[Scythian]

You guys don’t understand, it’s not up to the pilot, the tower makes the call, this pilot does deserve a medal. I had a landing like this once (we landed) and people on the plane were crying, it’s very scary but in the end the tower makes the call, and they often make very bad calls.

[gorush]

[patton]

Nonsense. The tower cannot tell a pilot to land.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I do understand. I am a pilot. Go or no go is always up to the pilot when it gets down to it.

But it wasn’t the go or no go or the wind. It was a terrible set up on final that almost became FINAL.

[Moose4]

Not exactly. I’m pretty sure it works the same way in the EU as it does in the US—the pilot in command of the aircraft ALWAYS has the final say. The tower can clear him to land, telling him that it’s all right, but if he doesn’t think he can make it, it’s his responsibility to tell the tower “no” and go around. It’s entirely legal for a pilot to disregard or disobey the instructions of an air traffic controller, but he’d better be able to prove that he did it for a good safety reason or he won’t fly again.

Now, maybe when the tower gave him the wind data, they were within allowable limits, and that was a freak wind gust. Or maybe he didn’t handle the plane correctly when he ruddered the nose to the left and that caused it to roll over. I’m sure the German version of the NTSB will be conducting a full investigation and getting to the bottom of it.

}:-)4

[Loud Mime]

When I controlled I advised pilots of the situation and at times used the phrase “at pilot’s discretion” we also had minimums for visibility and other weather.

I can't imagine a pilot not having the final say about his craft's safety, as you suggest.

[rjsimmon]

You guys don’t understand, it’s not up to the pilot, the tower makes the call

I believe quite a few DO understand. 15 years of Marine Corps aviation and my FAA instrument rating tell me quite a different story. The Pilot in Command (PIC) has total say over the safety of his aircraft and crew. The tower issues authorization to take-off and land only. They cannot order a pilot to do anything that the pilot deems unsafe. They can order a pilot out of the airspace, but not to land.

This pilot was AFU and nearly cost the lives of himself, his crew, and his passengers.

[MindBender26]

>>>> You guys don’t understand, it’s not up to the pilot, the tower makes the call, this pilot does deserve a medal. I had a landing like this once (we landed) and people on the plane were crying, it’s very scary but in the end the tower makes the call, and they often make very bad calls.

NO TOWER ever makes “the call.” It is 100% up to the PIC 100% of the time.

[xone]

’ but in the end the tower makes the call’

No.