Readback
Hi. This is my first post on PPRuNe. I'm a recently "un-lapsed" PPL with low hours. Just starting to spread my wings and fly a little further afield when I get the opportunity to, in the hope I will steadily improve as a pilot. I recently undertook a flight which has left me a tad confused regarding ATC.
My route (VFR) was 9nm clear of controlled airspace. I was flying at 4500'. I originally asked for a Traffic Service, but was only given Basic, "due to controller workload". Fair enough. The route I followed was exactly as I had stated to the Radar Controller initially, and never deviated. I was told to "remain clear of controlled airspace" and yet (and this is the bit that confuses me), when I replied with a "wilco" I was instructed to readback, twice, until I did. Am I missing something? Is a readback not something one does to confirm understanding of an instruction in CAS? Was I being given a clearance to proceed, as planned, in Class G, 9nm away from CAS?
Not many minutes later the same contoller instructed me to contact an ATZ I was passing 3nm abeam of at 4500', en route to my destination. I had considered a courtesy call myself, but decided not to as I wished to hold onto my Radar Service and not go through the process of re-establishing contact with Radar, re-Squawking etc. I did change to the A/G at the ATZ and told them my intentions, but did not return to Radar Control for the remaining 40nm of my flight. I felt a bit vulnerable, but believed, rightly or wrongly, that that particular controller wanted me out of his hair.
Any advice/comments/suggestions to help this low-hours PPL (me!) learn some more would be greatly appreciated.