Originally Posted by
Sunfish
WIZ;
I don't know, but suspect, that many emergency situations go unreported for this reason. That can only have a long term bad safety outcome.
Sunfish,
Sadly, in AU, if you go back over the record, it demonstrates that what you surmise is, in fact, true.
Fundamentally, in AU, if you get into a mayday area, you must have breached a regulation, most likely a strict liability CAR/CASR, and as we have seen, fear of prosecution all too often overrides the need to call for help. Similarly, avoidance of a breach of regulations for fear of the consequences, has precluded what would have obviously been a preferable flighpath for an aircraft in trouble.
Tootle pip!!