Scando, this is in danger of becoming ridiculous.
What makes the general standard of aviation in the UK so high is the level of the training, not some innate quality of the pilots. As for your ridiculous assertion that students should all be grounded because they are not up to scratch, well, it's plain to see that you've never been an instructor.
The simple facts of the matter are that:-[list][*]"Practice Pan" calls do not block the frequency for genuine emergencies[*]"Practice Pan" calls would be inappropriate on frequencies other than 121.5 since
- They would jam up a "working" traffic frequency
- It would be pointless from ATC's view since they would not get to practice their procedures
[/list=a][list][*]Instructors will tell you that a PPL student is likely to be concerned about using 121.5 - putting out a "Practice Pan" removes that concern and shows them that it is no big deal, so they can use it without fear should they get themselves lost[*]The only opposition to "Practice Pan" calls that I have seen on this thread comes from pilots who listen out and don't like hearing these calls[*]Nobody has come forward with any evidence that
- Commercial aircraft failing to listen out on 121.5 has contributed to any accident
- "Practice Pan" calls ever "blocked" the frequency for a genuine emergency.
[/list=a]Until such evidence is forthcoming, other than people's irritation with student pilots, I see no reason to change the system when there is a very good case to be made for its continuance, with support from Students, Instructors, the CAA and ATC.
[This message has been edited by HugMonster (edited 22 April 2001).]