Peuce, it is extraordinary how your mind thinks – it appears to be set in concrete. No, I didn’t know there was a strong possibility of being held over water, because I could simply have asked the controller for an orbit over land.
As it has been pointed out on this very thread, a pilot does not always have to accept a clearance from a controller – especially if passengers in the aircraft are being needlessly endangered.
Gundog01, you may be right, however I believe that there is a chance that the military have changed. Why wouldn’t they? Surely they have seen the error of not asking advice in losing $1 billion on the Super Seasprites. Why wouldn’t they ask controllers in other countries about better ways of doing things?
I’m hoping the culture in the military of never asking advice will change. Then large amounts of money will be saved and our military pilots will have proven aircraft to fly.