Perhaps Check 6 or any others can enlighten me...
One of the sectors that I look after at LACC is sector 16 (Formerly known as Dover High). PARIS TMA departures heading for the Ocean often come my way and as is required I give them the correct routing (e.g. DET-BPK-TNT) and ask what their requested level is.
Now two points, and this is not US bashing, I have some VERY good friends out there and love Tx (okay everybodys got their faults
).
Particularly with regard to American crews (no specific operator), why:
ONE) Does the route seem like a complete mystery? After all, it is on the filed flight plan and presumably is what is on the FMS legs page as well. I'm giving you another cross check when I clear you along the route.
TWO) Does the request for the requested level also seem to cause much consternation. Always. I know that some aircraft are a bit heavy and don't want to go strait to their Oceanic level, but hey, surely you have SOME idea of what would be good initially. I mean FL260, the level that PARIS/RHIEMS give you is a bit low and I can usually find something a bit more useful. If I know what you want or can accept that is.
Curiously enough, soliciting the same info and route readback from Air France is usually quick and concise. Not what i might expect, given that English is not our French colleagues favorite tongue.
Please help me to understand....
Rgds BEX