VFR Flight Following: A Pilot’s Guide
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VFR flight following is an ATC service that provides traffic advisories and safety alerts.
VFR flight following is an ATC service that provides traffic advisories and safety alerts to participating VFR aircraft, workload permitting. It gives you another set of eyes in the cockpit without turning your VFR flight into an IFR operation.
If you’ve never requested flight following, there’s no reason to be intimidated. Once you know what information ATC needs and what to expect on the radio, the process is surprisingly simple—and it can be especially valuable on longer cross-country flights.
VFR Flight Following at a Glance
What is it? ATC traffic advisories and safety alerts for VFR aircraft, provided on a workload-permitting basis.
How do I request it? Contact the appropriate ATC facility and make a VFR request.
What information do I need? Your aircraft identification, position, altitude, destination, and your request for flight following.
Does ATC take responsibility for avoiding traffic? No. VFR pilots remain responsible for seeing and avoiding other aircraft.
Is it available everywhere? No. Availability depends on surveillance coverage, communications, and controller workload.
What is VFR flight following?
What pilots commonly call “VFR flight following” is described in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) under radar traffic information services. In simple terms, it allows a VFR aircraft to receive traffic advisories and other assistance from ATC when the controller has the capability and workload permits.
The biggest benefit is another set of eyes looking for traffic that could pose a threat to your aircraft. ATC may also issue safety alerts when a controller becomes aware of a potential hazard involving traffic, terrain, or other obstructions.
If you hear the words “safety alert” on the frequency, pay close attention and be prepared to respond quickly.
The red “CA” in this screen indicates a potential collision alert.
It is important to understand what flight following does—and does not—provide. ATC services for VFR aircraft are provided on a workload-permitting basis. Controllers have many responsibilities, with separating IFR traffic taking priority. Frequency congestion, controller workload, surveillance limitations, and other factors can affect the service provided.
Flight following should therefore be viewed as an additional layer of situational awareness, not a replacement for the pilot’s responsibility to see and avoid traffic, navigate, and make appropriate weather decisions.
Why should I use VFR flight following?
The obvious benefit is traffic information, but there are several other reasons to consider requesting flight following on a VFR cross-country:
- An additional source of traffic information and safety alerts
- Improved situational awareness about surrounding aircraft
- Potential assistance in an emergency
- An opportunity to receive useful information from ATC when workload and equipment permit
- Practice communicating with ATC and listening to other aircraft on the frequency
- Potential assistance with navigation or weather-related questions
The key word is potential. None of these services should be assumed or relied upon in place of your normal preflight planning and pilot responsibilities.
How do I obtain flight following?
Flight following is available where the appropriate ATC surveillance and communications coverage exists and controller workload permits. Coverage varies considerably by location and altitude. At lower altitudes, surveillance coverage may be limited by terrain and other factors. In many parts of the country, however, VFR pilots can obtain flight following at normal cruise altitudes, including on long cross-country flights.
If you’re unsure whether flight following is available along your route, ask a local pilot or instructor about the best frequencies and coverage in the area. For locating the appropriate frequency, consult your sectional chart and the Chart Supplement. Many GPS navigators and electronic flight bag apps also provide ATC frequency information.
Consult your VFR chart for appropriate frequencies.
Remember that even if surveillance coverage is available, flight following is not guaranteed. It is provided at the discretion of the controller based on workload and other operational considerations. Still, it’s almost always worth asking.
The Chart Supplement will provide ATC frequency information.
What do I say to ATC?
This is the part that makes many pilots nervous, but requesting flight following is actually quite simple. A controller will generally need to know your aircraft identification, position, altitude, destination, and what service you’re requesting.
If the frequency is busy, don’t try to squeeze a long transmission into a crowded frequency. Start with your aircraft identification and let the controller tell you when to proceed.
The controller will want to know your present position, aircraft type/tail number, altitude, and your destination.
To help answer this important question of what information to provide and how to say it, we went to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) representing nearly 20,000 professionals across the country. The controller will want to know your present position, aircraft type/tail number, altitude, and your destination. There are important caveats.
If the controller is working a busy frequency, start with an initial call that provides your type/tail number and simply that you have a VFR request.
“Nashville Approach, Cessna 12345, VFR request.”
When the controller is in a position to receive a request, issue a code, and radar identify, you’re likely to hear a response similar to this:
“Cessna 12345, Nashville Approach, go ahead with your request.”
If there is some breathing room on frequency, it’s ok to minimize transmissions and provide more information in the initial call.
“Nashville Approach, Cessna 12345, three miles south of Lebanon at five-thousand, five-hundred, VFR to Greene County Airport, request flight following.”
When providing your destination, if it’s an airport located within range of that ATC facility, or a major metropolitan airport, it would be acceptable to provide the airport name or ID, but if you’re traveling a considerable distance, it’s best to stick with a major city and/or your on-course heading.
“Nashville Approach, Cessna 12345, three miles south of Lebanon at five-thousand, five-hundred VFR to Myrtle Beach, request flight following.”
This is what the controller will see on his screen.
For a longer flight, you may also wish to request hand-offs to subsequent ATC facilities. This eliminates the need to make initial calls with all of the requisite flight information as your flight information is passed along from one controller to the next. But keep in mind, this does require a little more effort on the part of the controller. If your flight following is terminated by ATC, you can always make a new request with the next facility.
“Nashville Approach, Cessna 12345, three miles south of Lebanon at five-thousand, five-hundred VFR to Myrtle Beach, request flight following with hand-offs.”
If ATC is able to accommodate your request, your next transmission will likely be a transponder “squawk” code. As a VFR pilot, you may have flown exclusively with your transponder code set to 1200, if given flight following, you will be asked to enter a unique code. The controller will advise when radar contact is established. 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.
“Nashville Approach, Cessna 12345, climbing VFR to seven-thousand, five-hundred.”
How is a hand-off to another ATC facility handled?
If the controller has coordinated a hand-off, meaning your flight information has been passed on to the next facility and a new controller is awaiting your check-in, the instructions will sound similar to this:
“Cessna 12345, contact Memphis Center, one-two-eight, point two-two.”
If a hand-off was not coordinated, you may be provided a suggested frequency (or not) and your current squawk code will need to be reset to VFR, 1200. You can always tell whether a hand-off has been coordinated by whether the controller’s transmission is an instruction versus a suggestion.
“Cessna 12345, radar service terminated, squawk VFR. For further flight following, suggest Memphis Center on one-two-eight, point two-two.”
What are the do’s and don’ts of flight following?
Do:
- Listen up. Don’t make the controller call your aircraft three times because you missed your tail number.
- Have your information ready. Know your position, altitude, destination, and general route before you call.
- Be an active participant in seeing and avoiding traffic. ATC traffic advisories are an additional resource, not a replacement for looking outside.
- Monitor the appropriate frequency. If ATC is providing flight following, stay engaged and respond promptly to calls.
- Be prepared to assist other aircraft. Monitoring 121.5 MHz when practical can help you hear emergency traffic or respond if ATC needs another way to reach you.
Be an active participant if taking advantage of VFR Flight Following.
Don’t:
- Don’t assume ATC is taking responsibility for traffic separation. VFR pilots remain responsible for seeing and avoiding other aircraft.
- Don’t rely on ATC for navigation. ATC may point out an obvious deviation or provide assistance when requested, but navigation remains the pilot’s responsibility.
- Don’t rely on ATC for weather avoidance. Controllers may provide weather information or assistance when workload and equipment permit, but you remain responsible for evaluating and avoiding hazardous weather.
- Don’t monopolize the frequency. Keep your transmissions concise and be aware that the controller may be handling IFR traffic and other aircraft.
Does ATC consider flight following a nuisance?
Generally, no. A VFR aircraft receiving flight following is a known aircraft with known intentions, which can make the controller’s job easier. The key is to be a considerate participant.
Know what you want before you key the microphone. Listen carefully. Respond promptly. Keep transmissions concise.
Remember that controllers are primarily responsible for managing and separating IFR traffic. VFR flight following is an additional service provided when workload permits.
Participating in Flight Following can make it easier for a controller to complete his primary task.
Do I have to terminate flight following, or will ATC do it?
It depends. If you’re ready to leave the frequency or switch to a local advisory frequency, you can initiate the termination:
“Nashville Approach, Cessna 12345, cancel radar service.”
If you need to leave the frequency briefly, you can make that request without terminating service.
“Nashville Approach, Cessna 12345, request a frequency change to call flight service.”
If you’re venturing outside of radar coverage, or if workload no longer permits flight following, it could be initiated by ATC.
“Cessna 12345, radar service terminated, squawk VFR, frequency change approved.”
What if I lose communications?
If you’re receiving flight following and have difficulty communicating with ATC, first try to reestablish contact on the assigned frequency. If that doesn’t work, consider the other available resources appropriate to the situation, such as a previous or next ATC frequency or 121.5 MHz.
If you determine that you have a communications failure, follow the applicable procedures for your situation, including the appropriate transponder code when necessary. The important point is to have a plan before you need one. Know the frequencies along your route and keep them readily available.
What additional benefits can flight following provide?
Traffic advisories are the primary benefit, but flight following can provide an additional layer of assistance during a VFR flight. Depending on controller workload, equipment, and circumstances, you may receive:
- Traffic information and safety alerts
- Information about other aircraft and potential conflicts
- Assistance when dealing with an emergency
- Weather information or pilot reports
- Assistance identifying a nearby airport or other location
- Help contacting another ATC facility or Flight Service
In an emergency, having ATC already tracking your aircraft can be especially valuable. The controller may be able to provide information, coordinate assistance, or help you locate an airport.
One of the benefits of Flight Following is quick assistance in an emergency.
VFR flight following isn’t a substitute for good pilot decision-making, seeing and avoiding traffic, navigation, or weather planning. It is an additional layer of safety and situational awareness.
If you’ve never used flight following, don’t let the radio work intimidate you. Know your position, altitude, destination, and what you’re asking for. Make the call, listen carefully, and follow the controller’s instructions.
Once you get comfortable with it, you may find yourself wondering why you didn’t use flight following sooner.
Download the NATCA Guide to VFR Flight Following.
Flight Following Guide from NATCA.
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When I don’t ask for flight following, I still keep situational awareness by monitoring the appropriate frequencies. To determine the freqs on ForeFlight, I tap on an airport ahead and nearby on my route and get them in the little side bar pop up. You can usually tell when ATC is pointing you out to others by your altitude and position. And the Traffic layer helps you toward seeing and avoiding.
After my private pilot and IFR I wish I would have done more Flight Following aka Traffic Advisories during my Private Pilot. Now when I fly VFR and it is XC I will always use Flight Following, especially around busy airspace and restricted airspace. I will also use ATC to request a practice VFR approach. I have had them vector me to the FAF and also clear me through Class Bravo airspace. My home airport has radar services so I always request it from Ground when I depart.
It would be nice if more ATC understood that when calling airliner traffic to us bug-smashers that maintaining visual separation is more dependent on the airliner’s actions…they’re flying 2-3x faster, climbing/descending 3-4x faster and a lot bigger…which is our only advantage, they’re easier to see than we are…asking Granny in the crosswalk to avoid highway traffic isn’t a great plan.
Another tool is to follow along on sector freqs even if you don’t get flt following, you’ll hear yourself called as traffic which confirms they are tracking you, and gives you an opportunity to help by giving “wing flashes” (large rolls) that help others get a visual.
Recently I was flying VFR beneath a Class B shelf monitoring the approach control frequency, but not talking to them. I was surprised when approach control called me to see if I was on frequency. I responded in the affirmative and he asked permission to give me flight following! He figured it was better to be talking to me rather than just hoping I wouldn’t inadvertantly climb into his busy Class B.
Good article, but I would give the destination airport identifier, not a major city or heading. I give the airport I’m headed to even if it’s 200+ miles away and always the identifier, not it’s name.
you can never go wrong by giving the identifier of a small far away airport
ATC will usually also provide advice on MOAs on your route, whether they are hot and you should remain clear, or they are inactive and you may transition them on course.