What is required if an aircraft is planned to fly over lakes, mountains, swamps, or islands?

Establishing radio contact with Flight Service Stations (FSS) is crucial for aircraft planned to fly over remote areas such as lakes, mountains, swamps, or islands. These environments can be challenging due to their sparse population and the lack of immediate emergency services. By maintaining communication with FSS, pilots can receive vital information, such as weather updates, navigational assistance, and emergency support if needed. This proactive measure contributes to enhancing flight safety by ensuring that pilots have access to real-time information and resources while operating in less accessible areas.

While submitting a flight plan and requesting a tracking service are also important aspects of flight operations, they do not provide the same level of immediate support and communication that establishing radio contact with FSS does. Filing an emergency service request is typically not a requirement before departure, but rather a contingency action taken in response to an emergency situation. Establishing radio contact is thus the best practice for ensuring safety when flying over such challenging terrains.