roncachamp
Final Approach
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2008
- Messages
- 7,308
- Location
- De Pere, WI
- Display Name
- Steven P McNicoll
- Home Airfield
- WI78
The ones that can be received in Des Moines, apparently.
Flight Following or Flight Plan or just Wing it
- Thread starter Monpilot
- Start date
The ones that can be received in Des Moines, apparently.
MarkZ
En-Route
It depends on who you call, and what the traffic situation is. I have denied FF, but the instances are rare.
In 11 years I've denied FF three times. Each one involved an abnormal situation.
In 11 years I've denied FF three times. Each one involved an abnormal situation.
DesertNomad
Pattern Altitude
1/2: No FF unless I am going over the Sierra's (I am based in Reno). I'll file a flight plan if I am going more than 70 miles or so, esp if I am not following a highway.
Just flying around? No FF and no plan either. But I don't do that much.
Just flying around? No FF and no plan either. But I don't do that much.
txflyer
En-Route
- Joined
- May 3, 2013
- Messages
- 4,509
- Location
- Wild Blue Yonder
- Display Name
- Fly it like you STOL it ♦
- Home Airfield
- Restricted
What are flight plans and flight following? 
To answer you OP....
I get FF when cross country. Not local.
To answer you OP....
I get FF when cross country. Not local.
denverpilot
Tied Down
Jim_R
En-Route
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
- Messages
- 2,568
- Display Name
- Jim
I fly in the Houston area myself. There's enough traffic in the local area where I fly that I appreciate the traffic advisories that FF offers. But I also think others in the neighborhood also appreciate getting my position called clearly to them: "traffic, 11 o'clock, eastbound, Cherokee at 1,500" as opposed to "traffic, 11 o'clock, eastbound, altitude indicates 1,500 unverified".
It's also nice when both traffic parties are on freq and can hear when at least one party has the other in view.
It's also nice when both traffic parties are on freq and can hear when at least one party has the other in view.
C182P
Pre-takeoff checklist
- Joined
- May 28, 2013
- Messages
- 218
- Display Name
- C182P
- Home Airfield
- KMLB
Do you view requesting FF the same as asking permission to do something? If so, that seems like a rather hazardous attitude. I guess one way to look at it though is "can I have permission to not run the risk of descending onto some other aircraft that you can see but I cannot?" and "can I have permission to receive expedited emergency services should the need arise?".
N747JB
Final Approach
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2011
- Messages
- 6,334
- Location
- Atlanta
- Display Name
- John
- Home Airfield
- CTJ Carrollton GA
I normally file IFR, but on my VFR trips I normally ask for FF, I don't think I've been denied in years.
One of my regular short VFR trips is from FTY to CNI for maintenance, I don't use FF on that one as I go from FTY to Dobbins tower, then it's 15 miles to CNI. so I'm pretty much in radio contact 75% of the trip.
I think it's important for newer pilots to get used to the system, especially if they want to get their IR in the future.
My primary CFI taught me how to avoid talking to controllers by flying above and around their airspace.
One of my regular short VFR trips is from FTY to CNI for maintenance, I don't use FF on that one as I go from FTY to Dobbins tower, then it's 15 miles to CNI. so I'm pretty much in radio contact 75% of the trip.I think it's important for newer pilots to get used to the system, especially if they want to get their IR in the future.
My primary CFI taught me how to avoid talking to controllers by flying above and around their airspace.