More questions on VFR flight following.

OK, if i call up approach when airborne and ask for VFR flight following,
they'll want to know where I'm going. If i'm following a semi-complex
route, on V airways and going from this VOR to that, perhaps turning at an
intersection to a different V airway, do they really want to know that? Or
do they just want the destination? I know that they need the dest, since
they apparently attach it to my callsign. The impact of the route is that i
won't be making a straight line to the destination, but likely some minor
zigs and zags to get there. I often do this to steer clear of B airspace or
restricted areas, when navigating in a plane without GPS. I guess I could
give them my route of flight, but do they really want that -- or just the
final destination?

Second question since I'm on the topic. I've never flown through any class
B airspace. If i popup knocking on the door, having planned a flight to
avoid the airspace, what is the chance that they will clear me through it
for asking? For example, I'm planning a flight that will save a couple
miles if i can cut through the NY Class B, on the west side, e.g. over
Morristown field, and I may not want to get up over the 7,000 ceiling due to
winds aloft. Is it more likely to get clearance to cut a chord through the
outer ring like this -- as opposed to say expecting to, say, overfly the
Statue of Liberty vicinity at 5,500 (which is much closer to the center
rings of the Class B). I don't see any VFR transit routes from a quick
glance of the NY TAC. I guess my strategy would be to plan a circutous
route that keeps my clear of the Class B, but then when I'm close (but not
too close), ask if i can cut direct through it to my destination. IF yes,
I'll just aim for a VOR on the other side.... Any thing I can do to, perhaps
planning the right route through, to increase my chances of getting
clearance?

Thanks -- Tman!

I provide the destination and sometimes intermediate non-direct
waypoints if a lot different.

You can always ask to go through Class B but don't count on it.
Be sure to hear the phrase "Cleared to enter Class B" or equivalent.

Ron Lee

On Jan 2, 7:46*pm, (Ron Lee) wrote:
I provide the destination and sometimes intermediate non-direct
waypoints if a lot different.

You can always ask to go through Class B but don't count on it.
Be sure to hear the phrase "Cleared to enter Class B" or equivalent.

Ron Lee

IF they clear you into Class B, they'll likely put you on vectors.

--Dan

Ron Lee wrote:
I provide the destination and sometimes intermediate non-direct
waypoints if a lot different.

You can always ask to go through Class B but don't count on it.
Be sure to hear the phrase "Cleared to enter Class B" or equivalent.

Ron Lee

All the times that I have used FF is just give a destination. Sometimes
ATC will come back and ask me to repeat the destination. I assume that
it is because I am not headed directly there. I tell them that I will be
flying such and such.

--

Regards, Ross
C-172F 180HP
KSWI

Ross wrote:

All the times that I have used FF is just give a destination. Sometimes
ATC will come back and ask me to repeat the destination. I assume that
it is because I am not headed directly there. I tell them that I will be
flying such and such.

Or perhaps they do not know the airport identifier/location. I will
often use Colorado Springs as my destination instead of the smaller
Meadow Lake. You can't expect ATC to know every airport code in the
US.

Ron Lee

Ron Lee wrote:
Ross wrote:

All the times that I have used FF is just give a destination. Sometimes
ATC will come back and ask me to repeat the destination. I assume that
it is because I am not headed directly there. I tell them that I will be
flying such and such.

Or perhaps they do not know the airport identifier/location. I will
often use Colorado Springs as my destination instead of the smaller
Meadow Lake. You can't expect ATC to know every airport code in the
US.

Even if they know it or or you provide it to them, I've found that ATC
sometimes can't work with a destination when entering the request in
their systems. I've been told that the systems just don't have all
domestic airports in them. For instance, every time I've requested
flight following to PJY from Minnesota for the annual Pinckneyville
fly-in I get asked to name a nearby airport instead. Now I just tell
them Marion or Carbondale.

Rich Ahrens wrote:
Ron Lee wrote:
Ross wrote:

All the times that I have used FF is just give a destination. Sometimes
ATC will come back and ask me to repeat the destination. I assume that
it is because I am not headed directly there. I tell them that I will be
flying such and such.

Or perhaps they do not know the airport identifier/location. I will
often use Colorado Springs as my destination instead of the smaller
Meadow Lake. You can't expect ATC to know every airport code in the
US.

Even if they know it or or you provide it to them, I've found that ATC
sometimes can't work with a destination when entering the request in
their systems. I've been told that the systems just don't have all
domestic airports in them. For instance, every time I've requested
flight following to PJY from Minnesota for the annual Pinckneyville
fly-in I get asked to name a nearby airport instead. Now I just tell
them Marion or Carbondale.

I've found that for small, GA airports ATC out of that area seldom
knows about it and it is much simpler to give them the name of at
least a class D, and sometimes class C, near to where you are going.

Once you are in the area you can tell them the true destination.

Example: I've found that no ATC outside of SoCal seems to know where
Cable (KCCB) is, though I guess they could look it up, but why bother?

I just tell them I'm going to Ontario (KONT) and they all know where
that is.

Why complicate things when I know I will get handed off to Ontario
tower anyway as I go through their airspace and Ontario tower is well
aware of where Cable is.


--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

Rich Ahrens wrote:
Or perhaps they do not know the airport identifier/location. I will
often use Colorado Springs as my destination instead of the smaller
Meadow Lake. You can't expect ATC to know every airport code in the
US.

Even if they know it or or you provide it to them, I've found that ATC
sometimes can't work with a destination when entering the request in
their systems. I've been told that the systems just don't have all
domestic airports in them. For instance, every time I've requested
flight following to PJY from Minnesota for the annual Pinckneyville
fly-in I get asked to name a nearby airport instead. Now I just tell
them Marion or Carbondale.

I have had the same experience Rich. Once I was asked what other
airports were nearby and I had to look at the chart to find something
since it was an area new to me.

Tman N/A wrote:
OK, if i call up approach when airborne and ask for VFR flight following,
they'll want to know where I'm going. If i'm following a semi-complex
route, on V airways and going from this VOR to that, perhaps turning at an
intersection to a different V airway, do they really want to know that? Or
do they just want the destination? I know that they need the dest, since
they apparently attach it to my callsign. The impact of the route is that i
won't be making a straight line to the destination, but likely some minor
zigs and zags to get there. I often do this to steer clear of B airspace or
restricted areas, when navigating in a plane without GPS. I guess I could
give them my route of flight, but do they really want that -- or just the
final destination?

All they want is the destination.

They expect you to be able to navigate to there and stay out of things
like restricted areas on your own.

They may question you on your route if it seems "strange" to them.

Second question since I'm on the topic. I've never flown through any class
B airspace. If i popup knocking on the door, having planned a flight to
avoid the airspace, what is the chance that they will clear me through it
for asking? For example, I'm planning a flight that will save a couple
miles if i can cut through the NY Class B, on the west side, e.g. over
Morristown field, and I may not want to get up over the 7,000 ceiling due to
winds aloft. Is it more likely to get clearance to cut a chord through the
outer ring like this -- as opposed to say expecting to, say, overfly the
Statue of Liberty vicinity at 5,500 (which is much closer to the center
rings of the Class B). I don't see any VFR transit routes from a quick
glance of the NY TAC. I guess my strategy would be to plan a circutous
route that keeps my clear of the Class B, but then when I'm close (but not
too close), ask if i can cut direct through it to my destination. IF yes,
I'll just aim for a VOR on the other side.... Any thing I can do to, perhaps
planning the right route through, to increase my chances of getting
clearance?

The first thing you need to do is look at the appropriate TAC.

Most class B areas have specific routes for VFR traffic that is going
through the area.

Having said that, most class B's are pretty easy going about the outer
rings if it is not an area of heavy traffic.

You can always ask; the worst that can happen is they say no.


--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

Tman writes:

OK, if i call up approach when airborne and ask for VFR flight following,
they'll want to know where I'm going.

Why?