When you plan your next cross-country flight, make sure to request flight following services from air traffic control (ATC). The service is provided on a workload-permitting basis, and offers great assistance and added safety on your VFR flying adventures. Not only do you benefit from extra eyes in the sky, but ATC will provide advisory services of radar targets that could pose a conflict along your flight path. And, on a long flight alone in the cockpit, it can be just outright nice to be in contact with another human being.
You should be aware of some limitations and gotchas that come along with this great service. For example, how does flight following work with flights penetrating Class B or C airspace? Are you automatically cleared to enter Class B airspace when receiving flight following? View the Air Safety Institute’s latest Ask ATC: Flight Following and Airspace video for answers to those questions, and to hear air traffic controllers explain what to watch out for when it comes to other special airspace considerations.
Ask ATC segments are sponsored by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.
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