Originally Posted by
piperarcher
And yes, you dont have to close them, it happens automatically. What triggers search and rescue I dont know...
The UK is out on its own in not requiring positive flight plan closure. Personally, I don't see that as a good thing.
What you are supposed to do is nominate a "responsible person" to call out SAR if you don't arrive. At a manned airfield who have received your flight plan, the responsible person is likely to be ATC/AFIS but not if you arrive after hours, or to a farm strip, or wherever.