IMC or VMC?
ICSC
Were you IMC or VMC on the Link rte? I ask as I attended an airspace seminar at Durham some time back where a certain airline rep stated that his crews were mandated by the company to demand (request?) a RAS under any met condition. A RAS over Northumberland would have given you less flexibility to track progress on time without having to take ATC directed avoidance action or TCAS RAs.
I think you would find it easier to keep the peeps down the back happy with the G&Ts if you had utilized a RIS. Post CAP 774 the Traffic Service vice Deconfliction Service if you are VMC would be my recommendation.
However, if I could be so bold as to try and offer you a little bit of reassurance; most (not all) fast jet traffic operating tactically in the area will be getting an ATS from either SCATTC Mil, ASACS, AWACS, EGQL, Spadeadam or even EGPH/EGNT. The fighters will most likely be getting a traffic service and SHOULD/WILL be informed about you on the route. Those operating VFR will be VMC and using either radar to take their own sep or as already stated the see and avoid principle if non radar equipped. If the traffic is working in one of the MDAs then they will know about you should they egress the areas. Within Class C they should adhere to ROCD if they are likely to 'interact' with GAT to avoid unnecessary TCAS RAs.
Therefore, I believe that the airlines are restricting themselves unnecessarily and having to take avoidance action in Class G because they request an inappropriate service for the met condition. This then leads to more incident reports which results in a lack of flexibility in airspace utilization.
The blue suits don't set out to upset other airspace users but we do rely on the satisfactory application of the appropriate ATSOCAS by all airspace users.
SA