I love flight following. I talk to PPLs all the time who just don't find a need or have a desire to use it. To me, it's just another layer of safety. Great video GSFT
I operate out of a class d and on departure/outbound, I always open flight following with my first call to ground, even before my taxi request. They’re a busy class d and sometimes they give you your “on request” when you’re halfway to the runup area but the controllers are great. I’ve never gotten swatted away.
Thanks for helping understand Flight following and communications, Gold Seal member passed the ground school 90/100. Best Online Ground School, great videos too!
I'm a bit surprised you wouldn't request VFR flight following on the ground at PDK. Was that just to illustrate how to pick up flight following once you're in the air?
It seems to depend on circumstances. I've been told on the ground that center doesn't like the tower setting up FF because they may be busy. So they have you request it in the air so center can tell you directly whether they have time for you. Plus practically speaking at many small non-towered airports, picking it up after takeoff is the only practical option.
great Video my Q?: Lets say you fly in an unfamiliar area and you decide to get flight following. How do you find the right ATC frequency for that area??? Thanks in advance Wolfgang
For every cross country flight, I always get flight following (FF). Before you depart, write down the frequencies and also have the written dialogue handy so you don't choke on the radio. Here's mine. (PILOT) Tucson Approach: X 12345 east of Marana airport with request. (Wait for acknowledgement). (PILOT) Tucson Approach: X 12345 X9 / U East of Marana Airpark en route to Chandler, AZ (KCHD), Charlie, Hotel, Delta @ 4,000, climbing to 4,500, Request Flight Following. The X9/U depicts the plane I am in and its equipment. FF will assign you a squawk code and enter u into the system. As you travel and exceed the ability of their radio reception, they will hand you off to another controller. Eventually, they will hand you off to APPROACH at your destination and then your destination tower (if there is a tower). If you have the destination in sight and it's not towered, you can say: (PILOT) (Current) Approach: X 12345 has Chandler in sight, request termination of flight following. They will acknowledge with FF terminated, squawk VFR. At that point you would select the local frequency and u r on your own.
Don't fly without a chart or preflight briefing. Very important to at least have a vague idea of where you are going and the airspaces. I would never go in blind and with today's technology, you can find the information you need in an emergency if it's something you didn't plan (like a landing at a different field due to weather or emergencies)
Part of pre-flight planning is getting that information. If you're flying cross country without familiarizing yourself with your intended route and without a sectional chart you are doing something very wrong
What if you just departed a class B or C airport and you're still/already communicating with departure/approach/center, but want to continue with radar service even after leaving their airspace to continue with your cross-country. How would you request to maintain VFR flight following/ask for a handoff?
"Request flight following to destination" that should do the trick... You can usually set up flight following up on the ground (with clearance delivery and/or ground control) at towered airports. some class D towers might not be able to set up flight following but SHOULD be able to at least give you a freq for approach/center to use once you're on your way... If they don't, ask. In some parts of the country at least, flight following is a highly under utilized service that could save your or other people's butts.
Some towers will request it for you prior to departure if you ask. Otherwise yes, when you leave the tower freq, request it on the app/dep frequency. If you are departing a Class B or C, specify that you'd like flight following all the way to your destination when you call clearance delivery.
Hey i'm new to this channel but you explain very well but i have a doubt regarding entering a new sector My question is do we need to request flight following again to the new frequency or no need ? Plz reply
It depends. Normally, the controller will do a "hand off". We refer to this in the video. The controller will supply you with the frequency of the next controller and ask you to call him.
99% of the time, you will not need to request this again. Occasionally the receiving controller will not buy the handoff because of work load, radar limitations and/or frequency limitations both of which related to your altitude. Maybe too low to reliably speak to you or see you. In these cases you should be asked to squawk VFR and there will be no doubt you’ll need to request this again. But hopefully you’re also provided the frequency of the next controller. Sometimes you’ll be told stay on your beacon code but “radar services terminated, contact ABC center/approach 123.8.” Means the next controller doesn’t have you on radar yet but will soon or maybe anticipates poor communication at first and then the next controller will re-identify you on radar when all is good.
The sectional chart contains approach frequencies near major airports. He called Atlanta Approach and asked for flight following. Look for the approach frequency on the sectional chart where u r flying and call them. If they want u to speak to another entity, they will tell you to call their frequency. You can also find the frequencies using Skyector.
@@barry5724 Really? Find me the Atlanta Approach frequency on the sectional, that's a major airport, but it's not there. In fact, it's only on the sectional for Class C airports. You have to either find it in the chart supplement for a nearby airport, off the IFR Enroute charts, or just call flight services and request the frequency your location.
1) different controller = "Different controller, N12345, XXXX (feet)" 2) same controller, different frequency = "N12345 with you on xxx.xx (new freq.)"
Look up the airport in the A/FD section of the Chart Supplement. That will give you the appropriate ATC frequency. Otherwise, if you're near to a Class D airport, call the tower and ask who controls the airspace in that area. They'll be happy to give you the freq.
I noticed that "error" in the video. According to every controller I've talked to doing nothing is the appropriate response to a request to stand by. Don't say anything, don't click your mic, just keep flying the plane and be totally silent on the radio. The controllers are usually talking to and trying to hear someone else when they tell you to stand by and don't want the extra noise/distraction.
I fly out of Cincinnati. I always ask for flight following, as I am under the class B veil. However, It almost always happens that as soon as I am out of the veil, they terminate the flight following and advise me to squak VFR 1200. If I am not near a controlled airspace, I am left on my own. My question: why can't we contact Center of FSS when we are out of a controled airspace? It seems the controllers really don't want anything to do with VFR enroute if you are out of their airspace. Flight watch is gone and so even if I file a VFR flight plan (for emergency ) there really is no radar or communications out in class E airspace.
You can still contact flight services on 122.2 or the frequency listed on a nearby VOR and request it from them. Also, when they try to drop you, ask the controller for the frequency to request continued flight following.
Thank you so very much! Very well done. My 150 XC is tomorrow morning. Your video is just what I needed.
Russ still is an amazing CFI, I want someone like him as my flight instructor. He explains it so well
That was helpful. Thanks for the closed captions. I still can’t understand what the heck the ATC says
I love flight following. I talk to PPLs all the time who just don't find a need or have a desire to use it. To me, it's just another layer of safety. Great video GSFT
This is super helpful, radio always sounds like a bunch of mumbling so its nice to see it explained!
I operate out of a class d and on departure/outbound, I always open flight following with my first call to ground, even before my taxi request. They’re a busy class d and sometimes they give you your “on request” when you’re halfway to the runup area but the controllers are great. I’ve never gotten swatted away.
Crazy I’m doing this same XC trip tomorrow only out of WDR. Thanks for the walkthrough!
Thanks for helping understand Flight following and communications, Gold Seal member passed the ground school 90/100. Best Online Ground School, great videos too!
Most explicite video so far regarding flight following
Great video. Very well explained and the edits even made it better. Thanks
Hey Siri, "Get me flight following".
Siri be like "Flight Following is....."
Next ForeFlight update.....
Great animation for a wing-rockin' scenario!
Excellent video
Amazing job 👏
Awesome refresher
Thank you for that! awesome video, really helpful! 🙌🏻
thanks for the skyvector animation
Great video...always enjoy your videos!
Thank you so much, great training with you Sir!
I wish all controllers would be this coherent.
How is that tail camera mounted? I love it
Thank you for this, such a great and clear explanation.
Great video
Glad you enjoyed it
Great Video. Thanks
Nice job.
Thanks!
The best video ever, thank you very much.
Great video. Thanks!
Amazing TH-cam Channel. Learned a lot from it. Thanks.
Thank you sir
Thank you.
You're welcome!
I'm a bit surprised you wouldn't request VFR flight following on the ground at PDK. Was that just to illustrate how to pick up flight following once you're in the air?
It seems to depend on circumstances. I've been told on the ground that center doesn't like the tower setting up FF because they may be busy. So they have you request it in the air so center can tell you directly whether they have time for you. Plus practically speaking at many small non-towered airports, picking it up after takeoff is the only practical option.
Thanks for posting! This helps a lot! Private SEL
we just need a primary radar target to achieve radar contact, we dont need mode s or mode c transponder
Very helpful, thank you.
Stupid question but is it okay to use the last 3 digits of your call sign instead of the full call sign after the first hand off?
great Video
my Q?: Lets say you fly in an unfamiliar area and you decide to get flight following. How do you find the right ATC frequency for that area???
Thanks in advance
Wolfgang
You should plan your flight before takeoff so you have all of this information. If not, you can use a sectional or foreflight.
For every cross country flight, I always get flight following (FF). Before you depart, write down the frequencies and also have the written dialogue handy so you don't choke on the radio. Here's mine.
(PILOT) Tucson Approach: X 12345 east of Marana airport with request.
(Wait for acknowledgement).
(PILOT) Tucson Approach: X 12345 X9 / U East of Marana Airpark en route to Chandler, AZ (KCHD), Charlie, Hotel, Delta @ 4,000, climbing to 4,500, Request Flight Following.
The X9/U depicts the plane I am in and its equipment.
FF will assign you a squawk code and enter u into the system. As you travel and exceed the ability of their radio reception, they will hand you off to another controller. Eventually, they will hand you off to APPROACH at your destination and then your destination tower (if there is a tower). If you have the destination in sight and it's not towered, you can say:
(PILOT) (Current) Approach: X 12345 has Chandler in sight, request termination of flight following. They will acknowledge with FF terminated, squawk VFR. At that point you would select the local frequency and u r on your own.
@@barry5724 Really good tip, thanks...
Don't fly without a chart or preflight briefing. Very important to at least have a vague idea of where you are going and the airspaces. I would never go in blind and with today's technology, you can find the information you need in an emergency if it's something you didn't plan (like a landing at a different field due to weather or emergencies)
Part of pre-flight planning is getting that information. If you're flying cross country without familiarizing yourself with your intended route and without a sectional chart you are doing something very wrong
Is it necessary to ident after getting the squawk code everytime? Or only if ATC says to?
Only if ATC says to.
Thanks sir
What if you just departed a class B or C airport and you're still/already communicating with departure/approach/center, but want to continue with radar service even after leaving their airspace to continue with your cross-country. How would you request to maintain VFR flight following/ask for a handoff?
"Request flight following to destination" that should do the trick... You can usually set up flight following up on the ground (with clearance delivery and/or ground control) at towered airports. some class D towers might not be able to set up flight following but SHOULD be able to at least give you a freq for approach/center to use once you're on your way... If they don't, ask. In some parts of the country at least, flight following is a highly under utilized service that could save your or other people's butts.
Russ u da man!
when leaving your departure airport and request VFR flight following, do you request that on the departure frequency?
Some towers will request it for you prior to departure if you ask. Otherwise yes, when you leave the tower freq, request it on the app/dep frequency. If you are departing a Class B or C, specify that you'd like flight following all the way to your destination when you call clearance delivery.
Hey i'm new to this channel but you explain very well but i have a doubt regarding entering a new sector My question is do we need to request flight following again to the new frequency or no need ? Plz reply
It depends. Normally, the controller will do a "hand off". We refer to this in the video. The controller will supply you with the frequency of the next controller and ask you to call him.
99% of the time, you will not need to request this again. Occasionally the receiving controller will not buy the handoff because of work load, radar limitations and/or frequency limitations both of which related to your altitude. Maybe too low to reliably speak to you or see you. In these cases you should be asked to squawk VFR and there will be no doubt you’ll need to request this again. But hopefully you’re also provided the frequency of the next controller. Sometimes you’ll be told stay on your beacon code but “radar services terminated, contact ABC center/approach 123.8.” Means the next controller doesn’t have you on radar yet but will soon or maybe anticipates poor communication at first and then the next controller will re-identify you on radar when all is good.
Great stuff. But your target audience doesn't know where to find the ATC frequency or which one to use.
The sectional chart contains approach frequencies near major airports. He called Atlanta Approach and asked for flight following. Look for the approach frequency on the sectional chart where u r flying and call them. If they want u to speak to another entity, they will tell you to call their frequency. You can also find the frequencies using Skyector.
As well, if you're flying from a controlled or MF airport, you can ask the controller on that frequency for a frequency to contact
@@barry5724 Really? Find me the Atlanta Approach frequency on the sectional, that's a major airport, but it's not there. In fact, it's only on the sectional for Class C airports. You have to either find it in the chart supplement for a nearby airport, off the IFR Enroute charts, or just call flight services and request the frequency your location.
CHA = Class C. Don’t you still have to get clearance into that airspace even with VFR flight following? Or does VFR flight following accomplish that?
Class C does not require clearance, only two way radio communication, which flight following satisfies.
What is the best thing you can say when you come back after a frequency change?
N1234S, XXXX feet
1) different controller = "Different controller, N12345, XXXX (feet)" 2) same controller, different frequency = "N12345 with you on xxx.xx (new freq.)"
that was sooo much better for me
Omg you just passed my airport 😱
7:30 you entered class C without establishing two eay radio communication with tower....
Correct. The Class C TRACON doesn't hand you off to tower until you're closer in. That's the proper procedure.
@@GoldSealFlight I guess you just finished the animation for the sake of video.. but obtained proper clearance off cam.. thanks
Approach acknowledged him at 6:59, outside the airspace. That clears him to enter Class C
Chattanooga. Atlanta. Savannah.
Who do you contact when departing from a uncontrolled field? Center in that sector? Or the nearest class Charlie or Bravo approach which is 70nm away.
Look up the airport in the A/FD section of the Chart Supplement. That will give you the appropriate ATC frequency. Otherwise, if you're near to a Class D airport, call the tower and ask who controls the airspace in that area. They'll be happy to give you the freq.
Respond or not to "standby" - I've been taught not to say anything afterwards
quick double mic click.
I noticed that "error" in the video. According to every controller I've talked to doing nothing is the appropriate response to a request to stand by. Don't say anything, don't click your mic, just keep flying the plane and be totally silent on the radio. The controllers are usually talking to and trying to hear someone else when they tell you to stand by and don't want the extra noise/distraction.
I fly out of Cincinnati. I always ask for flight following, as I am under the class B veil. However, It almost always happens that as soon as I am out of the veil, they terminate the flight following and advise me to squak VFR 1200. If I am not near a controlled airspace, I am left on my own. My question: why can't we contact Center of FSS when we are out of a controled airspace? It seems the controllers really don't want anything to do with VFR enroute if you are out of their airspace. Flight watch is gone and so even if I file a VFR flight plan (for emergency ) there really is no radar or communications out in class E airspace.
When you ask for FF, do you give them a destination? Without a destination, ATC will usually drop you after departing Class B or C airports.
You can still contact flight services on 122.2 or the frequency listed on a nearby VOR and request it from them. Also, when they try to drop you, ask the controller for the frequency to request continued flight following.
Great video
Well done. Thanks for the info
Very helpful, thank you!