ELTs, compulsory flight plans, radio - give it a rest. We already have the beaurocracy nonsense of 'booking out' as a result of the Bentine crash eons ago.
If people want that sort of warm fuzzy strait jacket - fine, presumably when you can no longer talk to someone on the radio you'll do a 180 and return to 'safety'?
Some of us actually fly for the freedom (comparative!) and sights that it gives us. The scenery and remoteness of the NW of Scotland is a major lure for me. Why do I need all this crap?
If something bad happens then I'll have to cope with it (or not). Pretty much the same if I went there on a motorcycle or sailed there in my yacht. (pleanty of both of which have disappeared never to be found).
you want an ELT - buy one and I hope when it goes off without cause you get the bill. You want people to know where and when - tell them. but if you want people to come and look for you - expect the same sort of approach the French adopt - you pay for it.
You want to push the weather because of something 'important'- accept the consequences (which may or may not be what happened here).
The last thing we need is the nonsense kneejerk reaction that many posters are giving. Why not just support the GPS road pricing proposal - and insist it is extended to aircraft so no one will ever be untrackable......