Listen up.
PPL's lives have been lost by hesitancy to use 121.5
I have witnessed D&D cell - with me acting as Shepherd - save a light aircraft from certain death.
Therefore ANYTHING that dis-inhibits an early call to 121.5 is NECESSARY in my book.
The argument about a practice frequency is totally spurious. It defeats the ENTIRE point. Which is to use the real live thing and find out that it doesn't bite and you won't be arrested for using it.
For various pyschological reasons a pratice only frequency would not be fulfill the requirement.
WWW
ps its our airspace, our r/t policy and we WON'T take any help from the US in this respect.
pps D&D controllers are happy with the status quo, as are the PPL holders, as are the flying instructors, as are the CAA. Seems to me the only whiners are having their coffee chat distrurbed by a long promulagated flight safety training activity...
[This message has been edited by Wee Weasley Welshman (edited 21 April 2001).]