VFR Flight Following

But, if you are going VFR, deciding if you want flight following should definitely be on your list. If youre going to pass through Class Bravo airspace you might as well; its virtually a requirement. Otherwise, if the weather is clear and a million, youre not going through any airspace requiring you to talk to ATC, and youve decided to go VFR, should you consider flight following? Long story short, and after all factors are considered, the answer is Yes.

Elim Hawkins

Saturday, October 20, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

VFR flight following is a highly recommended and simple-to-obtain ATC service that significantly enhances safety for pilots flying under Visual Flight Rules.
It provides crucial traffic and obstacle advisories, acts as an additional safety layer for collision avoidance, and offers vital assistance during emergencies by having ATC already aware of your position.
The service also alerts pilots to significant events like pop-up TFRs or fast-moving weather and is beneficial for specific operations such as practice approaches.
While availability is workload-permitting and may involve vectors for safety, its comprehensive benefits, including reduced pilot workload during critical situations, far outweigh any minor inconveniences.

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When you start your flight planning, one of the first things you may think of is the mission, how far you are going, and the minimums. Within those parameters, you determine if you need to go IFR or if VFR is sufficient. Obviously, if conditions or your own preferences lead you to an IFR flight, VFR flight following isn’t your concern.

But, if you are going VFR, deciding if you want flight following should definitely be on your list. If you’re going to pass through Class Bravo airspace you might as well; it’s virtually a requirement. Otherwise, if the weather is “clear and a million,” you’re not going through any airspace requiring you to talk to ATC, and you’ve decided to go VFR, should you consider flight following? Long story short, and after all factors are considered, the answer is “Yes.”