Steven P. McNicoll wrote:
I'm not sure. I wouldn't want to drop from the frequency without flight
following being terminated.

Why not?

Because I assumed it would be smoother to formally terminate it. I also
thought that it could trigger S&R, depending on the circumstances.

From your response below, though, I see my assumptions are unfounded.

If I didn't report it because I didn't see
it, I'd ask for help finding it.


Would you make that request when you were just a couple of miles from the
field, or would you make it a bit earlier than that?

It depends. If I were looking for a field inside a B or C airspace, or
with somewhere I didn't want to go on the other side, I'd probably ask for
help sooner, rather than risk being in the wrong place. Otherwise, I'd
probably make the request *later*, after trying to find it on my own.

(In case anybody forgets the context, we're talking VFR here, not IFR.)

If I didn't report it because I just
dropped from the frequency, what would happen?

Probably nothing. It's not uncommon for VFR pilots to do just that.

That's good to know. Not that I'd do it on purpose, but it's nice to know
it's acceptable.

Would it trigger S&R procedures?

No. Loss of radio and radar contact in an area where the controller would
expect to have both would trigger a search, but not lass of radio contact
alone.

Again, that's good to know.

.... Alan
--
Alan Gerber
PP-ASEL
gerber AT panix DOT com