Mushroomed

So, there I was, droning along level at 9000 feet. I had just launched from Cheap Fuel Stop, Fla, on a non-stop IFR to Virginia. I was cleared direct Savannah, and was motoring off in that general direction, from southwest of Orlando. Miami Center had turned me over to Orlando Approach. It was a typical Florida spring afternoon, with scattered white puffies in all quadrants, tops to about 7-8000 feet and smooth, clear air above.

Key Takeaways:

• The author recounts an experience where Air Traffic Control (ATC) vectored his IFR flight without providing a clear reason, leading to a vague and defensive explanation when questioned, contrary to FAA guidelines.
• This incident highlights a broader issue of ATC not adhering to proper phraseology and lacking transparency, particularly when vectors are issued for workload management rather than immediate traffic conflicts, a practice the author calls "mushrooming."
• The FAA's ADS-B Out mandate for 2020 imposes billions in equipment costs on general aviation, offering limited direct benefits beyond continued airspace access.
• The article suggests that the primary beneficiaries of ADS-B are the FAA (through cost savings) and commercial airlines (via operational efficiency), rather than individual general aviation pilots who bear the significant financial burden.

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