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Date: Sat, 28 Nov 1998 18:42:05 -0600
From: Snowbird <snbird@ibm.net>
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Subject: Re: VFR Flight Following
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Rod Farlee wrote:

> Pause a moment and ask yourself what happens if you have an
> accident during takeoff or landing. <...>
> Air-filing defeats much of the purpose of a VFR flight plan.
<...> 
> If a VFR flight plan isn't active before takeoff, much of it's 
> benefit is lost. If it isn't active before engine start, then 
> activating it takes time and attention away from more important > things.

Interesting points, Rod.  I'm not sure I buy the "attention away
from more important things" argument; one has to talk to FSS
sometime, either to activate or (in your system) to amend the
departure time and ETA.  Not much time/effort difference betwee
the two IMO.  Maybe it's just a matter of what routine one is
used to.  Calling FSS just off the airport never seemed like a 
big deal to me.

But it's a valid point that part of the benefit is lost esp.
if the flight plan isn't active on departure from a non-towered
airport in a remote region.  (At a towered airport w/ radar,
I think it's possible someone might notice if the blip which
just asked for a frequency change to FSS disappears off the
scope and never comes back on frequency, but no promises!)

> Students might not realize that, when filing, they can ask FSS to
> automatically activate their flight plan at their presumed time of 
> departure. I thought it worth mention.  This is especially useful in 
> remote areas, where there is no low altitude radio communication with > flight service, or if your airplane doesn't even have a radio.  You > just have to ask!

I wasn't aware of this, and appreciate you mentioning it.

Just as a further comment, I always ask FSS for two suggested freqs.
to contact them in the air.  Sometimes they have info about the local
rcos ("it was acting up, but the FAA test flew it and said it was fine"
"use the VOR, the RCO is barely readable at best but it works so it's
not NOTAMed").  Other times things can be inop, but no one has tried
to use them for weeks or notified anyone if they did.

Regards,
Snowbird


