Originally Posted by
Roffa
What significant use a 500ft shelf, or a 1100ft, 1200ft or 1500ft one over a built up area is in an average GA single is debatable but I suppose they can at least say it is there.
If you look closely, those shelves are generally there to facilitate access to Linden, the seaplane landing areas and low level flight above water (particularly the Hudson VFR corridor).
Glide clear is a less rigourous concept in the US (only needs to prevent undue risk to people on the ground - so a river counts as 'clear') and wouldn't prevent flight in the 1500 foot areas.
But the US is a different place with different rules and isn't relevant to the point of 'why are the UK CTRs 'punched through' by people who have no idea where they are or the existence of the airspace they are in', as compared to being nicked because of its size.