Flying VFR doesn't mean you have to fly alone. VFR flight following is a free service that connects you with air traffic control for real-time traffic advisories, safety alerts, and emergency assistance. It's one of the most valuable tools available to pilots, yet many avoid it due to fear of talking to ATC or confusion about how to request it.
This guide explains what flight following is, how to request it, and why it should be part of your standard operating procedure.
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VFR flight following is a radar-based service provided by air traffic control facilities to VFR aircraft. When you receive flight following, ATC assigns you a discrete squawk code, establishes radar contact, and provides traffic advisories about other aircraft that may come into close proximity with your flight path.
According to the FAA's Aeronautical Information Manual, flight following is officially called "radar traffic information service." Controllers monitor your position on radar and alert you to potential traffic conflicts using standardized phraseology.
Important: Flight following does not relieve you of your responsibility to see and avoid other traffic. It supplements your visual scanning, but you remain the pilot in command responsible for collision avoidance.
|
Feature |
VFR Flight Following |
VFR Flight Plan |
|
Primary Purpose |
Real-time traffic advisories and ATC communication |
Search and rescue activation if overdue |
|
ATC Involvement |
Active radar monitoring and two-way communication |
No ATC involvement unless you're overdue |
|
Traffic Advisories |
Yes, continuous when workload permits |
No |
|
Must Be Closed |
Automatically ends when terminated by ATC or you |
Must be closed by the pilot or SAR activated |
|
Required Equipment |
Radio and transponder |
None (can file by phone) |
|
Cost |
Free |
Free |
Many pilots use both services together for maximum safety. You can file a VFR flight plan for search and rescue coverage while also requesting flight following for real-time traffic information.
Flight following offers numerous advantages that enhance safety and situational awareness during VFR flight.
The primary benefit is receiving traffic advisories about other aircraft in your vicinity. Controllers use radar to spot potential conflicts and alert you before the traffic becomes a factor. This gives you a significant advantage over relying solely on visual scanning in busy airspace.
ATC will call out traffic using the clock position method: "Traffic at your two o'clock, three miles, opposite direction, altitude indicates 4,500 feet."
Controllers can issue safety alerts when they observe your aircraft in unsafe proximity to terrain, obstructions, or other aircraft. According to Pilot Institute, these alerts are contingent on the controller being aware of the unsafe proximity, but they provide an additional safety layer beyond your own navigation.
ATC has access to weather radar and can advise you of significant weather along your route. Controllers can provide information about:
Controllers can warn you about military operations areas (MOAs), restricted airspace, and temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) that may affect your route. This is especially valuable when TFRs are established after your departure or when you're flying in unfamiliar areas.
When you need to enter Class B airspace, being on a flight following streamlines the clearance process. You're already talking to ATC, so they can issue the required clearance more efficiently than if you called up cold.
If you experience an emergency, you're already in contact with ATC. Controllers know your position, altitude, and aircraft identification. They can immediately provide vectors to the nearest airport, coordinate emergency services, and clear traffic from your path. This is far more efficient than broadcasting on the emergency frequency and establishing contact from scratch.
Using flight following gives you valuable practice communicating with ATC, understanding their instructions, and integrating into the air traffic system. For private pilot students planning to pursue an instrument rating, this experience is invaluable.
You can request a flight following either on the ground before departure or after you're airborne. The process differs slightly depending on whether you're at a towered airport or a non-towered field.
To use flight following, you need:
Your aircraft must be able to transmit your altitude to ATC so controllers can provide accurate vertical separation information in their traffic advisories.
At a towered airport with approach control services, you can request flight following from ground control or clearance delivery before you taxi.
Example Radio Call:
You: "Metro Ground, Cessna 734SP at the north ramp, request VFR flight following to Portland with information Charlie"
Ground Control: "Cessna 734SP, Departure frequency 124.3, squawk 4521."
You: “Departure frequency 124.3, squawk 4521, Cessna 734SP."
Set your transponder to the assigned squawk code (4521 in this example). After takeoff, when the tower tells you to contact departure, check in with your altitude:
You: "Departure, Cessna 734SP, passing one thousand five hundred for four thousand five hundred."
The departure controller will confirm radar contact and begin providing traffic advisories.
If you're departing from a non-towered airport or didn't request flight following on the ground, you can request it once airborne.
Step-by-step process:
1. Identify the correct frequency
Check your sectional chart, chart supplement, or EFB for the appropriate approach control or center frequency.
2. Listen before transmitting
Monitor the frequency to gauge how busy it is. If it's very busy, keep your initial call brief.
3. Make your initial call
If the frequency is busy:
You: "Seattle Center, Cessna 734SP, VFR request."
Wait for the controller to acknowledge you, then provide details.
If the frequency is quiet, you can include everything in one call:
You: "Seattle Center, Cessna 734SP is a Cessna 172, ten miles north of Olympia at three thousand five hundred, request VFR flight following to Paine Field."
4. Receive your squawk code
Center: "Cessna 734SP, squawk 4632 and ident."
You: "Squawk 4632 and ident, Cessna 734SP."
5. Confirm radar contact
Center: "Cessna 734SP, radar contact ten miles north of Olympia, altitude indicates three thousand five hundred."
You're now receiving flight following services.
Flight following is provided on a "workload permitting" basis. This means controllers have the discretion to accept or decline your request based on several factors:
If a controller is too busy, they may say "unable flight following at this time." This isn't personal. They're prioritizing required IFR separation services and other mandatory duties. You can try again later with a different facility or continue your flight without radar services.
Similarly, ATC can terminate your flight following at any time if workload increases or you fly outside their radar coverage area.
When ATC spots potential traffic conflicts, they'll issue advisories using standardized phraseology from the FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary.
Example: "Cessna 734SP, traffic at your one o'clock, four miles, southbound, altitude indicates five thousand two hundred."
Your response should be:
This feedback helps controllers assess whether additional advisories or vectors might be necessary.
Inform ATC of any changes to your flight:
These updates help controllers provide accurate traffic advisories and plan for handoffs to the next facility.
On longer flights, you'll be handed off to different controllers as you traverse multiple sectors or facilities.
Center: "Cessna 734SP, contact Seattle Center on 132.45."
You: "132.45, Cessna 734SP."
On the new frequency:
You: "Seattle Center, Cessna 734SP, level six thousand five hundred."
If you can't establish contact with the new frequency after several attempts, return to the previous frequency and let them know.
You can cancel flight following at any time. Common reasons include:
Example: "Center, Cessna 734SP has the airport in sight, cancel flight following."
Center: "Cessna 734SP, radar service terminated, squawk VFR, frequency change approved."
Set your transponder back to 1200 and switch to the appropriate frequency (CTAF, tower, etc.).
Never just change frequencies without notifying ATC. If controllers can't reach you, they may initiate emergency services.
False. Flight following provides traffic advisories, not separation services (except in certain Class B and C operations). You remain responsible for seeing and avoiding all traffic. Controllers will call out traffic they observe, but they cannot guarantee to see every aircraft, especially those without transponders.
False. Controllers appreciate when VFR pilots use flight following because it makes their job easier. When they know where you are and where you're going, they can better manage all traffic in their airspace. As long as you use proper phraseology and keep transmissions concise, controllers welcome your participation.
False. Student pilots and newly certificated private pilots are encouraged to use flight following. It's an excellent learning opportunity and significantly enhances safety, especially on solo cross-country flights during flight training.
False. Flight following supplements but never replaces visual scanning. Radar has limitations, and not all aircraft are visible to ATC. Continue scanning for traffic as you would on any VFR flight.
Know your route and destination identifiers. Have your destination's three-letter identifier ready (use the full name if it's a small airport ATC might not recognize).
Identify appropriate frequencies in advance. Mark the approach control and center frequencies on your sectional or EFB before departure.
Have your information ready. Aircraft type, tail number, position, altitude, and destination should be immediately available.
Think before you speak. Plan your transmission to be clear and concise. This respects the controller workload and frequency users.
Listen for your call sign. Stay attentive to the frequency. Missing a call can result in terminated services.
Maintain your VFR responsibilities. Continue scanning for traffic, monitoring weather, and maintaining proper navigation. Don't delegate these duties to ATC.
Ask for help when needed. Controllers are there to assist. If you need vectors around weather, information about traffic at your destination, or help with navigation, ask.
Monitor 121.5 (emergency frequency). If primary communications fail, ATC may try to reach you on the emergency frequency.
Flight following is an essential skill that builds confidence and safety awareness. Like any skill, it improves with practice. Start using it on every cross-country flight, and it will quickly become second nature.
Flight following requires radar coverage, which isn't available everywhere. In mountainous terrain, at very low altitudes, or in remote areas, you may be outside radar coverage even if you're in controlled airspace.
If you can't get flight following:
File and open a VFR flight plan. This ensures search and rescue will be activated if you're overdue.
Use your ADS-B traffic display if equipped. While not a substitute for ATC services, it provides additional situational awareness.
Increase your vigilance. In busy airspace without flight following, be especially attentive to traffic scanning and pattern entry procedures.
Monitor common frequencies. Some areas have informal traffic advisory frequencies where pilots self-announce their positions.
When requesting flight following, you need to provide your aircraft identification (tail number), aircraft type, current position and altitude, destination airport, and requested cruising altitude. Controllers use this information to identify you on radar and provide appropriate traffic advisories.
Yes, Class E airspace is controlled airspace where radar services are commonly available. Most cross-country VFR flights occur in Class E airspace at cruise altitudes, making it an ideal environment for flight following. Contact the appropriate center or approach control frequency to request services.
The aviation emergency frequency is 121.5 MHz. While not specifically used for flight following operations, controllers may attempt to contact you on 121.5 as a last resort if communications on the primary frequency fail. Always monitor 121.5 when possible to assist other aircraft in distress.
Radar coverage refers to the area where ATC radar can detect and track aircraft. Coverage is best at higher altitudes and in developed areas. In mountainous terrain or at low altitudes, radar coverage may be limited or nonexistent, which affects the availability of flight following services.
Class B airspace requires an explicit ATC clearance before entry. When you're already on flight following with approach control, they can issue this clearance more efficiently. However, being on flight following does NOT automatically clear you into Class B. You must hear "cleared into the Class Bravo" or similar phraseology before entering.
Tell ground control your tail number, location on the airport, destination, requested altitude, and that you want flight following. Example: "Ground, Cessna 734SP at the south ramp, VFR to Olympia with information Alpha, request flight following, three thousand five hundred."
Simply ask ATC: "Center, Cessna 734SP, request nearest airport with services." Controllers can quickly identify suitable airports based on your position and provide heading and distance information. This is particularly valuable during emergencies or when weather forces a diversion.
The primary frequency is the ATC frequency you're currently using to receive flight following services. This changes as you're handed off to different controllers during your flight. Always note the frequency you're leaving when receiving a handoff so you can return if needed.
The requested altitude is the VFR cruising altitude you plan to fly during your flight. When you request flight following, you tell ATC this altitude so they can provide accurate traffic advisories about aircraft at or near your altitude. You should use the appropriate VFR hemispheric altitude based on your magnetic course.
A radar target is the display of an aircraft on the controller's radar screen. Your aircraft becomes a tagged radar target when you're assigned a squawk code and identified. Controllers can then track your movement and provide traffic advisories about other radar targets in your vicinity.
The chart supplement (formerly Airport/Facility Directory) lists ATC frequencies for approach control, departure control, and center facilities serving each airport. Look up your departure or destination airport to find the appropriate frequencies to request flight following.
Pilots use flight following to enhance safety, receive traffic advisories, get help with weather avoidance, access special use airspace information, streamline Class B clearances, practice ATC communications, and ensure immediate help is available during emergencies. It's one of the most valuable free services available to VFR pilots.
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