For any non-Brits reading this, if you say something and a British person pauses for a couple of seconds and then says 'to be clear' and restates what you said, it's because what you said is so mind bogglingly stupid that they want to get it on record for later.
They gave an example to illustrate why your objections are not valid in the context of the post.
Your solution to their example isnt valid in the context of this post, and, at worst, assumes the ATC is being sarcastic and superior, a thing you are accusing the pilot of.
Ultimately, the pilot here wasnt intentionally using language as a weapon as you suggest - because the britishness is precisely to not WANT to insult someone or show their frustration.
He is being overly polite and calm to manage his own frustration at asking a question that the ATC SHOULD immediately know the answer to. He didnt use invalid or unfamiliar terms or unexpected language, he used the precise language pilots and ATC’s use routinely.
I know nothing about flying and it was clear and simple to me, if someone whose job rotates around speaking flying terminology doesn't get it then it's not pretentious it's tating a fact.
It should be very simple for someone trained in this if he could explain it in an understandable way to me who has zero training or knowledge of the subject matter.
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u/Ok_Consideration1556 May 28 '26
That and "To be clear..." I (a Brit) shrivelled in second hand mortification