An aircraft must initiate cancellation of IFR flight plan when it is operating to an airport without a control tower. True or False?

When an aircraft is operating to an airport that does not have a control tower, it is indeed necessary for the pilot to initiate the cancellation of their IFR flight plan. This is primarily due to the procedural requirements mandated for ensuring safety and proper communication. At non-towered airports, there is no air traffic control presence to automatically handle the cancellation, so the responsibility falls on the pilot to communicate this to the appropriate air traffic control facility, ensuring that the IFR flight plan is closed and they are no longer under IFR clearance or supervision.

This cancellation is important as it allows air traffic control to free up resources and maintain accurate flight status for other aircraft. It also helps prevent misunderstandings or unnecessary search and rescue operations that could be initiated if a flight plan remains active after landing without the proper closure.

The other options revolve around circumstances that don’t apply to the standard procedure for IFR flight plans at non-towered airports, such as requests or emergencies, which are not the primary factors dictating the necessity of cancellation.