When on VFR flight following, if I change my destination enroute they always ask "why". It doesn't bother me, and I have no problem telling them why or saying "cuz I changed my mind", but I'm curious as heck why there's an obvious procedure to ask since every time I've always been asked. What difference does it make?
I don’t recall ever being asked, but you fly a lot more than I do. I think I would reply, “Becauses the Voices are telling me to.”
Post 9/11 it was required. Then it was only required for IFR. Now, to my knowledge, it’s only required for 121 and maybe 135. I do not ask VFRs. I’ve heard of centers asking FLIBS but not sure why. Maybe they have different rules or understandings?
Small GA plane. Loose translation: Friendly little itinerate bird. People saw planes differently. It was raw and emotions trumped logic would be my guess. Truly don’t know.
DEN requires it (IFR) for security reasons but like RC said, I heard they only want 121 / 135 reports these days. Reporting a VFR would be supervisor prerogative I guess. https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Notice/N7210.761.pdf
Seems silly, since a VFR flight doesn’t have to be talking to ATC at all. Heck, there’s not even a requirement to have a radio.
Once they say “radar contact”, they have an obligation to the pilot. If a pilot getting flight following decides to just squawk 1200 and stops talking, ATC is supposed to make sure they actually landed safely somewhere. It’s a CYA for the time one does that and then crashes somewhere, a relative can’t sue the FAA with the argument “you were giving them flight following, maybe they were in distress”.
I was on FF inbound to my home field (Class G) and told Approach I was going to hold off landing and would be maneuvering along the coastline. The controller asked why, and I replied “I wanna stay up here and keep flying instead of going home and doing yardwork.” He was laughing as he rogered that.
Retuning home form a multi day trip where we repositioned plane for departure due to fog forecast... "NorCal, Skylane 345, changing destination to E16" "Roger, reason for diversion?" (or something to that effect) "Uhh, forgot that is where parked my car" "Ha, thanks, we have to ask"
Had the same thing happen recently on an IFR flight plan on a long XC. Strong thunderstorm cell right over my refueling destination. Changed destination to a nearby airport with better weather. Controller asked reason for destination change. I replied weather, and he seemed satisfied with that. on Flightaware the flight shows “deviation”.
Got some statute references for this? I recall reading somewhere that Flight following is ADVISORY ONLY. Canceling IFR also is a clear end to the communication, right? I'm also curious what mind reading and/or clairvoyance training ATC requires. Peeps can sue the FAA all day long. If I was clairvoyant I'd state that no such suit would add to their coffers.
As noted, after 9/11 TSA decided safety was enhanced if IFR change of destinations were queried. Had a controller actually argue with me one day... I changed my fuel stop because there was a cell sitting on the airport per NEXRAD (XM-Sirius). He told me there wasn't a cell. OK, fine... I see one, and I'm not landing there. Next? As a result of this silliness, BeechTalk folks developed a standard response to the why change of destination question: "Booty Call!" Let them stew about that a bit, I suppose... or introduce a note of levity. Paul
I was on VFR flight following in TN, talking to ATL controller, when I said I wanted to change destination, he asked and I said I'd drank a lot of coffee, and he said thanks he had to ask, on with my flight, Gary
This started after 9/11. I get a reason requested frequently. And yes, I've admitted the change was because someone had to use the restroom.
Because we have to tear ourselves away from Netflix/YouTube and change your destination in your data tag. Pick a destination, stick to it and stop bothering us with all your mind changing.
Good to know. I need to mow the lawn today. Thank you for helping me procrastinate. So far, I've managed to put it off for at least two hours.
Any ambiguity can be removed by using phraseology along these lines, "[callsign], Cancel IFR, request frequency change", or "[callsign], Cancel IFR, request flight following"
Statute? No. What actually happens? They treat it exactly the same way as if you didn’t close your VFR flight plan.
instead of renaming 'students' to learners (seriously, wtf), they should rename controllers to coordinators, or 'suggestors' or something like that. not really, but that wouldn't be as far out as the learners bs.
What does a VFR flight plan have to do with Flight Following? My opinion: Nothing I always use flight following and I haven't filed a VFR flight plan since my checkride. Are you saying that Search and Rescue commences?
But then, how do we stop bad people from using airplanes for bad things if we don't have air traffic CONTROL? I am reminded of an episode of the "A Team" where the bad guys took over an airplane on the ground and they were threatening to kill hostages if they didn't get permission to take off from the tower. Yea. God forbid they would depart without clearance...
