Over here, they way it is supposed to work, is to call up the ATC facility with jurisdiction of the class E at least 5 minutes prior to drop if the ATC unit is familiar with paradrop activity at the airport where you are dropping the jumpers. The ATC unit then requests (usually) a "one-minute prior to drop" radio call. They issue traffic information service if traffic exists within 5 or so miles of the airport, or else reports "no traffic" then makes a general broadcast to all aircraft that paradrops are about to occur over XYZ airport.
What I usually do, is once I climb through 2,000 feet, switch over to approach control and then start asking for traffic information service. 20 minutes in the climb is a long time to be pointed nose high at the sky being blind at the 12 o'clock position. Once identified, traffic information service helps keep myself and IFR traffic seperated as well as seperation from uncontrolled VFR targets.
As for IFR routes, yes, we have a VOR airway within 4 miles of the airport where I deliver skydivers. Most of the time, the ATC unit clears IFR traffic to cross a certain VOR (20 miles from our drop zone) at or above 11,000' for a STAR. Most turboprops drop down to 11,000 and level off for quite some time, which sometimes interferes with our drop zone, since we drop from 10,500'. ATC tells us in this case to climb no higher than 10,500', so that 500 feet of seperation in visual conditions is obtainable.
>How would your average airline pilot react to a broadcast that >half a dozen meat bombs were about to be released above him?
None have flown directly under me yet, however, I have had a Citation jet cruise directly over the dropzone target at 2,000', uncontrolled VFR, not talking on the airport unicom frequency and ATC knew nothing about him other than groundspeed and direction of flight. Hopefully, the jump aircraft contacts ATC as soon as possible and remains on frequency for traffic information service. This way, both ATC and the jump pilot are able to obtain situational awareness about traffic approaching the area and that a paradrop is to take place.
Hope this reveals some information for you karrank,
Gear down props forward