Recently I have heard several pilots from different airlines being tactfully chastised for asking TWR whether they have a slot outbound.
i thought that airlines paid large amounts of money for these slots and that they would thus be automatic for a certain time each day/week? if so, then why would a pilot ask Twr if they have a slot or not?
Could anyone shed some light on how the slot-time system works from the point of view of the air traffic controller?
or provide a link to an explanation?
tried searching the web but to no avail...
thanks