Hacking ATC: How to get Flight Following-On The Ground

Maybe you’ve used flight following to get VFR radar services, but you stumbled with ATC communications while flying. In this video, we’ll show you how to pick up flight following before departing.

CHAPTERS
00:00 INTRO
01:30 VFR FLIGHT FOLLOWING COMMUNICATIONS
02:40 TAXI
04:20 BEFORE DEPATURE CHECKLIST RUNUP
05:40 DEPARTURE
07:25 CHECK IN WITH DEPARTURE

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[darrelllee]

I was a controller for 10 years. (That's actually how I got started in aviation.) The reason that some Deltas can and some cannot provide the VFR flight following has to do with the type of airspace outside of the Delta and the radar coverage in the area. If you are an air airport with a VFR tower out in the boonies - I use Paducah, KY (KPAH) where I used to fly often as an example - radar service was provided my Memphis Center but the nearest radar antenna was at Ft. Campbell probably 70 or 80 miles away. (IFR separation is provided through what we call non-radar which uses procedural separation with by reporting at each fix on the route until radar coverage is available just as trans-oceanic flights do). So that's what it really boils down to - if the radar controller will actually be able to see you or not. There are other factors as well such as current workload (we would never deny flight-following unless we were just so busy that it wasn't possible but that does sometimes happen).
Great content as always!

[kevindavis]

I did a discovery flight a couple weeks ago, and said “Up and outta here” when the plane was off the ground. When we landed, I had to explain to the instructor that I watch this channel, since he wasn’t familiar with that phrase!

[thekordalawfirm]

I am so glad you relocated to KAPF. Makes life easy for me at my home airport and flight school.

[benhalvorson]

Hi Jason! 
Ive been taking the MZEROA online ground School and honestly
you always make the topic clear and vary easy to understand.
I love how you break it up into section.
I would 100% recommend every student pilot take this course.
Thanks for all the hard work you put into teaching us about aviation.

[frankdaniels]

I am always impressed by your clear, precise radio work Jason. You make it look easy!

[oldschoolcfi]

Great Video- I usually add "with request" after the call sign on the initial contact - this lets them know I expect more than the usual taxi clearance - End request call with "ready to taxi". Just saves an additional radio call, which at some airports, can be helpful. Our local tower cab is often crewed by one person, running Tower and Ground, a little efficiency can be really helpful.

[SaintScheriff]

I used to fly out of a Charlie, now beginning my commercial at a Delta. Slightly different picking up flight following! Thanks for the video!

[crcantrelljr]

Great video and tips. As usual, I always learn something from you.

[DamaysiVazquez]

I was just in KOCF yesterday October 18 for lunch. Missed you by a few hours.

[novartec]

I fly out of KIXD class D and it does not have radar but I can pick up flight following from ground, I assume it is because we are near KMCI class B. thanks for all the great video's.

[Fiftyx]

Another helpful video! Just curios: you mentioned keeping then scratchpad handy on your iPad. Is that in Foreflight?

[insanomonkey]

Re-uploaded due to squawk code omission in the last video?

[robertoforbes]

You should add these to the pilot online ground classes on communication.

[challengeaccepted]

Dose it matter when you enter in your squawk code while on the ground? Like can you enter it in during your run up or do you enter it in right as they give it to you? Thanks for the help :)

[kevindavis]

I wonder what the controllers mean by, “You guys.” Maybe they think 23MZ itself is gonna answer them instead of Jason! Or maybe they’re used to Magda flying with you. Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me if aircraft were eventually able to call ATC.

[BlaineNay]

Did you really copy that clearance while taxiing?

[josephbjornstad]

Me ... lots of practice makes it better.

[someguyontheinternet]

Is it be frowned upon to ask for flight following AFTER receiving taxi instructions? I only ask because at my home airport whenever I request it with the taxi from ramp, the code and frequency always seem to get thrown at me during my first protected turn.

[seemore]

Getting flight following on the ground when initial contact with ground at Kelly/Lackland is mandatory. Did that all the time as a student pilot at Baro Aviation flight school