If you're getting ready to begin your cross-country flying, your instructor may have mentioned the term
VFR traffic advisories. Some pilots use the terms
flight following or
VFR flight following - if you use one of those phrases in your request, the controller will know what you want, but we suggest that you go for the style points and use the technically correct verbiage. This is a radar service for VFR aircraft, provided at the pilot's request in most airspace.
The
Aeronautical Information Manual's Pilot/Controller Glossary defines traffic advisories as "Advisories issued to alert pilots to other known or observed air traffic which may be in such proximity to the position or intended route of flight of their aircraft to warrant their attention." A controller's traffic advisory will sound something like this: "Traffic, 2 o'clock, one zero miles, southbound, six thousand." If the altitude is given as "Two thousand, five hundred, unverified," it means that the other aircraft's Mode C transponder is indicating an altitude of 2,500 feet - but the controller is not communicating with the pilot of that airplane, so he or she is unable to verify that the reported altitude is correct.
It's important to remember that VFR traffic advisories in Class D, E, or G airspace are provided on a workload-permitting basis - if the controller is too busy at the time, he or she will answer your request with "Unable." If you're flying in Class C airspace, the controller will automatically provide advisories. In Class B airspace, ATC is providing separation services to all aircraft, so VFR traffic advisories technically are not required - but you can expect to hear the same types of traffic callouts.
Under no circumstances do traffic advisories relieve the pilot of his responsibility to see and avoid other aircraft. The AIM cautions, "There are many times when the controller is not able to give traffic advisories concerning all traffic in the aircraft's proximity; in other words, when a pilot requests or is receiving traffic advisories, he should not assume that all traffic will be issued."
Many pilots flying cross-country view VFR traffic advisories as another set of eyes looking for traffic. Even though they're not in the cockpit but looking at a radar display that may be hundreds of miles away, those extra eyes represent an incremental increase in the safety of your flight. And as an additional benefit, using the service will help you to get more comfortable using the aircraft radio.
Mike Collins
Technical Editor
Mike Collins, AOPA technical editor and director of business development, died at age 59 on February 25, 2021. He was an integral part of the AOPA Media team for nearly 30 years, and held many key editorial roles at AOPA Pilot, Flight Training, and AOPA Online. He was a gifted writer, editor, photographer, audio storyteller, and videographer, and was an instrument-rated pilot and drone pilot.
