There has been a lot of talk about types of service in this thread, a couple questioning why we give avoiding action against unknown traffic in class G airspace, instead of trying to explain, the follwing are the rules for RAS wich we are BOUND by, so if you ask for RAS these are the rules which will guide you to your destination.
A RAS.
RAS is an air traffic radar service in which the controller will provide advice necessary to maintain prescribed separation between ac participating in the advisory service, and in which he will pass to the pilot the bearing, distance and if known, level of non-participating traffic, together with advice on the action necessary to resolve the confliction. Where time does not permit this procedure to be adopted, the controller will pass advice on avoiding action followed by information on the conflicting traffic.
"RAS will only be provided under IFR irrespective of met conditions.
The controller will expect pilots to accept radar vectors or level allocations which may require flight in IMC. Pilots not qualified to fly in IMC should accept RAS only where compliance with ATC advice permits the flight to be continued in VMC.
There is no legal requirement for a pilot flying outside CAS to comply with instructions because of the advisory nature of the service. However, a pilot who chooses not to comply with advisory avoiding action must inform the controller. the pilot will then become reponsible for initiating any avoiding action that may subsequently prove necessary.
the pilot must inform the controller before changing heading or level.
The avoiding action instructions which a controller may pass to resolve a confliction with non-participating traffic will, where possible, be aimed at achieving separation which is not less than 5nm or 3000ft, except where specified otherwise by the regulating authority. However, it is recognised that in the event of the sudden appearance of unknown traffic, abd when unknown a/c make unpredictable changes in flight path, it is not always possible to achieve these minima.
Information on conflicting traffic will be passed until the situation is resolved.
The pilot remains responsible for terrain clearance, although ATSU,s providing a RAS will set a level or levels below which RAS will be refused or terminated. "
So, if you want RAS outside CAS, in s busy class G area, this is why you are given a turn or three!
