In that sense, he can order an emergency for ground crew purposes but for in flight emergency declaration-it is ultimately the Captain’s call. You consider having this discussion an argument? Good grief. I run across so many pilot’s and have dealt with so many controllers that think they are always right. I believed in the old adage that if you are not learning something new on every flight, then you are not paying attention. I can’t tell you how many controllers back down when you say the magic words “Save the tapes”.
over the decades i have dealt with lots of folks that love to argue. i prefer facts. even if a pilot does not wish to say the word emergency because of having to answer to company after does not resolve me of my moral obligation to attempt to help