Reaching the end of a departure
 

If you reach the end of a SID in UK airspace and have been in contact with radar (cleared to a higher level but laterally, still tracking the SID) can you just continue past the last point of the SID and continue flight plan route?

I thought this was the case originally because in the airways clearance on the ground you hear "cleared to XXXX via flight planned route XXXX departure squawk XXXX".

Although flying with a trainer the other day I was told by him to maintain heading after the last beacon until we could get a word in, since that was our clearance limit.

Where is this written down and does it apply outside the UK (ICAO) too?

Thanks in advance.

I could be wrong but I think your trainer was talking rubbish and has wrongfully confused you.

I could be wrong too
 

This sounds more like the approach phase to me. Especially in the US whereby you reach the approach beacon/fix and then continue on the last assigned heading until you can get a word in. Or some such.

Wouldn't make sense with the departure though. Maintain assigned altitude and navigate accordingly, unless you've previously been given a cancel SID and a radar heading.

S

Having done area radar in the UK for 24 years, (up until 15 months ago), I would expect you to proceed on your own navigation to the next waypoint on you flight-planned route, climbing to the last level you were given.

As a former tower and enroute controller, I would expect you to continue with your cleared routing to destination, at least in Canada.

As a UK approach controller I couldn't care less. By the end of the SID there is only 1 place you should be: not on my frequency! :ok:

Zooker's correct. In the UK FIR you'd be expected to continue along your flight planned route as per your original (on ground) clearance unless it's been amended while you were in the air.

Most of the time you will be given (and should receive) an ongong route, but failing that, keep doin' as you're doin'!

The same follows for radio-fail purposes. PLEASE slap on a 7600, then continue on your flight planned route - that's what we'd expect (as well as 'anything')