Actually, he knows it's the latter, but he also sees the big picture.

And the big picture is that if you give me (and I read back) a clearance
with which I cannot comply, we will negotiate a better clearance and
we'll both end up happy. But if I go NORDO at that moment, I will not
place myself in danger by flying a clearance I've discovered (after the
fact - it cannot be discovered before the fact) that would interrupt the
rescue squad's bridge game.

You've said many times that for a NORDO you clear the airspace. Well,
I'll take advantage of that.

I suppose it works out most of the time, since most aircraft do not go
NORDO at that moment, but I've been given bum routings many times in the
Northeast. I do not fly a Lear and cannot do all the tricks that other
aircraft can do. There are some circumstances that would put me in
danger, and I won't know you just gave me one until after I've looked at
the charts. Unlike a London cabbie, I do not have the airspace memorized.

I understand the need for expedience. But I'm surprised that there's no
provision for "can't accept until I find it all on the charts."

Jose
--
Math is a game. The object of the game is to figure out the rules.
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