Chilli,
Typical.
You can't counter the requirements that I have clearly copied from the AIP and MATS 1.
This obvously only applies to controllers who work within controlled airspace because You would be quite correct to say that those ATC units with no controlled airspace can not rely on flights bothering to call them.
If anyone thinks that the procedure in the AIP is unworkable or impracticable then rather than simply ignoring the standard would it not be correct to report the situation and try have the CAA change the AIP to reflect actual practice.
And which Flight Plans would these be? The ones not filed by 90% of GA flights?
In the UK, 75% of that 90% would not even know how to file a flight plan!. However you seem to justify total ignoring of Alerting requirements and the old "duty of care" to the 10% that actually read the AIP and do what it says.
As for being a customer............we are required to file a flight plan for anything more than a short flight as per the AIP........we don't pay tax on fuel.......but we pay dearly to land at your airport (not very often) even though we have to fly in Class G airspace and have no protection!
Never assume cause as the old saying goes it makes an ass of.........well you know the rest!
Were ATC licences issued by the Board of Trade or whever the name of the week was back then?
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2 Donkeys,
I never mentioned "Enroute ATC".
I intentionally confined my quotes from the ATC manual to Aerodrome Units and Radio Equipped Aircraft.
The AIP clearly says that for a planned zone transit - the options are;
1. Full flight plan
2. Ring the ATC unit concerned prior to flight and pass an abreviated plan.
3. Abreviated plan in the air.
It is clear from Chilli's and Vintage ATCOs remarks that they will ignore option 1. I doubt if they would like lots of people taking option 2 cause this is posibly harder to deal with than option 1 and only gives them the same info........so they arbitarily force pilots to use option 3 despite what the AIP and the MATS says.
As I said....if the AIP procedure is unworkable the answer is to change the procedure. Not to ignore it!
This debate has ensured on thing - if expecting a zone transit from a UK ATC unit, I will;
a) file a full flight plan because that is our standard procedure and complies with the AIP; and (thanks to chilli)
b) ring the ATC unit concerned and either confirm that they have received and will retain my flight plan or if it is already in the bin - pass/fax the details again.
That seems to be the only way that we can get the alerting service that we are entitled to.
Does your unit have lots of ATSAs Chilli?
Talk ta ya,
Regards,
DFC