Most informative thanks Scott. I am interested in this topic also, and have been trying to make sense of how you do it from AIM and your ATC handbook.
Having IFR flights effectively contained within controlled airspace seems rather restrictive to us Australians, outside radar coverage anyhow. Are there many delays for the flights concerned? Does separation between arriving and departing flights keep aircraft on the ground or holding at all?
Complicated crossing situations with aircraft climbing and descending sometimes lead to clearances not being available here, conflictions fixed by pilots in underlying G, What do you do when the crap hits the fan?
AUS ATC,you should never listen to rumours...
