What do you say when requesting a flight following?

Example of Communication with ATC: Pilot: “Columbia Approach, Cherokee 12345, request VFR Flight Following.” ATC: “Cherokee 12345, Columbia Approach, squawk 0322, Columbia altimeter 2992.” After the initial transmission, ATC will need additional information, including type aircraft and destination.



To request "Flight Following" (VFR Radar Advisory Service) in 2026, a pilot should contact the appropriate Departure or Approach controller with a concise, structured transmission. The standard format is: "[Facility Name], [Aircraft Tail Number], Requesting Flight Following." Once the controller acknowledges, you provide the "full block" of information: "Type [Aircraft Model], Position [Relative to a landmark/VOR], Altitude [Current altitude], Destination [Airport Code], and Requesting [Squawk Code]." For example: "SoCal Approach, Cessna 172SP, N123AB, 5 miles south of Long Beach, 3,500 feet, destination Santa Barbara, requesting flight following." The controller will then provide a discrete transponder code (e.g., "Squawk 4521") and the local altimeter setting. This service is invaluable for safety as it allows Air Traffic Control (ATC) to provide traffic advisories and "eyes on" support while you fly under Visual Flight Rules. It is important to remember that flight following is "workload permitting"—ATC can deny the request or terminate the service if they become too busy with IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) traffic.

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As a pilot performing a VFR flight and departing from a controlled airfield, you must contact the ATC before taxi in order to have the initial VFR clearance. You will obtain this clearance from a ground or tower controller. In other airports, you may ask the approach controller to obtain your clearance.

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You can request it on the ground, usually from clearance or ground control at a towered airport. Simply ask for an IFR climb to VFR-on-top. The controller will need to know your type aircraft and direction of flight.

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You will need at least a radio and a transponder to get flight following. The requirement for a radio is self-evident. The transponder isn't an absolute, cast-in-stone requirement, but in most cases ATC will not give you flight following if you don't have a transponder.

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As a VFR aircraft, altitude is the pilot's discretion unless there has been an explicit assignment by ATC for traffic purposes. You should advise the controller of any altitude changes.

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The approval needed to enter Class C airspace is like Class D in that you do not need a specific clearance, but you do need to establish two-way communication with control. To be able to enter Class C airspace, a pilot must contact ATC prior to arrival.

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Aircraft dispatchers are held just as legally responsible for the flight plan and flight execution as the pilot, where flight followers do not hold the same legal responsibilities. And, even though the title flight follower or aircraft dispatcher does not scream “superhero,” you might as well be Clark Kent.

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Flights on visual flight rules (VFR), when in uncontrolled airspace, will squawk VFR (1200 in the US and Canada, 7000 in Europe). Upon contact with an ATC unit, they will be told to squawk a certain code.

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If any problems occur with the engine or wings, the crew can see it out of those tiny round windows in a cabin. If the aircraft needs to be evacuated, passengers and the whole crew is able to see which side of the aircraft is safer for evacuation.

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However, pilots especially those flying under Visual Flight Rules get lost sometimes. Reasons include flying to a new area, poor flight planning, improper instrument checks, flying into instrument meteorological conditions and others.

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If you are receiving flight following, you are automatically cleared to enter the outer ring of a TFR and to enter Class C or D airspace. However, there is one circumstance that flight following will not protect you from, and that is flying into Class B airspace.

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Requesting Flight Following Flight following can be requested from the ground at certain airports. Generally larger airports are equipped to provide flight following services for departing aircraft. At smaller airports you may or may not be able to request flight following prior to departure.

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Well, as most of you under the FARs are aware?not to say used to?in the United States it is perfectly legal to fly VFR without any visual contact with the ground. As long as you maintain the minimum VFR requirements regarding visibility and cloud clearances, you are good to go?all you need is a natural horizon.

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