Robert Chambers wrote in news%keh.20495
:

You can also cancel in the air to help people out, I've been on an IFR
plan (but by the time I was approaching the field was VFR conditions)
and I heard a Jet at the hold short "ready for release" the tower said
"I have one IFR arrival inbound, expect a 3 minute delay" once that was
acknowledged I said "N1234 is cancelling IFR at this time" got the
cancellation and they released the jet to go before I got there. The
jet jockey (which surprised me) threw me a thank you before he got
switched over to approach.

Anything to make the system work that makes sense is ok in my book.

Absolutely agree Robert. I like to be a "good neighbor" but not at the
cost of safety of course.

Once I get a visual on my airport (KMBO - uncontrolled), I do cancel IFR
as soon as I can.

The very same situation happened to me, and I was on the ground, and I
had really appreciated it myself so because one person did it for me, I
am determine to "pay it forward" any chance I get so long as my skin is
not jeapordized.

I generally can tell approach also appreciates my cancellation by the
sound of their voice when they say "cancellation received" as I am sure
it helps them as well.

One other time, I was on the ground, picking up my clearance on a MVFR
day, and CD was kind enough to clue me in to depart visually (was never
taught this in my IFR training) and pick up my clearance in the air as
there would have been a 15 minute delay for incoming IFR traffic.
Ceilings were 2500, so I had no problem with the choice given.

Allen