Originally Posted by No Further Requirements
LowNr, are you suggesting with that ATCers have something to do with creating TRAs? Why would we want to make more work for ourselves?
VFR aircraft monitoring the area frequency will get 3 chances to hear the broadcast. How is that no/limited? Where does it say that you CANNOT ask ATC anything to do with the safe conduct of flight? If I remember correctly, if you can't contact FlightWatch, you are perfectally entitled to ask the appropriate area controller. In fact, I would prefer that you did ask me, rather than wandering into a hazard.
Cheers for now,
NFR.
That comment was firmly tounge in cheek; but TRA ARE approved, authorised and promulgated by ATC - the police etc can request them, but not approve them - the vetting process is my concern.
I appreciate your attiude, but I still don't belive the system for in-flight notification is adequate. VFR pilots are DISCOURAGED from talking on area frequencies (eg. getting area QNH's). I'm sure if I and others started checking every few minutes for hazards, you'd soon hate us! There are also a myriad of frequencies a VFR pilot can be on, nowdays - Flightwatch, CTAF, 123.45, area, company and some specialist operation frequencies (eg fires, media). It is entirely possible they may be off the area frequency at the critical time. I'm not making excuses, but it is not as simple as it once was.
The old system of talking and all being on more relevant, 'smaller' area frequencies with less controller load was better - dare I say safer - IMHO.
regards, LowNr