"Roy Smith" wrote in message
...

A lot of people have the ability to cancel an IFR flight plan right now.
All I need do is call an FSS on the phone and say, "This is N12345, on
the ground at XYZ, cancel IFR" and nobody asks me to prove that I am who
I say I am. For that matter, I can stand on the ramp with a handheld
and pull the same stunt via radio.


A lot of people would have that ability if a lot of people knew N12345 was
on an IFR flight to XYZ. On your typical IFR trips, how many people know
your N-number and destination?



But, in any case, I was talking about a terminal connected to the ATC
system. There is just no good reason (other than continued use of
archaic technology) why a FSS guy in Bridgeport shouldn't be able to
close an IFR flight plan for somebody who just landed at a field in
Texas and is calling in on his Connecticut-based cellphone.


If you're going to imagine a new capability for IFR flight plans why bother
with FSS at all? Why not just route a call to 1-800-IFR-PLAN to the
appropriate ATC position?