T o d d P a t t i s t writes:

My experience has been that the average person thinks that
all aircraft talk to someone on the ground on every flight
and that the person on the ground controls them, or gives
them permission to take off, land and fly. They're hazy on
who that person is.

Maybe. I haven't interrogated lay people on the subject. They do
seem to be aware of radio communications, but I think they don't know
exactly who controls whom, or how.

The rest start off being unsure but act a bit surprised if
you tell them you don't need permission and don't need to
talk to anyone if you don't want to.

It may be best not to tell them that.

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