I presume we are talking about LARS here, the free ATS available to aircraft outside CAS? It seems to me that part of the problem is the lack of sensible phraseology to accommodate the type of mutual agreement required in the circumstance quoted.
A couple of other observations:
QFE - as a sprog, CGB used to float around on QFE and then, one day, was told that the RAF was switching to QNH. That lasted a few months until we were told to go back to QFE. At the time, rumour had it that the Canberra and Harrier fleet had whined so much about the change it was reversed. Maybe time to look at it again.
IFR procedures to airfields outside CAS. Personally, I think the is often a risky idea. Perhaps we should all be supportive of all these MATZ (along with places like Coventry) being redesignated Class D? Alternatively, a bit more ATC/pilot "love"?
