Thank you for the replies. I realizre that I need to clairify my remarks regard "14" heading assignments. That was from the time of departure until we finally reached cruise with only a couple on the Director's frequency. Departing LHR on the CPT 5J departure (going west) which, since off 9R, was changed by tower to 2 DME from LON right turn 220 climb to 6000. Then after we were established on the 220 we received quite a few further right turns in small increments. On this day last week they seemed to continue until we were up to FL340 and then finally we received a direct. I just assumed that it was due to a lot of traffic that I could not see on the TCAS.
Arkady - you bring up a very good point on this that I did not realize and that answers a lot of my questions. I did not realize that you would put both aircraft on a heading when resolving an in trail issue. Am I wrong in thinking that although it requires a vector given to two aircraft vice just one, that in the end it means an overall less maneuver as just one might need to make a significant course change to gain spacing while two aircraft making a small change can get the space they need more quickly?
I will certainly take you up on the offer to visit Swanwick! It would give me all the better understanding how it fits together going in and over London's airspace.
Del Prado - Indeed I welcome any heading that will shave off time on the arrival/departure! No complaints there!
Ah "That Green and Pleasant Land" - the moniker given to England by one of my English freinds who seems to have an inexhaustable supply of phrases for the land mass.