Originally Posted by
old,not bold
Chevvron, the daily service was on a repetitive flight plan, so would not have appeared completely "unannounced", unless I've misunderstood the nature (and correct name) for a flight plan that is lodged covering all flights under that plan for a period.
The repetitive flight plan would not have been activated unless a 'departure' message was sent (in those days - it's automatic nowadays) and the pilot might have in fact cancelled the IFR flight plan on that day to operate VFR only. There would thus be no estimate on the ETA passed to Gatwick until it was handed over to them either by Farnborough or Southampton.