Flight Service used to check the same things for IFR & VFR OCTA plans.
How many run-out-of-fuel events have there been since 1991, which perhaps might have been prevented if someone had checked the flight plan's fuel calculations? Difficult to quantify, and it comes down to affordable safety ........
I think the closure of the briefing offices have contributed to the general lack of basic knowledge of GA pilots these days i.e. a knowledge of airspace, procedures, services, operational requirements, met, flight planning etc. etc., things which one could wander in and ask questions about from the briefing guys and gals.
Now such questions are left to instructors, some of whom don't have a great depth of knowledge themselves.
Last edited by CaptainMidnight; 14th Oct 2013 at 09:08.