Pilot Pete wrote:Interesting subject.
I'm not 100%, but I'm fairly sure I haven't heard 'cleared to enter' when operating into LTC areas in the climb.
I've called the supervisor from the ground and exchanged details.
I have an active FP, I have been given a squawk. The controller has my strip infront of him and he issues a command to a point in space.
Each time it's been so busy I've felt lucky to get my call in. At that point I think we both know what I'm expected to do. I'm unlikely to reconfirm.
If it has been said, I will have definitely read-back but just dont recall.
If I was cold calling for a 'pop up' IFR I'd be looking to hear it and read back.
Essex have never failed to issue 'CTE' but it has always been less busy than LTC.
For avoidance of doubt I work in LTC (and Essex radar are located at Swanwick also!).
Someone, somewhere will have positively cleared your flight to enter CAS. If thats not explicit then I'd certainky like to know where and what frequency from an ATS point of view. If you depart IFR from an airfield within a CTR that is connected to the wider network then you are implicitly cleared into CAS because A). You're within it already and B). You've filed a flight plan within airways/CTA for a portion of your flight. E.g. A flight from Stansted to Edinburgh. At no time will that pilot hear "cleared to enter CAS".
A different example will be someone from, say, Lee-On-Solent going to Cumbernauld with a filed level of FL110. The flight is known to ATC and flight data will be distributed. EITHER, Southampton will have obtained an entry clearance from TC and pass it to the pilot OR they will pass the flight to TC where THEY will issue the join. Someone, somewhere has issued a clearance.
As an examiner, if I heard anyone fail to give a clearance to join CAS, when appropriate, then it would DEFINITELY be a meeting without coffee and biccies. That said, standards are high in TC so I would be VERY surprised if it was any of our sector controllers who failed to directly issue a clearance.
Also remember that a lot of co-ordination goes on behind the scenes that the pilot isnt necessarily aware of....
SD