Short Final: Flight Following

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A student pilot mistakenly asked ATC to confirm "IFR flight following" during a VFR flight.
  • The air traffic controller humorously corrected her, confirming "VFR, with flight following aaaaall the way."
  • The controller's distinctive and playful phrasing was then adopted by another pilot on the frequency.
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I was flying with a student in SoCal. Before taxi, she got an appropriate VFR clearance as required per ATIS.

However, she was a little confused and despite talking to approach with a distinct transponder code, was unsure if we had flight following. She asked me if she could confirm with ATC and against my wishes, proceeded to do so.

Except, she asked ATC to confirm if we had IFR flight following.

The controller, being in a good mood, responded, “No ma’am, you are VFR, with flight following aaaaall the way to Montgomery field.”

The next transmission from another pilot on frequency, went as follows: “N1234 also requesting flight following aaaaall the way to Chino.”

Piyush Kumar
San Diego, CA
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