On 2006-08-20, Roger wrote:
On 16 Aug 2006 06:49:18 -0700, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:
Imagine! $640 to go fly! This *might* explain why there are only 9
registered Cherokee 235s in all of Britain, no?

No.

Then you have the costs of your flight briefing, ATC useage fees,
Landing fees, and a very restrictive system on top of the $640.

Cost of the flight briefing in Britain: 0 (use www.ais.org.uk for NOTAMS
and complete IFR approach plates/airport diagrams/text information).

I can also talk to a real weather forecaster for free for aviation
briefings. I have a local telephone number for the forecaster at
Ronaldsway Met.

Cost of the ATC usage fees in Britain for a Cherokee 235: 0

Landing fees: Depends where you're going, but definitely nonzero. Most
GA fields GBP5 to GBP10 for a single, more to much more for a large
commercial field.

The system isn't particularly restrictive (certainly not for VFR).
Things you might hear about mandatory flight plans are fiction. A flight
plan is only required if you're crossing an FIR boundary (i.e.
international flight). It's not as free as the US though, but having
flown extensively in both systems, although the US system is far
prefereable, I don't find the UK particularly restrictive when going to
and from various GA airfields.

However, new and annoying things are afoot, such as mandatory Mode-S
transponders on anything that flies (this is being actively resisted by
the gliding and hang gliding community as it's pointless and will reduce
safety).

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