A Word About "With You"
When level at an assigned altitude, many pilots say "with you at..." when they check in with a new controller. It makes no difference if you report "Trainer zero-zero-zero-zero-zero with you at six-thousand" or "Trainer zero-zero-zero-zero-zero at six-thousand." Personally, I prefer "at" because it's shorter. The extra two syllables may not seem significant, but when the frequency is busy, every little bit helps. Both reports are widely used and are acceptable.
Occasionally, pilots use "with you" when they make their initial call to ATC, or when a controller tells them to squawk 1200 (VFR, no radar service) and then suggests they contact the next ATC facility on a given frequency. This often happens when a VFR pilot, who isn't yet familiar with how the ATC system works, makes his initial call for flight following.
The controller may be confused for a moment as he scans his radar targets, flight progress strips (strips of paper with information on aircraft already within the system), or computer read-outs trying in vain to find information about the call sign he just heard.
When you make your first call to ATC, say something such as "Boston Center, Trainer zero-zero-zero-zero-zero, over Madison VOR, request flight following." The controller will immediately know you're a new flight that needs to be identified and processed. Save "with you..." for subsequent reports, when you check in after one controller hands you off to another.
Also, if you're receiving flight following from one facility and the controller says "Radar service terminated, squawk twelve-hundred, suggest you contact Houston Approach on one-two-four-point-six" - this is not a hand-off to the next facility. Chances are the Houston approach controller doesn't know anything about you. You will have to start the identification process all over again.
