snarek
Yes, the phrase "remain OCTA" means exactly that. If you ask for a clearance at say 8,500 and are knocked back, there is
nothing wrong with doing as you please OCTA and requesting a clearance at say 4,500. Good airmanship prevails.
On the topic of the varying standards of service at Cairns & Mackay vs Canberra, a few points:
[list=1][*]NAS will do absolutely nothing to address this.[*]Cairns and Mackay are
in situ terminal units. Canberra is a
remote TCU. Does this have any impact on the differing 'culture' between them? I know from the 'old days' that the service from local, 'outstation' units, both enroute and terminal, was much more personal, involved and knowledgable than todays homogenised 'one size fits all' clearance factories.[/list=1]
On the whole issue of NAS: If the problem identified is one of excessive cost to the industry, then why not fix the cost issue? Why dillute safety when that is not necessary? (Class E for RPT jets
is less safe than Class C. The only argument is whether or not the dollars justify the reduction in safety. The minister will -hopefully - never have to justify this decision in a commision of enquiry.)
Please feel free to visit either centre (Melbourne is warm - sometimes - for a few days in January!). The more you know, the better for all of us. Whatever you do, however, don't settle for the "
PR" tour - where you are expected to smile and nod at the pretty colours on the screens. Grab a headset, plug in and watch for a few hours or more.