Owais Crawford
Flight following is a service where ATC follows your flight, providing traffic advisories, safety alerts, and good situational awareness of surrounding traffic. It is available wherever radar coverage is available, and aircraft must have a radio and transponder to use it. Typically, pilots contact the radar facility overseeing the airport and request flight following from the approach or centre controller. This service can be requested for multiple airports, and pilots are passed between facilities en route.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To have ATC "follow your flight" and help you avoid conflicts, making flying safer |
| Requirements | Radio, transponder, possibly Mode C transponder and ADS-B Out depending on airspace |
| Requesting | Contact radar facility overseeing the airport, or local ground control for Class C or D airports |
| Multiple airports | Yes, but must check in with ATC after each departure |
| Termination | ATC will typically terminate flight following when handing off to a tower |
| Emergencies | Can provide quick assistance, giving directions to the nearest airport |
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What You'll Learn
VFR flight following
When using VFR flight following, you must communicate any changes in your altitude, route, or destination to ATC. They will hand you off to the next facility as you move from sector to sector of airspace, informing you to switch radio frequencies and providing you with the new frequency.
In terms of multiple airports for VFR flight following, it seems that you can request it once and go to multiple airports within the same radar contact area. For example, if flying from KTTN to KRDG to KAVP and back, you would only need to request flight following from KABE (Allentown) once, get a squawk, and then check in with KABE after each departure unless you explicitly ask for termination or fly out of their area.
However, if you are on the ground for any length of time (e.g., for lunch or refueling), you will likely get a new squawk code. Additionally, ATC may terminate flight following when handing you off to a tower or when instructing you to change to an advisory frequency at a non-towered airport. Therefore, if you wish to keep flight following for multiple destinations, it is recommended to time your request accordingly to minimize workload for both parties.
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ATC and radar services
Air Traffic Control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through controlled airspace. The primary purpose of ATC is to prevent collisions, organise and expedite the flow of traffic, and provide information and support for pilots. ATC personnel monitor aircraft locations in their assigned airspace using radar and communicate with pilots via radio.
ATC radar services are essential for maintaining safe air traffic separation. They ensure that each aircraft maintains a minimum safe distance from other aircraft, known as "empty space". ATC radar services also provide traffic advisories, which offer information about nearby aircraft that may pose a potential conflict or hazard. These advisories are available to VFR aircraft and are typically provided by ATC facilities with radar equipment, such as towers, approach and departure control, and centre control.
Flight following is a service where ATC "follows your flight". It enhances safety by allowing controllers to issue traffic advisories and vector aircraft accordingly. When requesting flight following, pilots typically contact the radar facility overseeing the airport and provide their aircraft information. The approach and centre controllers are responsible for "following" the aircraft and handing them off to subsequent controllers until they land or cancel the service.
In some cases, pilots may need to request flight following for multiple destinations or airports. This can be done by obtaining flight following from the ATC facility servicing the entire area. Pilots can check in with the ATC facility after each departure unless they explicitly request termination or fly out of their area.
It is important to note that ATC radar services may vary depending on the runway in use, weather conditions, and other factors. Additionally, while radar services improve safety, pilots remain responsible for maintaining visual separation from other aircraft.
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Requesting flight following
Flight following is a service where ATC "follows your flight". It is not a requirement, but it is highly recommended by many controllers. It is especially useful when passing through Class Bravo airspace. Flight following provides real-time aircraft tracking and can help you immediately in an emergency. Controllers can issue traffic to you and others more easily because they are talking to you and know your specifics.
When requesting flight following, you should provide the following information: callsign, aircraft type, destination, and requested VFR altitude. It is important to speak slowly and clearly and to provide the information in a way that is easy for the controller to process. You can say something like: " [Callsign], [Aircraft type], [Destination], request VFR advisories". After the controller answers, provide your position, type of aircraft, altitude, and destination.
If you are going to multiple airports, you only need to request flight following once. However, you should check in with the controller after each departure unless you explicitly ask for termination. It is important to note that flight following is an additional service and may not be provided if the controller is too busy.
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Benefits of flight following
Flight following, also known as VFR advisories, radar advisories, traffic advisories, or simply "advisories", is a service that provides pilots with numerous benefits.
One of the primary advantages of flight following is enhanced safety. Air traffic controllers (ATC) provide an extra set of eyes in the sky, monitoring flights and offering critical information. They can issue traffic advisories, alerting pilots to potential conflicts with other aircraft and reducing the risk of mid-air collisions. This is especially beneficial in busy airspace or adverse weather conditions with reduced visibility, where it can be challenging to keep track of nearby aircraft.
Flight following also improves situational awareness. ATC provides pilots with information about their position relative to other aircraft and airspace restrictions, helping them maintain a clear mental picture of their flight environment. This service is particularly useful for navigating through complex airspace, around terrain, or avoiding restricted areas. Controllers can offer vectors (heading and altitude instructions) and guidance to restricted areas in real time, ensuring regulatory compliance and a smoother flight experience.
Additionally, flight following can provide immediate assistance in emergency situations. Since pilots are already in communication with ATC, they can quickly request vectors to the nearest airport or alert ATC to their position if an off-airport emergency landing is necessary. Controllers can also provide weather updates and coordinate emergency services, potentially saving lives.
Flight following also offers an opportunity for student pilots or those seeking to improve their radio communication skills. By interacting with ATC and listening to the phraseology used, pilots can enhance their radio techniques and build proficiency.
Overall, flight following is a valuable tool that enhances safety, improves situational awareness, provides critical information, and offers emergency assistance, contributing to a more enjoyable and safer flying experience.
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Multiple airspaces
Class A airspace, for example, encompasses the entire United States from 18,000 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL) to 60,000 feet MSL. Aircraft in this airspace use flight levels instead of feet to express altitude. Class A airspace is considered controlled airspace, where ATC has the authority to manage traffic.
Class B airspace, on the other hand, surrounds primary airports and extends from the surface to 10,000 feet MSL. Aircraft operating within Class B airspace must follow specific equipment requirements, including having an operable radar beacon transponder and ADS-B Out equipment. VFR flights within Class B airspace receive sequencing and separation services from ATC to maintain safe distances from other aircraft.
When it comes to flight following, pilots can request this service from ATC to enhance safety and facilitate traffic management. Flight following is particularly useful when navigating through multiple airspaces or approaching busy airports. By communicating their intentions, pilots can receive guidance on vectoring, climbing, or descending to fit seamlessly into the traffic pattern.
In cases where multiple airspaces are involved in a flight path, pilots are typically handed off from one ATC facility to another as they transition between airspaces. It is important for pilots to maintain communication with the relevant ATC facilities and adhere to any specific requirements or restrictions within each airspace.
While flight following provides valuable assistance, it is not always mandatory. In clear weather conditions, pilots operating outside of controlled airspaces may opt against it. However, when passing through Class Bravo airspace, flight following is practically a requirement due to the increased air traffic and the need for coordination with ATC.
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Frequently asked questions
Flight following is where ATC (Air Traffic Control) "follows your flight". A controller watches you on radar to help you avoid conflicts, making flying safer.
You can contact the radar facility overseeing the airport—approach control or centre—and make a request. You can also request flight following with the local ground control or clearance delivery.
Yes, you can. You can request flight following once and go to multiple airports with the same squawk. You can check in with the ATC after each departure unless you ask for termination or fly out of their area.
Flight following provides traffic advisories, safety alerts, and good situational awareness of surrounding traffic. It can also provide helpful information and assistance in the event of an emergency, such as vectors to the nearest airport.
