Collision Risks?
It has struck me recently, that alot of pilots I know who fly out of smaller airfrields with no atsu seem to take off, head into the open FIR without even a thought given to calling a radar unit for Flight information or radar information service.....despite the fact that in my case there are at least 3 radar units able to cover the said area.
Perhaps even more disturbing is that alot of these guys don't even switch their transponders on....so even if I am under a FIS/RIS its possible the controller may not have radar contact with potential conflicting traffic.
Don't get me wrong....I'm all for getting up there among the clouds with no radio etc and having a gay old time. (I used to enjoy this pastime myself when I lived in a remote northern location!) But the fact is that in Southern parts of the country, traffic density in uncontrolled airspace is so high these days that there are real collision risks.
I think it would be nice if everyone at least had their transponder switched on (preferably with mode C on) to give radar units a chance to perhaps give another aircraft recieving a service from them avoiding action. Even give the local radar unit a call to make yourself known....the R/T practise may even be benificial.
Its wise to remember that by making yourself more visable not only safeguards others, but also yourself......a mid-air will in all probability, result in all involved getting killed.