You Can't Always Script VFR Flight Following

On day 20 of our 31 Day Safer Pilot Challenge, I will share the ultimate flight following video with you.
Comment below if you are 20 for 20 in our 31 Day SPC!
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[@deltazulu99]

One tip I learned from the Opposing Bases podcast: you'll make better friends with the controller if you say your request in the order they have to type it all in: tail number, position, destination, type, altitude. "Skyhawk 12345, request flight following, 5 miles north of XYZ, destination ABC, Cessna 172, 5,500[, climbing through 2,200 now]." It's not required... they can figure it out however you say it. But it makes their job just that much easier. :)

[@drcode4]

When I was a student and on my cross country, ATC was very busy, as it usually is in So. California and was kicking people out of the system on Flight Following. Being a student, I wanted Flight Following, so when I called up I "Student Pilot VFR Request", the controller was nice enough to have me change to another frequency where there was no other traffic and gave me flight following on my own private channel. Controllers are awesome. 20 for 20. Let's do this. Thanks Jason.

[@JoshuaTootell]

I'll borrow that.

[@glennwatson]

20/20 My radio calls have gotten better since my early days. First calls into controlled airspace I got the squawk code wrong 3 times. My instructor finally wrote it on his knee pad to make it easy for me to read. I never fly without somewhere to write squawk codes now. On exit the controller was like Squawk "1", "2", "0", "0" very slowly.

[@Cherokee140Driver]

I had VFR FF from KGRI (Grand Island, NE) to KRAP (Rapid City, SD) a few years ago. About an hour into the leg, Denver Center notified me that they'd lose radar contact unless I climbed above 10,000 ft. I was at 6,500' and didn't feel like burning the gas and time to get there, so they requested that I provide them my heading and speed so they could keep tabs on my path until I popped back up closer to KRAP. It worked pretty well and it wasn't something we really covered in flight training, but it's another tool in the toolbox.

[@frankdaniels8077]

20 for 20, another excellent video. I have never used flight following (I am currently a student pilot) as I have been afraid of bothering the controllers and I was afraid of not doing it correctly. You have helped reduce that fear, and I will ask for flight following this weekend when I do my first long XC solo flight. Thanks MzeroA!

[@billmoran3812]

I assume you fly from non-towered airports. I recommend you get practice talking to ATC at controlled airports and in controlled airspace. It’s part of becoming a pilot and it makes flying safer.

[@msgruenbaum]

Checking in 20/20. This video is a great reminder that ATC provides VFR flight following on a workload permitting basis and we should always have a contingency plan in place ATC is unable to provide flight following. It’s so easy to get comfortable with VFR flight following, but we should know what we’ll do and how we’ll navigate airspace when we can’t get flight following.

[@philaskins7172]

Beacon code is an old term and is the same as squawk code. It is from the days when controllers looked at raster scan displays(sweeping arm). As the radar dish would rotate, it sent out a pulse that would interrogate your transponder. In turn the transponder would reply with your code. The computer would display the code on the screen next to the target dot representing your aircraft. In technical manuals it is still referred to as beacon code. And since it is computer driven( based on binary number system) that's why your transponders only went to 7777.

[@StrokeMahEgo]

That is still how transponders work now. (The regular part, not adsb) As the radar sweeps it interrogates for codes

[@DavidMiller-rw2gj]

20 for 20. I spent 25 years in military aviation. In that capacity I had to talk to many tower controllers while moving around on the airfield. I figured out a long time ago the ease of comms. "Hey you! This is me! I am here! I want to...." It's that simple. The controllers will deal with you when they can, you just have to be patient, understanding, and also persistent. Also, you have to remember that the controller you are talking to is a human, and so they have human faults just like you do. YOu make your cold call in, they don't respond, it;s not because they are ignoring you, but because they have other priorities.

[@LoganEakins]

20 / 20. I'm a new-ish pilot and I use flight following frequently. I found myself asking, "Didn't I already provide my airplane type?" or "Didn't I provide my altitude already?" Not being indignant, but thinking that I was messing up my radio calls somehow. This video confirms that I my not know how busy the controller is and that I need to just roll with it. Thanks, Jason, this video puts me at ease.

[@StrokeMahEgo]

Plus sometimes reception is bad, repeating something on the radio is not uncommon

[@gregagee4328]

Man Jason, that real-life experience was super informative! I currently have 37 hrs and did my first night flight out of Page Filed in Fort Myers and was told my second night flight tomorrow to Sarasota will involve interacting with Flight Following. One thing I've learned about flying so far is that even though there is a process for everything, that process is never set and stone and that you must learn to expect that nothing will go as expected and plan on bobbing and weaving and think on your feet:) As they say, the more you know...

[@WinglessCarbonBasedLifeform]

The only time I was every refused flight following was from M91 on August 21, 2017 at 21:30Z heading home from the solar eclipse. I would love to find data of how many GA planes were flying. It had to be a record. Keep up the great work Jason!

[@ranjrog]

20 for 20 and very much enjoying all of the videos!!

[@billmoran3812]

I’ve flown VFR through the New York City area many times. Probably some of the most congested airspace in the US. The controllers are always busy, yet I never had any issues. As long as you could do exactly as they requested and were good on the radio.

[@Aussie_Pilot]

I use flight following all the time in the Boston/Portsmouth ME area. Have been cleared through the Boston Bravo several times when I was planning to fly around it because of FF. Piece of mind comes with FF

[@StrokeMahEgo]

Easier to clear you into/through if you're already in the system, talking to them, radar contact, etc.

[@jeffz2111]

I learned something new watching this video. I requested flight following on my last flight and I could hear the controller loud and clear, but I could not hear the other aircraft she was talking to. I didn't know that controllers work multiple frequencies at once. I thought I was having radio issues.

[@evanhansen9357]

20/20 headed for 31/31. Great video. VFR flight following in my 1947 Champ is holding my pointing finger on the chart while flying!

[@maritestaylor8458]

20 / 20 running to the finish line. Awesome 😎😎😎

[@lift-offrcaviation2852]

I currently am working on my privates license and am preparing for my check ride. Only a few more hours left

[@lennoxcanterbury7326]

Thank you for this Jason. I just used flight following for the first time ever on a XC with my friend and I’ve gotta say it’s because of this video I knew what to say and what to expect. Even he thought I was accustomed to this and couldn’t believe it was my first time. Thank you!

[@chasevandyk5082]

One time flying from Friday Harbor down to Renton I was on flight following and I told the controller I had weather information for Renton and he responded with, “I just had 13 different calls at once so let me work through this.” He then proceeded to ask a bunch of questions including who said they had weather information for Renton. Poor guy was overworked!

[@CalebICT]

20/20 A little late tonight but I squeezed it in

[@michaelbarnett1407]

20 for 20, I believe in the "80's we delt with an on Airport Omni Radio Beacon, can't recall if it was only uncontrolled or not. Great Video, Flight following is a awesome feature, can't wait to request.

[@pjsministry7316]

When requesting VFR Following I would always end with 'if time permitting.' I WAS NEVER TURNED DOWN. Chaplain Billy

[@rogerhummel3023]

I love this clip. You have planted in my head the importance of thinking ahead…

[@gcolbert99]

Had to catch up a little but I am 20/20 now. I will be starting my Private Pilot training in March or April when I return from deployment and your videos are really helping to keep me focused and keep me learning.

[@bryant3483]

20 4 20 what can I say Jason, this is been the perfect Culmination of videos and information for me to exercise some radio phraseology . Many thanks for the inspiration ….!,😎

[@claythomas6587]

20-4-20/ Outstanding series

[@patrioticamerican1424]

20 for 20! Great video and examples of getting flight following.

[@BraapZ]

20 for 20. LOTS of great nuggets in this VFR flight following vid. Thank you Jason. 🙏

[@MzeroAFlightTraining]

Glad it was helpful!

[@erikpetersen3812]

20 for 20. Love flight following. Use it whenever I can.

[@1dgram]

20/20 Grabbing flight following can be difficult sometimes but the controllers do appreciate being able to communicate with traffic.

[@MzeroAFlightTraining]

Fantastic! It definitely can be hard sometimes but helps everyone's situational awareness!

[@sierrarotorcraftclub]

20 for 20. I plan on going for my IFR rating in a couple of months. So far watching this 31-day challenge is making me wonder if I'm capable of handling IFR flying.

[@jimmyfall9302]

20 for 20. Great series again.

[@MzeroAFlightTraining]

Thank you so much!

[@mcflyer9058]

20/20 Great subject matter, amazing content!

[@w4orh-ron]

Jason, I'm 20 for 20! Just discovered your channel back in November. I've been a private pilot for over 20 years and always get something from your videos. Wonder if you have or are going to do any presentations on preparing for BFRs?

[@azcountry6064]

Excellent question!

[@newhopeccbridgeport4572]

20/20…getting ready to fly a cross country on Saturday….will definitely be picking up flight following!

[@davidklassen2805]

20 for 20 when you said day 20 i just thought how sad is that? This 31 day safer pilot challenge is almost over and I’m going to miss it!

[@ScottHallX]

20 for 20. Thanks for your series.

[@stephenmccarthy6892]

Interesting national differences. I'm a low time PPL from Britain now located in France. Same general format but in the UK "Golf-Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta request Basic Service" and then wait for the controller to come back with "Pass your message" (Tail #, type, Position Altitude Request basic service) France "Lille Information F-ABCD good afternoon" then wait for response (Good afternoon guarantees English rather than French then "F-ABCD C172 10miles east of Rouen 4,500 from xyz to ABC request service information de vol" My first solo route I requested a MATZ penetration (military air traffic zone penetration) with about 7 minutes to go to the boundary. The response "Standby #7" not what I wanted to hear!

[@blueberrymohffin729]

Hey Jason, I am 20 for 20! 😊

[@waynegeske]

20 for 20, and it seems that they just keep getting better!

[@MzeroAFlightTraining]

Thank you so much!

[@samuelrivero9683]

Best videos !! Ver helpful! Love this !!!

[@freedomfalcon]

Are you sure you weren't going through KDEN class Bravo airspace during the 2nd one? That super busy controller reminded me of a couple of times getting flight following through the class Bravo.

[@chadweaver4827]

20 4 20. Thank you

[@markdemmi8745]

20/20....let's all stay safe out there

[@johnalpine2817]

Jason are you using an autopilot here or is the plane just trimmed up so you can be so hands free on the yoke.

[@kennymcwilliams8972]

20/20. The last controller is likely former military. We used the "beacon code" nomenclature there.

[@theoneeman]

Thank you for great videos.. I have a question: if using flight following and coming up to a delta airspace, do I need to announce to the delta control tower that I’m passing through? Or ask for approval to to pass through? What about bravo airspace? Also have seen all videos just not on day released.. lol.. life happens.. that said great videos..

[@jonathanschnell382]

Any advice on how to request VFR flight following when not flying direct (i.e. making a transition or turn over an airport, VOR, etc)?

[@bartgoins1782]

I give my way points along with my destination. I've never heard any feedback good or bad, from the controllers. I do this on my 6 hour x-country flights from Idaho to California.

[@danherlong]

20, thx brother!

[@Mark-sp6vq]

love your vlogs. be aware during your struggles to contact ATC many minutes went by and you did not look thru the windshield even once. just saying, be safe

[@wshauck9527]

I am 20 for 20 and learning everyday.

[@EagleSynthetics]

20 for 20 and these videos are making me a better student pilot. Thanks as always.

[@MzeroAFlightTraining]

That is awesome!

[@chrisoconnell3688]

In the second scenario I think you said "I hope that he gets back to me as I am heading into Class C airspace". Does that statement imply that if you are under flight following, the controller clear you through all airspace in your path at the altitude you filed in your flight plan?

[@davidclark8774]

20/20 - lets go!

[@stiboyuct]

Student solo flight got flight following to next airport, as I approached next airport, got airport in sight, no vfr termination from FF. Called call sign multiple times, so busy no response. Was so close to airport simply had to go to tower. Should I have just alerted them , even if no response eg tail no, field in sight, going vfr swark 1200?

[@MqKosmos]

10:48 "that is correct" is the correct language to use in that case

[@armantwhyjr1716]

I just did a fight following to marco island and the transfer me to fort myers and they never answer this is why, got to close the flight following in ground

[@frednorthup1657]

20/20 did you have to wait for the radar contact call to enter the Charlie?

[@stevenrynski1107]

My first time requesting flight following I was flying from KCRQ (McClellan-Palomar Airport) to KIFP (Bullhead City Airport). Contacted LA Center and the controller told me if you are wanting flight following it is denied due to I have way to many F-18s to deal with. 20 for 20.

[@piperdakotaflyr]

After getting flight following does the East- West altitude rules apply or can I select my altitude?

[@josephsener420]

20:20. Got to be flexible in dealing with the busy ATC system.

[@jbreezy101]

Should've done the jax 1 from about 1-2 yr ago where the guy comes back with your code and later changes it

[@garyjstephens]

Great examples. My question is why when flying VFR, especially in the second example, do you virtually never look outside of the cockpit? I would think this is a very poor example of VFR flying. Especially considering you had not picked up following yet.

[@deesylva4161]

True but it looks like he is flying with an Stratus 3 ADS B receiver which alerts him on potential traffic in the area.

[@gregorymovie2122]

17/20 💪💪💪

[@michaelzaug8750]

Jason, do you think it is worth my while to hone my ATC verbiage on a platform such as pilot edge? I feel like ATC is like learning a second or third language just as I taught myself to speak fluent Spanish now when I speak Spanish I don’t have to think about what I’m about to say it rolls off my lips quite naturally

[@johnopalko5223]

20 for 20 and sad that this is almost ending. "Beacon code" make sense since your transponder is your interface to ATCRBS (air traffic control radar beacon system).

[@rodneycichon5993]

I have a problem with ATC talking to fast, can’t understand them sometimes.. how politely can I tell them to slow down a bit?? I’m not a Rapper!!

[@Clouds_aand_stuff]

Skyhawk XYZ - “say again” if you still don’t understand simply tell them to slow down.

[@loupitou06fl]

what is the polite and concise way to ask a controller to repeat something ? I usually get 90% of the transmission but still am surprised by some instructions

[@16barose]

"Say again" or you can ask something in particular like "say again squawk code" if they hit you with a long transmission with lots of info.

[@MzeroAFlightTraining]

Usually just reading back what you heard and then ask for a repeat of what you did not understand/copy down works wonders! That way ATC doesn't have to repeat the full instruction again. ATC would rather you get the instruction correct even if they have to repeat the instruction multiple times!

[@marine3836e]

18 for 20!!

[@MzeroAFlightTraining]

Fantastic work!

[@Dmorsman]

20 for 20!

[@yacahumax1431]

I think is time for radio calls to go away. We should be moving to satellite based comm. via an app. No more radio confusions or line of sight limitations. I am student pilot and I swear that pilot try to make things harder to make it look cool. Is not cool to be interrupted by a controller while you are flying or talking to someone. I could easily make a request by pressing a button and get a textual response on a device. Controllers could handle A LOT more traffic that way.

[@cfagan6562]

20/20 - next time shoot for a 90 day safer challenge!

[@tejloro]

20/20!

[@BigKazgarage]

20/2

[@coleyoung912]

20/20!!

[@bernardanderson3758]

I’ve never had any problems so far as getting VFR flight following

[@Airplane_Stuff]

20 for 20.

[@kevindavis8175]

I think any first call to ATC is like ordering a pizza - not just flight following.

[@jimhuggans6297]

20/20

[@michaelbarnett1407]

In addition, what I recall these beacons were Airport Identifiers.

[@mikebarillari2202]

I dont think you looked/scanned to your right more than once the entire video

[@leonardbeale1618]

20 for 20

[@MzeroAFlightTraining]

Great work!!!

[@MrBennyt2]

Flight following isn't used much herein Australia, it's interesting to watch the flight following videos. I was a little concerned about the amount of time eyes were down in the cockpit whilst VFR

[@cloudzonedrone8221]

Who’s 20 for 20? This girl😁

[@MzeroAFlightTraining]

Woohoo!!

[@scottomlinson2017]

twenty for twenty

[@jbreezy101]

18/20

[@murph2232185]

20/20 and january needs to be longer, lol

[@seemakhan1773]

20:20

[@ballnmike]

Day 20 of 20 of the 31 day safer pilot challenge.

[@rafborrero]

I normally start off with "Miami 1111FC with flight following request" and wait for them to respond. That way Miami already knows what I want and is ready for the entire request. Otherwise it seems that I am just unloading a ton of info without warning.

[@coywolf4411]

Nothing worse than a mush mouth controller that has had enough student pilots for the day.

[@manifestgtr]

I fly out of Boston and sometimes departure/approach is hilarious…tower sends you over, you swap the radio and it’s instant chaos in your headset. “SOUTHWEST316TURNRIGHTHEADING370THATSRIGHT370BITCH…ANDTHATSTHEBOTTOMLINECAUSEAUSTINSAIDSO…SKYHAWK234CAFIVEMILESWESTOFYOURMOMSHOUSECONTACTTHESPACESTATIONON777.7”. Sometimes I just sit back and get comfortable for a few while waiting to chime in with my nonsense. Even when it’s like that, don’t be intimidated. It’s all just a bunch of guys like you, doing the same thing you’re doing. If you botch a call or don’t understand something, it’s all good. It happens on every frequency, every day…

[@joefitzpatrick8414]

20/20!!!!

[@kurtreber9813]

20/20!

[@arthurgordon8253]

20 for 20

[@charleskroll7023]

20 for 20.

[@lucky_one2]

20/20

[@greglong1492]

20 for 20

[@tariqghuman]

20/20

[@bobcox963]

20/20