Defending Chicago Approach

[ApacheBob]

I fly out of Chicago-Aurora. I may be lucky, but Chicago Approach has provided flight following 4 out of 5 of the last times that I called.
There have been times when the controller did not sound busy and refused in the past. And clearance through the Class B is almost unheard of.
But the folks at Elgin are much better about VFR advisories then they were before.
I wish I could afford to fly more often so I could check this more often.
ApacheBob

 

[bbchien]

ARR is in a so called VFR sector, IIRC. The probem isn't there, it's under the Bravo.

 

[tonycondon]

i found that one way for them to give you VFR advisories is to tell them that you will be manuevering at 8000 feet for the next three hours near to one of the jet arrival routes. Did a fair amount of photo work in northern illinois summer before last. One of our guys even got a photo site in the corner of the bravo. Called the tower every morning before we left for the airport for about a week and finally one day they arrivals were right that they would let him in.