Steven P. McNicoll wrote:
"Matthew S. Whiting" wrote in message
...

What happens to the strip when I close my flight plan?



It goes into the discard pile.

So an action is taken. That is all I was asking about from the start.


What happens to it if I don't?



It stays in front of the controller until he acts upon it.

Just this morning I cleared an Aztec for the VOR/DME RWY 35 approach at MTW,
an untowered field. About three miles outside of the FAF I told the
aircraft, "report canceling IFR on this frequency, change to advisory
frequency approved, I have no other targets in the Manitowoc area." I last
observed his target about three miles south of the field. The RTR is
located on the field and there are no pavement areas accessible by aircraft
where communications presents a problem, so all the guy had to do to cancel
was switch back to approach frequency, he didn't have to scramble to find a
working telephone somewhere or anything like that. Ten minutes after last
observing his target he still had not cancelled, so I started looking for
him. But I didn't follow any of the book procedures for overdue aircraft, I
just called the FBO. I identified myself and told the receptionist I was
looking for an aircraft that hadn't cancelled IFR. Before I could describe
the airplane to her, she said, "Is it Aztec N1234A? He's here on the ramp."
[name changed to protect the forgetful] I thanked her and pitched the strip
into the discard pile. Had it been after hours for the FBO I would have
called the local constabulary and they would have sent a car out to see if
the airplane was there.

Now, how would you automate that?

As long as the strip is there and must be disposed of manually, then I
wouldn't automate it. It sounded from earlier responses you made that
NOTHING was done at the termination of an IFR flight. It is clear that
something is done, and that something is discarding the strip. Works
for me. It was the thought that no action was taken that had me concerned.


Matt