Flight Following Fail

Editorial Staff

Monday, July 26, 2021 at 10:10 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Pilots on a routine flight were surprised when ATC unexpectedly terminated radar services early, leaving them to navigate crowded airspace independently.
This early termination led to challenges, including one pilot inadvertently clipping controlled airspace without prior communication.
The experience emphasized the critical lesson of not assuming consistent ATC procedures and always being prepared with knowledge of airspace boundaries and frequencies for unexpected situations.

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I’m part of a pilot’s breakfast group that flies from the airport in Big Bear City, Calif., elevation 6700 feet, to lower-elevation airports in the Los Angeles Basin airspace. On this day, we were headed to the Corona (Calif.) Municipal Airport (KAJO) and its good restaurant.

Upon departing our home airport, we request VFR flight following from ATC so we are in the system. The controllers at SoCal Approach keep a watchful eye on us for any conflicts and clear us through the crowded airspace.