Re: Mme Departures
Larsman I'm afraid you've got it wrong.
Manchester are as flexible as they can be.
In fact turning the aircraft east as soon as possible has tactical advantages for their North Sector but often northbound traffic on P18 makes an early turn undesirable.
If a company files a plan via Gasko and Controlled Airspace , that is the way Manchester are obliged to proceed.
I don't know the reason why NT and NV KLM deps are routing that way but it may be an insurance requirement.
The alternative route may take them into an Area of Intense Activity and although the Military will provide a limited service to them until entering controlled airspace , that service is not guaranteed.
Even in the Pennine days no controller would provide a RAS in the Vale of York as a normal activity.
The practical routing does not add 10-15 minutes.
It is however safer but causes more work for ATCOs at Manchester.