Originally Posted by Gargleblaster
Can't see the difference between "cleared" and "approved" in this case.
That is, I think, why the US requires a "clearance" only for VFR ops in class B (where ATC separation
is applied) and not in class D. ICAO chose to break the clearance paradigm by requiring a clearance for VFR in class D, even though it guarantees separation from nothing.