All good info so far, i dont get down south much these days but when i do i will hope to recieve the help all of you seem to have had. Totally agree with the RT procedure line, good RT more likely to get clearance! So far though, no one has mentioned my two favourite no go zones, Manchester and Stanstead! Both of which i fly close to often and NEVER have been cleared through Manchester and only once through Stanstead. That one was in a C150 out of Lt Gransden and they asked us to climb to 4500' on the QNH to cross the runway
We blagged it by going mode "A" and crossed at about 3700'
and were well clear of anything at that height. Heathrow have cleared me many more times than that, so if we are talking work load then surely these guy's have the heaviest? I've had the Ascot Burnham thousand foot run and cut a big chunk off the S.E Corner on my way to Bembridge out of Stapleford. Luton only refused once, and infact it wasnt so much a refusal as a stand by. But i could hear they were having trouble with a newby controller and so decided to go the long way round. Come to think of it, Liverpool have always been good when ever i have called them. Any ATCO's From MCR or STD reading, maybe you could explain the reluctance to clear us through
safe flying one and all.