I couldn't agree more
DS. And, as there seems to be a bit of emphasis on the American airspace system these days, I'd be
really interested in THEIR accident statistics in GA... I'm sure they have the same sort of '
pimply faced hour building "instructors"' too?
Here, a flight plan is needed for
ANY flight outside the immediate area of the particular aerodrome. Exceptions are few, like from AYPY to the local training area and back - those require notification but usually don't involve any of the problems that form the prang stats. Despite the requirement for flight planning and the old Oz "full Sar" thingey, we still get the occasional CFIT.
But, o' course, there's usually other factors that contribute to that outcome.
IMHO, it was good to have that second pair of eyes going over yer flight plan, at the Briefing Office, in "the good ol' days"! Yeh, maybe I'm an old f@rt, but that system undoubtedly helped me to reach this age!
