Description

Many situations in air traffic control are repetitive and result in pilots expecting that a particular clearance will be given, because:

• That particular clearance is habitually given in similar situations; or,
• That clearance is stipulated in the Flight Information Publications.

Hazards

If a clearance is actally given which differs from the expected clearance, the pilot may read back the clearance correctly but perform the expected clearance.

Alternatively, the pilot may read back the expected clearance, but the error may not be noticed by the ATCO.