Hi
To answer your question about FL270 we have an agreed level between our Clacton sector and London Middle Sector that all traffic routing this way inbound to BHX will be FL270 level 35 miles before LAM. This is just one of the many examples of agreed levels we use between sectors for the transfer and presentation of traffic.
Of course, we may alter these levels according to the traffic situation. If you want to cruise at FL260 - not a prblem. FL280 is usually available - we just need to descend you again.
Your flight plans often have FL270 as the requested level so we just climb you to that and leave it for the short distance through the sector.
The famous "short cut" can make our life easier as well. As soon as we get your details from AMS, and we are not too busy ourselves, we have to check with the TMA sectors if they can accept you that way. This can take a few minutes as we wait on them phoning back (they are the ones still located at old West Drayton). It's their decision not ours - all to do with how busy they are further down the line.
By going on the short cut you are going back through the sector you came through on the way out to AMS (133.45) and are therefore in the jaws of all the eastbound traffic they have - hence all the radar vectors to preferably keep you on the northern edge of it all. Sometimes, but not always the westbound controller may keep you on their frequency (118.47).
And if the sectors are bandboxed (the same person doing both) then you may not notice the difference.
If you're interested you're more than welcome to come visit us at Swanwick and see how the operation is run from here.
