when I was number 4 and had not even reached the
downwind yet. This was in Germany, and I was pretty surprized. I suspect
they moniored me and would have withdrawn the clearance if needed.

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/

"John Clear" wrote in message
...
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.

Normally in the UK only one aircraft is cleared to land and that is when the
aircraft is on final approach and the runway is clear of any preceding
aircraft.

An aircraft on final approach with one ahead is asked to continue until
cleared to land or he calls missed approach.

"Nils Rostedt" wrote

Slightly OT: Is there a difference between the meaning of "clear to land"
between US and Europe?

Although I do not remember the specifics, the answer is yes, from what other
people have said in this forum.
--
Jim in NC

"Nils Rostedt" wrote in message
. fi...

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.


I don't know about Europe, in the US landing clearance to succeeding
aircraft in a landing sequence need not be withheld if the controller
observes the positions of the aircraft and determines that prescribed runway
separation will exist when the aircraft cross the landing threshold.