Reduced to its essence, having the gear for post-crash survival is great; being found quickly is even better. The faster you and your passengers are found, the greater the chance of survival. Improving the odds starts before departure and means making sure someone knows where you are going. Being on an IFR flight plan has historically meant the least delay in post-crash rescue. Next best is being on a VFR flight plan or making sure someone is in position to start search and rescue (SAR) if you don’t show up when expected.
