LH2
My point on practise pans is just for lost procedures and asking for help as soon as someone can. That means not veering off towards bad, weather, high ground and/or controlled airspace. The UK has some of the busiest airspace in the world and remote area's where 121.5 would be the only comprehensive help in times of trouble.
If you have read the publications like on track you would have got a concise overview of airspace infringments and what can be done to minimise them.
Gasil's and occurance data reports are real incidents, so I cannot see how you can call them amusing.
There is no valid reason why an instructor cannot teach this element of a lost procedure.
Butif a fellow FI reads this and disagrees's, then please share your thoughts.
New PPL'ers 'sometimes' do not have polished airmanship and RT skills. They have the basics to learn more. New pilots can find the apprehension of being lost very worrying indeed and the help you can get from 121.5 is exceptional. Although, not everyone is taught what they can offer and how good their manner is when you talk to them.
To give an example. I would get a student unsure of his/her position. Get them to call 121.5 and say they only have 30 minutes of fuel left and need a tarmac runway with more than 1200m. Obviuosly I know where they will take us, but the student does'nt. Then get headings for the destination until we arrive overhead. It is invaluable that the student can just call, get that service and feel confident in talking to them. We learn from experience, so this is a good start.
If your not an instructor, you probably have not had the resposibility of sending students on a solo cross country. We just ty to give them the best chance of completing that flight safely and if they do get lost, know how to handle it.