"Mxsmanic" wrote in message
...

Search and rescue teams. If you never provide a position report, they
won't know where you went down. If, like many VFR pilots, you don't
even bother to file a flight plan, they might not even know you are
missing. By the time they look for you and find you, you're dead.


This is correct. From the pilots I have talked to, I see several
philosophies: 1) Flying over popluated areas, a crash is going to be known
and reported well before any automated trigger for search and rescue would
be initiated; 2) A wife/SO/friend knows to call FSS if they don't call/show
up by XX:XX; 3) File a flight plan so at least they will have a route path
to search; 4) File a flight plan and use flight following. ATC will prompt
for position reports if they don't have radar coverage. There are no
mandatory reporting points for VFR flights even on a flight plan; 5) Don't
do anything. Ce La Vie.

In terms of timing the start of search and rescue, 2) and 3) are about the
same. 1) is only good if the whole flight is over populated areas. 4) will
get the fastest response and has other benefits. 5) is unacceptable for my
personal minimums.

I tend not to file flight plans only because I don't typically go from point
A to point B. Sometimes, I don't know where I will end up or how I will get
there. A flight plan would only have them searching in the wrong place.

2) is always armed for me but then I have a loving partner and family. I
tend to write out my basic plan so that they can (while fighting back the
tears) convey to FSS the best places to search. Backing that up is either 1)
or 4).

Filing a flight plan with passengers on board is a mixed bag. On the one
had, I want to offer the most protection to my passengers as possible. On
the other hand, it is nice to be able to chit-chat and sightsee without
worring about ATC.

It is pretty unusual to just call FSS out of the blue with a position
report. They will certainly make a note of it but without 2), it won't do
much good until days later when you don't show up for work. Other than
filing a flight plan, there is no such thing as "N123 over podunk VOR. If
you don't hear from me in an hour, come looking."
-------------------------------
Travis
Lake N3094P
PWK