I've noticed that crop up a few times now -Traffic Service is downgraded due to traffic density (when you'd expect to need it more than ever!). This never happened under RIS......Is this a new HSE thing?
It did.
What the bimbler would have managed to achieve is an increased workload for the ATCO
Exactly, but there are those that dont care. You can legally cross directly under Gatwick's class D and under the approach at 1,490 without transponding or talking to anyone - and there are those that do. I can only imagine the Controller waiting with baited breath to see what the traffic will do next - but why bother with a quick call that would reassure him you know exactly what you are doing and where you are - ah yes, airmanship, I forgot!
I can think of so many occasions when the bimbler has been saved from infringing because he took the precaution of receiving a service. You hear cases all the time. In fact only on Sunday Gatwick were kind enough to point out to me that if I continued on my present course I would infringe LCY - there was no chance of that as it happened because I was aware of exactly where I was working my way between Biggin's ATZ and LCY for a Gatwick crossing but never the less I appreciated the warning. If I had been relying on nothing more than a map perhaps I would have been even more grateful of a bust avoided.
I cant help thinking of the recent post of the instructor and student infringing Heathrow. Had they been in receipt of a service and had they been transponding one would only imagine yet another incident avoided and perhaps not the end of a commercial pilots potential career.