I would not be so pessimistic. The same system was working ok (well, ok in terms of not heavily punishing pilots for brief errors) until maybe 3 years ago. It was around then that some decision was made to drive infringements to zero by any means possible.
Peter wrote:
The same system was working ok (well, ok in terms of not heavily punishing pilots for brief errors) until maybe 3 years ago.
Perhaps so, but I don’t see the direction of travel changing.
In any case it isn’t just airspace, safety, and commercial interests.
The degree of personal freedom involved in a non-EC flight from one uncontrolled strip to another without talking to ATC or the authorities even being aware of the flight is fundamentally incompatible with modern European political thinking. Indeed if you tell the average non-aviation person that we can do such a thing, chances are they do not believe you.
To me, it would more be a low-cost, low-service model. Like :
Then maybe radar services could be charged, units sending bills to all call signs just like other (landing, approach) fees.
As the song says, “what a wonderful woooorld” 
Edit : about the privacy thing, do you think EU or anyone in power cares ? Mandatory sim cards in all new cars, zero action against whoever stockpiles our data.
You know, if it’s for “safety”, EVERYTHING can pass. C19 is a big enough example.
Graham wrote:
Indeed if you tell the average non-aviation person that we can do such a thing, chances are they do not believe you.
If so, then I believe it is more due to the kind of information intended to calm passengers with fear of flying that every flight is a “known flight”.
Jujupilote wrote:
about the privacy thing, do you think EU or anyone in power cares ?
There is the GDPR, so yes (although governments exempt themselves from parts of the GDPR they find inconvenient, while imposing them on everyone else).
Graham wrote:
Indeed if you tell the average non-aviation person that we can do such a thing, chances are they do not believe you.
That’s not a European thing; when I lived in Texas nearly all non-aviation people were absolutely astounded that I could take my Cessna 140 on a half hour bimble and not file a flight plan, and even more astounded when I added that legally I didn’t even need to turn my COM radio on or even have one fitted to the plane (and plenty were surprised that I didn’t have things like radar).
Peter wrote:
some decision was made to drive infringements to zero by any means possible.
Well 3 years in and that aint working is it…
skydriller wrote:
Well 3 years in and that aint working is it…
I suspect for the mentality of some in the CAA that is just clear evidence they are not punishing hard enough. If only they suspended more licences the problem would be solved surely….
Off_Field wrote:
If only they suspended more licences the problem would be solved surely….
Well of course in March/April infringements reduced significantly and the evidence is clearly because there was hardly any GA activity…
He’s back
