Ask ATC: Flight Following vs. Flight Plan

You’ve filed a VFR flight plan. Do you also need VFR flight following?
Air traffic controllers explain the difference between the two VFR services. Learn why it makes sense to also request flight following.
Ask ATC is produced in partnership with NATCA and the FAA.

[fernandojoy]

Hi, I'm from Paraguay, and flew several times in small Aircraft in US, at least 6 times per year for the last 10 years, crossing Coast to Coast, and north to south, flying really bussy airspaces and always requested FF, once asked, the ATC always helped me to arrive Safe in many different weather and Flight conditions!! This video is Totally True!!! I've flown in Many countries over the americas(south, central and North america)... Best ATC. Thanks for their great job.

[rn]

Yeah ask one of those NY controllers to call your wife and see what happens lmao.

[nj]

I was always made to feel like I was imposing on ATC when asking for Flight Following... They always obliged, but it sounded begrudged ... Was using FF in western NC, Atlanta Center. Good group of guys, just very busy I guess.

[Chemnut]

So if a center is really busy - they may sound put off when you request VFR FF. That said, the apparent relief I hear in their voices when they are issuing traffic advisories to closely spaced IFR traffic is perceptible - specifically when they can say “and we are talking to them” with regards to that VFR puddle jumper getting close to the departure end or approach end of a busy airport. I suspect that ATC would prefer not having to deal with VFR traffic (I could be wrong here) - but they like it when they know your intentions and can work you in with faster paced stuff. I’ve been forgotten about while on VFR FF. It happened both with Patomic approach and Phili approach. They get busy, take too long to hand you off and then you are out of their radio range. Sure enough when I got back in with a closer center - they were looking for me and relieved to find me. So yeah it’s extra work for them, but they can get something out of it too.
I like VFR FF because it makes my workload that much less when I need to go through some class B, activate a SFRA flight plan, land in some class D or C, ask for advisories on that pesky MOA, get cleared to fly through that restricted area, I mean - the benifits to the pilot are quite numerous and I suspect most of us are too radio shy to use it.
My point in all this is - use FF, even if the controller would rather have less to do - it’s going to benefit everyone in the sky and at ATC to know what you are doing/planning. If you fumble on the radio, who cares! You won’t get cited for it (at least I don’t think you will) and it’s fantastic practice if you ever want to start working on your IR...

[tomedgar]

So Cal flyer here, I always get flight following when available, ATC here is a great bunch 👏

[houstonfirefox]

I frequently fly between Conroe and LaPorte (KCXO-T41) through the busy Class B arrival corridors to Houston Intercontinental (KIAH) airspace. I will pick up FF on the ground at Conroe and ATC is VERY happy to have me talking with them so they can have the airliners passing overhead me without disrupting traffic. They can get very busy at times but I've never been turned down for FF and they are super helpful calling out all of the traffic around me (even targets not showing up on TIS-B). Always get FF when you can!

[sgtmsullivan]

The ATC at my home airfield gets super agitated if someone accidentally repeats someone else's message/transmission, then the ATC guy starts patronizing them. Super helpful. - KLOU.

[Sky_Burger]

Most of the controllers in the Omaha Tracon are very friendly and very helpful if you request VFR flight following. I’ve not had a situation where a controller was rude. I always “ask” for flight following rather than “request” and there have been busy times where I could tell that the controller has his hands full, but I’ve never been denied or received any type of a bad attitude about my request for VFR flight following in the Omaha sector.

[AshleyCarroll]

They make a great argument for flight following. Now why would you file a vfr flight plan (unless you're going outside of radar areas)?

[johnathancorgan]

The NORCAL TRACON folks are pretty good about it, I think they're just happy there's one fewer 1200 buzzing around their airspace.

[hardyk]

I have to agree. If you are flying in Class B airspaces such as Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, or Dallas, flight following is highly recommended.

[jeffannis]

Go visit your local control tower. Great experience and you will be impressed.

[WinginWolf]

Usually I just get flight following without a VFR flight plan, which I'll automatically get on the outbound. Inbound I'll call up approach or ARTCC. It feels routine and usual if flying out of a class C airport. I never liked the hassle of opening and closing a flight plan, at least where I'm coming from (difficult hearing my local FSS, feeling rushed to get to the airport within the allotted time frame, although this is for safety of course). Feedback?

[alaskabearhawk]

It's interesting they didn't interview anyone from flight service. If you are on flight following and you drop off the radar, no one will come looking for you...plain and simple. So much for the "buddy" analogy. Your first thought should be to file a flight plan, make sure to activate it and stick to it. A flight plan has the basic info of who you are, where you are going and by what route, fuel on board, how many people on board, aircraft color, etc. The position reporting enroute is what makes the SAR process work the best. Regular position reporting through FSS is good. Flight following does help, this combines the best of both worlds. The main thing to remember is that flight following is not the same as filing and activating a flight plan.

[abbieamavi]

I LOVE THESE VIDEOS and great analogy between the two!! as I'm working on my PPL and I think having FF would make make me feel safer, but depends I'll request only if ATC isn't too busy...otherwise they seem to get annoyed :L

[AngryHatter]

Great videos that take the awkwardness out of good comms.

[shARyn]

Usually, the concern is the reverse ===> Why bother filing a VFR flight plan when you are on Flight Following?

[maxbootstrap]

Okay, I have a better question. My airplane has a Dynon Skyview HDX1100 with 3D synthetic vision, moving maps, dual band transponder with ADS-B out, plus an ADS-B in unit that display other aircraft and weather on the HDX1100 display ... and I always carry a Garmin InReach Explorer+ that automatically uploads the GPS derived position of the airplane every 5 or 10 minutes. So ... how is flight following better than that? And how much better?

As more small GA airplanes include this kind of equipment, isn't a comparison of flight following versus advanced instrumentation a more relevant question?

[avionUSMC]

What a great video! Short, to the point. Very rare a pilot asks me to activate their flight plan which tells me very few pilots aren’t already aware of this. On the flip side, many years of ATC experience has gone out the window in the last 10 years. Many many new controllers and I bet many of them aren’t aware because like I said, doesn’t come up often. It’s not on a training checklist. Up to a trainer to throw this nugget out there.
I need to have my trainees watch this. Love the analogy of hiking and the “buddy” KNOWS the route!

[mikemakesmusic]

Very much wish the controllers in South Florida felt the way these guys do!!