"Matthew P. Cummings" wrote in message
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You don't understand it do you?

I think I already made it clear that I don't understand "it". Assuming by
"it" you mean "why you feel that using flight planning software is a
necessity".

There is no way you can call every
airport within 30 miles of your planned fuel stop and get prices quickly.

First of all, what makes you say "there is no way" for me to call every
airport within 30 miles of my planned fuel stop and get prices quickly.
Just how slow do you think my telephone is? Beyond that, you cannot rely on
fuel information obtained online anyway.

But even assuming I cannot do that, why should I bother? Cost of fuel is
such a tiny portion of the total cost of the trip and any difference in fuel
price even smaller, and I find much more value in landing at an airport that
is convenient, rather than choosing one that is cheaper. If there are a few
airports near each other that it might make sense to check fuel prices, it
is a simple enough matter to phone the FBOs and ask them what their prices
are. Since I'm phoning them anyway, just to verify hours and availability
(you DO do that for all of your cross-countries, don't you?) it's not really
a hassle to also find out the fuel prices.

There is no way you can call each FSS along the path and get a briefing
quickly. Do them both and you'll spend more time on the phone than it
takes to plan the flight.

A single leg, at the most, takes me from one FSS's jurisdiction to another.
But more importantly, ALL FSS's can give me exactly the same information,
except for local NOTAMs. And it only takes one extra phone call to obtain
those.

I have NEVER spent more time on the phone than I spend planning. Maybe I
just talk faster than you. I'm not sure why you perceive it as such a
hassle, but I assure you that for me, it's not.

By the way, since you are a stickler for getting ALL information, I assume
that even after you get your software briefing, you contact the local FSS
for your destination. After all, the software can only give you the
numbers. Only a human briefer can educate you regarding local conditions
and weather patterns.

[...] You're lucky you haven't been shot down in some TFR so far
based on your lack of calls to FSS's.

Not that you'd be correct either way, but...you mean that I'm lucky I
haven't had my certificate suspended. No pilot in the US has ever been shot
down as a result of busting a TFR.

That is why I take a little longer than you, I FOLLOW WHAT THE FAR's
REQUIRE A PILOT TO DO.

Now I'm confused. You started out claiming that you took LESS time than me.
Now you say you take longer? I'd really appreciate it if you'd pick a story
and stick with it.

I don't take half a day to plan a long cross
country, that was an example given.

Oh, sorry. I didn't know we were playing by those rules. In that case, I
present as my example, the complete planned flight, incorporating literally
ALL available information, and having taken just under a minute to finish.
After all, by the logic you're using, my example need not have any relevance
to reality.

I suppose you've never planned a
flight and then called FSS and discovered you can't fly it as planned?

Happens all the time. So what? My initial planning includes contingencies
anyway, so all that information from an FSS will do is cause me to select a
contingency. This is no different than unexpected situations coming up in
flight. Surely you can agree that time is even more at a premium while in
flight and needing to make a timely decision. Surely you are not trying to
claim that you are sitting up there, behind the yoke, working on your laptop
on your updated flight plan when something comes up that requires a change.

[...] If you don't think TFR's are an issue

I never said TFR's aren't an issue. Quit putting words into my mouth.

What I have said, and will say again, software speeds up the process of
discovering problems with your flight plan. WHY CAN'T YOU GET THAT
THROUGH YOUR HEAD?

Dude. You need a chill pill. You're the one who started out telling the
rest of us why we HAVE to be using flight planning software. I have no
interest in dissuading you from using flight planning software, and stated
exactly that right up front. Just get off your high horse and quit
insisting that those of us that don't use flight planning software are
somehow neglecting our responsibilities as PIC.

Pete