Here are a few situations for the passengers and inexperienced pilots reading this:
1. Fuel decision. Will be made by someone who will not be flying the aircraft.
2. Overflown countries would presumeably have the right to land the aircraft ?? Well, yes they have already but -
pilot talks way out of it and continues.
3. Cb avoidance already mentioned - let's look at turbulence, volcanic ash, icing etc. If avoidance requires entry to another country over which the flight does not have clearance what happens?
Pilot talks way out of it and continues.
4. Country refuses entry clearance.
Pilot talks way out of it and continues.
5. Have you any idea what it's like to fly across, e.g., Burma or The Congo?
6. In an international operation there are many, many situations where ONLY the man on the spot can resolve the problem because judgement and the manipulation of human nature are part of the operation. Little lies & crates of beer are used even by big airlines.
7. Who's going to be the Pilot in Command? The biggest passenger?
It ain't going to happen.
Edited to say: Well explained, Earthmover. Most of us don't realise how many variables are involved in our profession because we just do it and prefer bull****ting in the bar to analysing
