I'm going to do my long XC soon, and my instructor is having me get flight following through Charlie airspace to my first destination, then back down clipping the edge of it again, and finally crossing yet again to the final airport before heading back. Kind of like a triangle pattern. He says to let approach know I'll be stopping at those 2 other airports so I can keep the same squawk code....
How do I request this when ask for FF? My first thought is to amend the destination with the 2 other stops and assume that they will assign me a code to hold onto for the 2nd and 3rd leg as well.
And also, when taking off again and requesting FF do I just tack on the squawk code after the request?
In my opinion, this kind of request is best made in (concise) plain English. Something like:
"XXX approach, bugsmasher 1234A, VFR request"
"Go ahead, 1234A"
"1234A is a bugsmasher 700q, five miles east of homebase, 800 feet climbing 2500. Request flight following for round robin landing podunk, then littlefield, then back to homebase."
"1234A, squawk 5432 and ident"
etc etc
Upon approaching podunk, one of three things will happen:
Option one (most likely) is that they will remember who you are and what you're doing, and say something like:
"Bugsmasher 1234A, advise when you have podunk in sight"
"1234A has podunk in sight"
"Bugsmasher 1234A, no traffic observed between you and podunk. Change to advisory frequency approved, report again on this frequency when airborne."
(When you re-contact them, no need to specify your squawk code. Just never switch back to 1200, and when you take off and identify yourself as Bugsmasher 1234A, they'll remember. They may ask you to ident.)
Option two (somewhat likely) is that they will forget what's you're doing, but will be happy to accommodate when reminded:
"Bugsmasher 1234A, advise when you have podunk in sight"
"1234A has podunk in sight"
"Bugsmasher 1234A, no traffic observed between you and podunk. Change to advisory frequency approved, squawk VFR, good day."
"XXX approach, Bugsmasher 1234A will be round robin to littlefield, then back to homebase, request maintain squawk."
"Rodger 1234A, maintain squawk code and report on this frequency when airborne."
Option three (very unlikely unless you're in the DC SFRA or your charlie is embedded in some big bravo or something), they really don't want to deal with you. It begins similar to option two, of course:
"Bugsmasher 1234A, advise when you have podunk in sight"
"1234A has podunk in sight"
"Bugsmasher 1234A, no traffic observed between you and podunk. Change to advisory frequency approved, squawk VFR, good day."
"XXX approach, Bugsmasher 1234A will be round robin to littlefield, then back to homebase, request maintain squawk."
"Unable, 1234A. Squawk VFR and make your request again when airborne."
The only other thing I'll mention (because it happened to me once) is that if you're on one of these "VFR through" situations (for lack of anything better to call them), if something means you're going to be sticking around for a while instead of taking off again (in my case it was a brake failure after parking), call up approach and let them know, so they can clear up the squawk code, and know you're okay.