Initial Contact Question

"blackboxman" wrote in message
...
I know this is an IFR forum but your opinion is appreciated.

Scenario: you are receiving VFR flight following and are handed off to
another controller. You call up the new controller to make initial
contact. According to a controller I overheard yesterday, this callup
is incorrect:

"Name Center, Cessna 12345, five thousand five hundred."

This controller told every single pilot who checked in this way that
they were to state that they were VFR.

"Name Center, Cessna 12345, five thousand five hundred, VFR."

Is this new? It was news to everyone who got "the lesson" from this
controller. Thanks.

There's no such requirement. The controller's data tag identifies you as
VFR.

I'm just speculating, but what could have happened was the data link between
facilities was down so ATC was doing manual handoffs. The controller may
have wanted verification of VFR flights just to cover his bases.