Baragwanath Aerobatic Box & JHB ATC

[Andrew Fletcher]

JHB info would not me give clearance above 7500 ft in the FASY aerobatic box yesterday (Friday) because I had not filed a flight plan.
I contacted JHB atc by phone 30 mins prior to inform them that the box would be active. They said ok, just call info once airborne.
When I called them they gave me a squawk code and told me to stand by. Then I was told that I could not climb into the TMA ( box goes to FL90) because I would be entering controlled airspace and no flight plan had been filed.
It crossed my mind that the controller had perhaps never heard of an aerobatic box.
A typical practice sortie lasts about 10 -15 minutes from take off to touch down, and one could do a few of these in an afternoon, so filing a flight plan for each flight seems crazy.
Could this be some new restriction or was this a one-off aberration I wonder?
Help!

[Nigel Hopkins]

JHB info would not me give clearance above 7500 ft in the FASY aerobatic box yesterday (Friday) because I had not filed a flight plan.
I contacted JHB atc by phone 30 mins prior to inform them that the box would be active. They said ok, just call info once airborne.
When I called them they gave me a squawk code and told me to stand by. Then I was told that I could not climb into the TMA ( box goes to FL90) because I would be entering controlled airspace and no flight plan had been filed.
It crossed my mind that the controller had perhaps never heard of an aerobatic box.
A typical practice sortie lasts about 10 -15 minutes from take off to touch down, and one could do a few of these in an afternoon, so filing a flight plan for each flight seems crazy.
Could this be some new restriction or was this a one-off aberration I wonder?
Help!

That should not have happened Andrew especially if you phoned them. bara-G has a perminent aerobatic box from Friday to Sunday ! Will get RAASA on to them!