Flight plans are not required to be filed for every flight. They are only required to be filed under certain conditions. If every flight required a flight plan, the Air Traffic Control system would be so over taxed with pilots/aircraft talking to controllers, it would be virtually impossible to run under the current system we have.

That is why the system we have allows for visual flight rules to exist. If the weather permits, pilots are allowed to take off from uncontrolled/or even certain tower controlled airports without filing a flight plan.

However, it is always a good idea to tell someone where you are going and how long you are going to be gone. Given the type of aircraft you are flying, you can figure out how wide a radius the flight could have taken due to fuel consumption. That's how we figure out the grid for search and rescue operations.

Each aircraft is equipment with an ELT (emergency locator transmitter) that activates upon impact and has a battery. It doesn't always works and has been known to be damaged enough on impact to not activate. It sends out a signal on an emergency channel for radios to pick up. If the beacon transmits in a remote area such as a canyon and is transmitting sideways or at an odd angle, sometimes it cannot be picked up. This has happened in the past. Also, the batteries on these ELT on some older aircraft don't last for very long. The newer ones are better. Technology is catching up.

As for how long does a SAR effort last? That depends on the weather. It has nothing to do with who the lost pilot and/or person (not necessarily a pilot) is. There have been lost hunters being searched for as long as two months...

A lot of the expenses for SAR efforts are borne by volunteer organizations such as local pilot organizations, the Sheriffs Assn, groups of friends, etc. These expenses for this particular mission are not out of line for this effort. A lot of the money was reimbursed to the State.

There is a lot of the story that has yet to be revealed to the public. It's too bad because Steve Fossett's memory is being tarnished by this and it's really sad.

When my husband crashed at sea, I never would have thought for a second that the Navy would have sent me a bill for his rescue efforts.

I am just thankful that he was found alive.