Owen Becker
Filing Flight Plan
Request Flight Following with NorCal approach on cruising altitude. Notice I should begin my decent for the airport. Do I have to request to descend or notify ATC of decent to airport (VFR)?
Bingo. If they've told you to maintain altitude or to tell them before vacating you have to tell them otherwise you should tell them and I think it's basic courtesy.You don't have to unless they tell you to let them know before vacating that altitude. However, I always tell them when I'm about to start my VFR descent just to keep then in the know. They usually respond with "roger".
This.I do it out of courtesy. I realize they are trying to keep separation of the little dots on the screen and one doing something unexpected could complicate things.
No, you don't have to, but why wouldn't you? You'll need to let them know when you're leaving their frequency anyway.
When approaching the airport, I advise that I'm about to start my descent and I ask if they see any other inbound traffic or folks in the pattern. Then I advise that I'm switching to the airport CTAF.
It's a good idea to tell them whenever you're changing altitudes, as they may have traffic at the new altitude and want to advise both of you. When I need to change course and direction due to cloud cover, for example, I let them know what I'm doing. Their radar can see things in the clouds that I can't. Furthermore, seeing my track suddenly change course and start dropping could cause concern if they don't know what I'm doing.
Why only 99% sure you have to obey an AC instruction?If ATC gives you an altitude, or says notify before vacation. Then I am 99% sure you are required too notify before changing altitude.
If ATC gives you an altitude, or says notify before vacation. Then I am 99% sure you are required too notify before changing altitude.
To be fair, I have only had this request when talking to military controllers, or anywhere between NYC and DC tracon areas.
Tim
Why only 99% sure you have to obey an AC instruction?
Damn, I have to let ATC know when I'm going on vacation now!!!