Mildy Amused...
Aha.. the other side of the story. Thank you. There always is one.
Putting a/c on 7000 squawks on leaving CAS is fairly common practice, especially when it isn't known if the recieving unit is SSR equipped or not. There is also no guarantee that although it is suggested that a particular unit
should be contacted, it actually
will be. Especially if it isn't the destination. Leaving the airways squawk on may mislead another unit as to who is actually providing a service to that a/c. The military are particularly keen on this I understand.
It seems that both you
and the area bod did their jobs correctly, the AREA person cleared the a/c to leave CAS as requested by the pilot and as specified in his flight plan (apparently) and you provided the appropriate services outside CAS.
CRABO... .I disagree. No AREA ATCO has a duty of care to ENSURE that the route on leaving CAS is free of traffic / active DAs, whatever. He might provide traffic info, or other info, but is not on any position to always position traffic such that it remains clear of all the unknowns in the FIR. That is the PILOTS responsibility. AREA ATCOs cannot instruct aircraft on what they are to do OUTSIDE CAS. Their prime responsibility must rest inside CAS.
I DO agree about foriegn pilots doing exactly as they are told when in the London (and Scottish) FIRs. As a LARS experienced person you will know that this has it's advantages <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
BEX