CAP 667 was a review of fatal accidents 1985-94
on this subject it said
"(c) There were a number of fatal accidents where a timely diversion or precautionary landing could have avoided the accident. In the UK (and probably elsewhere) there is a ‘culture’ of pressing on and hoping for the best rather than accepting the inconvenience and cost of a diversion. This ‘culture’ needs to be changed, firstly by educating pilots and secondly by persuading aerodrome owners that there should be no charge for emergency landings or diversions. (There are some aerodromes that do not make a charge for an emergency landing.)
It is recommended that all aerodrome owners be persuaded to adopt a policy that there should be no charges for emergency landings or diversions by General Aviation aircraft."
Charles Strasser and the participating airfields are to be commended but aren't we all missing the point?
A pilot who fails to make a sensible diversion or precautionary landing and so endangers the life of himself, his passengers, and people on the ground in order to save money, be it £20, £200 or £2000 is being criminally negligent.
We need to educate ourselves to recognise an emergency when there is one, not to try and press on. The question of whether or not we will be charged should not even enter into the equation.
Mike