Backpacker's views are valid and so are JRs - but you are talking about different issues. Enroute charges were surely designed to deal with airways flights for which the current charging arrangements would seem sensible. They were not designed to deal with VFR flights outside the system which fortunately are outside the remit of charges and are liekly to remain so unless someone can justify charging without providing a service.
It is an anomaly of the system that in the UK en route charges apply at night for flights outside of CAS simply because the rules only allow such flights to be categorised as IFR. The same VFR flight during the day would not be subject to charges. Personally I wonder if Eurocontrol could up hold its charge if no service was provided en route.
Last edited by Fuji Abound; 23rd Mar 2007 at 23:45.