Regarding the transit through Boscomb MATZ (or any MATZ for that matter), is this usually a straightforward process? How early do you call them up?
It is very straight forward, but its very likely both Benson and Boscombe will be closed on a weekend. If they are closed I would recommend you to blind call position and routing. But as others already have been mentioning: Matz and ATZ are different things and you are NOT allowed to enter the ATZ if the Matz is closed. If open, a MATZ clearence is not an ATZ clearence, you need both.
You are recommended to call 15nm in advance and be prepared to re-route if they advice you not to penetrate. If they answer, be prepared to set QFE and follow a recommended height on this setting.
Anyway, there is no legal requirement to get a clearence for MATZ penetration and some pilots are not bothered to communication at all before they enter, but this is quite bad airmanship and could put both yourself and others at risk, especially if some exercise is going on.
I was looking at avoiding them all, but if it's easy to get right through then this shaves off lots of time. How about Benson too? Would you advise transiting here aswell or skirting round the edge?
1. Benson Zone G-ABCD
2. No answer
3. Benzon Zone G-ABCD
4. No answer
5. Benson Traffic G-ABCD Is a XX From Elstree to...
Or
5. Switch to Benson approach and ask for an overhead transit.
6. If no answer, do not transit ATZ.