It started as TOS (Traffic Orentation Scheme), then became SRS (Standard Routing Scheme), before becoming RAD (Route Availability Document), and you'll all be really pleased to know that the RAD is co-ordinated by an ex-flight ops bod rather than ATC. It's chaned so many times due to its evolution over the years, and the various names were intended to reflect the role it was designed to fill. It's all available here:
http://www.cfmu.eurocontrol.int/rad/index.htm
There is a brief explanation of what it is there, and more can be found in AIPs. If that's not enough, PM me, and I'll see if I can find something more for you.
It is not, and never has been, the mandate of IFPS to find routes for airspace users. Any route assistance provided is, as I said in a previous post, done as a favour, and such help depends on several factors, one of which is how busy the IFPS staff are in trying to sort out messages that have failed automatic processing; it certainly isn't their job! There's another thread on this forum titled something like 'IFPS Reroute Accepted' (sorry, can't be bothered to go looking for it now) - I suggest you read that for a good idea of the role of IFPS in routing assistance.
As for whether routechecker and myself are reliable sources of information - rest assured, we both are. Obviously, from previous posts, we know each other, but equally obviously, I'm not going to break the anonymity involved, and to say more about both our roles in the industry would jeopardise that anonymity. For myself I have no problem in telling you that I work in Eurocontrol, but that's all you get
