Wrong. No flight plan is required in the US for almost all VFR flights.
Did not know that - thanks for the info.
Do they have to check in with air traffic control when flying in certain flight paths and altitudes?
I’m leaving tonight with my family on a 200 nm cross country flight in our Cessna. No flight plan will be filed, nor will I have a need to communicate with ATC. Flight plans are obsolete and of limited value, especially when a SPOT cost $150...gas for a C-130 is more.
Be aware. The reason the government wants EVERYONE to file a flight plan is so they can TAX PRIVATE AIR TRAVEL BY THE MILE, as well as PRIVATE AUTO TRAVEL.
I flew a lot in the 70s and 80s, virtually all VFR. Never filed a flight plan except for when flying into Canada. In Canada you had to file a plan and they tracked you. Very paternalistic and unnecessary. Obama has encouraged LaHood’s inner Nazi to come out.
Bottom line, I don’t believe that Obama wants any kind of unregulated or untracked travel.
If you do not close your plan within a time frame, they start looking for you. So this will impact flight safety because more pilots will not bother to file a flight plan.
The Obama administration does not have the authority to compel you to file a plan. That would require Congress to pass a law.