Interesting thread.
I'm with Warped Factor and bookworm on this. The pilot is responsible to only accept a clearance if he can legally comply with it. For ATC to issue a clearance based on a perception, even one strongly based, is opening a proverbial can. Where will it end?
I don't think a single turning right off Luton's 26 is terribly clever, but we 'clear' it, and why would ANYONE want to fly in a single at night??
Er, searching grey cells. . . . . Something in the back of my mind tells me that Brum wouldn't issue certain clearances to singles NW of the airport, over the city. Is this still the case? Think I was told this a long time ago.
And drauk, if you are going for a excursion into the TMA when your engine goes bang, make sure you've got mode C on, then the heavy metal may avoid you. 7700 with mode C would be good.
VA
IFR aircraft should be kept 3nm laterally and 500ft vertically from the boundaries of controlled airspace but this can erode if aircraft are avoidng weather.
VA