VFR Flight Following Question

[Frank Pate]

In the interest of radio brevity, when requesting Flight Following at Clearance Delivery, do I have to state to each Approach or Center controller that I am handed off to and say the words somewhere in there.... "request Flight Following"? In the back of my memory, the controllers coordinate handoffs and I am assuming the next controller will know? And is there an instance when the controller may not know.

For now, I just say the words when I am handed off.... "71FS with you at 5,500 request flight following to ______ airport"

Which brings up another question, when departing an airport like John Wayne and tower hands me off to Departure, do I give a position report as in... departing John Wayne? Or is that coordinated with the controllers. I find it hard to believe that Towers would be calling departure on every aircraft. But, I never won the lottery either so I am probably wrong.

Thanks guys!

[Ryan B]

Nope.

If you depart a towered airport where you requested FF to a destination, they already put you in the system. In real life you'd get a squawk code that goes into the system and not just a facility local code.

Just adhere to any altitude or heading restrictions and you'll be fine. Note for VFR if any restrictions would take you out of VFR conditions you need to tell controller unable.

[Frank Pate]

Thanks Ryan. I just flew my V3 and passed today! Your explaination of Flight Following sure did help for radio brevity and for knowing what to expect thru each segment of the flight. Just having the understanding that "you're in the system" even outside the Bravo transitions eliminates the worry of.... oh geez do I switch now, do I ask to switch, etc... and understanding that situational awareness around the busy area of LAX means keeping an eye out incase the controller work load causes delays in clearances. Being ahead of the aircraft by verifying landmarks and knowing exactly where you are when VFR keeps the pucker factor at a minimum.

Thanks again Ryan and to the controllers that worked me in my successful V3!

[Keith Smith]

Frank,
If it helps on future flights, there are transcripts and cockpit videos for most of the training flights. they will give you an idea of the flow of communications.

[Frank Pate]

Thanks Keith,

Yes, I've been reading and watching as I progress trying to know what to expect before jumping in without a clue. The questions were more of a clarification for my benefit since I'm not aware of the "behind the scenes" procedures that go on with ATC. It's easy to guess on PE when talking to the same person as handoff frequencies are given, but not as apparent when the system has multiple controlling agencies. Just my own deficiency. The question arose after a PE flight and I called John Wayne Clearance, received it, then contacted John Wayne Ground and was asked to get a clearance first. I understood it was an internal PE issue, but that sparked my query on how things worked real world.

Thank you for all of the amazing work you and your team has done in putting together the training materials. They are not being overlooked by this pilot. My comfort level is growing and I am pursuing flights that add more and more unknowns to them so I can learn how to handle the unexpected. Flying the "canned" flights give me the confidence to stretch it a bit further with every flight. I think I flew every Bravo Transition thru LAX, and now have to venture to another Class Bravo and give it a whirl without the convenience of a video, all the while continuing on with the IFR ratings of which I will be taking the I1 and I2 in the next couple of days. Again, Cudos and Great work! I wouldnt have the confidence to proceed without all of your training matierials.

Frank
N71FS