kaputt

Ok, so student pilot here with a question about flight following on a cross country flight. I'm doing my flying in Southeast Virginia (Norfolk/Virginia Beach area) so I'm going to use some local airports in my question.

Lets say I'm flying XC from Chesapeake (CPK) to Richmond Intl (RIC), and I pick up flight following shortly after departing CPK. I know that I will tell the controller where I want flight following to, and will probably get handed off a couple of time throughout the flight. But my question is, as I approach the Richmond Class C, what exactly will the controller do with me? My only experience with flight following is going to uncontrolled airports, so I've always canceled it once the airport was in sight.

But for flying into class C, since they know where I am headed, will I just get handed off to approach control, and not have to deal with canceling flight following and all that? I'm assuming that will be the case, but I just want to double check.

Thanks in advance

pokey9554

You are correct in your assumption. You may cancel flight following on your own and be responsible for obtaining clearance in different airspaces, or you can remain on flight following and you should be handed off to approach control/ tower. I specify should because there are instances when a controller is unable to work with you due to workload or other issues. Always have your frequencies noted and a backup plan just in case this happens. I remember doing a VFR XC from Shreveport, LA to Alliance. We planned to cross smack dab right over the middle of DFW bravo airspace. A few miles from entering bravo, I requested clearance to enter. The controller said, "radar services terminated, squawk 1200, have a nice day".

kaputt

Ok. Thank you for confirming that. Also, for my long solo XC, would anyone recommend going to new airports that I've never been to before? Or should I stick to ones I've been to either solo or duel? Just curious to see what others did for their long XC.

USMCFLYR

Spread those wings kaputt!
Go where no man (or yourself) has gone before.
...and absolutely use flight following. It will help you getting comfortable talking on the radios with ATC. As pokey said though - be ready to revert back to the basics when ATC can no longer comply with your request.

USMCFLYR

Duksrule

Kaputt, I am also local and fly out of KCPK. I agree with USMC go on the road and see what there is to see. If you are out of KCPK or anywhere in the tidewater area for that matter you have to make a trip down to FFA. It is far enough to count as your long Xctry and then you can hit ECG on the way back to cover the towered airport.

As far as going up to RIC from here, pick up your flight following from ORF and they will hand you off to RIC. As mentioned before though have RIC's approach freq ready in case you get dropped and need to call on your own. RIC isn't super busy so don't stress and have fun.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions about flying local.

Duksrule

Also if you aren't use to flying into a controlled airport make sure you know what to expect. You most likely won't be flying a pattern like you are use to at KCPK. The tower may have you come straight in or enter on the base leg or even something other than that so be ready to adapt to whatever they have you doing and be able to start your landing from where they bring you in.

N9373M

Also note that some cities put their name on water towers.

TheReelDeel33

the fact that you had the foresight to ask this question (means your thinking ahead), and even come up with the right assumption, makes me think you'll do absolutely fine on this trip.

If you haven't been to a class C airport before, it won't be all that different from a class C or E controlled field. Just stay on top of the controllers instructions as you depart because it is not uncommon for them to assign you headings and altitudes to follow until your clear of the airspace

PearlPilot

Ah yes VFR flight following is a great tool indeed. It is an extra set of eyes for traffic and also a great way to improve on your ATC communication skills. Those skills will come in handy when you do your instrument training. I fly up in PA and made the trip to KFFA a couple of months ago. I do have a bit of warning/caution for you since you are a student pilot. Make sure you can handle some heavy winds. It was very windy/gusty that day. Also be on the constant lookout for banner towing aircraft. I would highly recommend going with a CFI if you are to make the FFA trip solo. Good luck!!

kaputt

Thanks for all the posts!

Did my long XC this afternoon/evening. Ended up not going to RIC because the METAR was showing wind gusts higher than my flight school allows students to fly in. So I ended up going to KPTB, Dinwiddie County Airport, and uncontrolled field 20 miles south of Richmond. That ended up being an awesome decision because I ended up sharing the pattern with a USMC CH-53 helo who was doing touch and gos. Got some cool pics on my cell camera while I was holding short for departure, so I'll see if I can find a way to upload them here.

For my towered airport, I made the trip across the James River to Newport News Intl (PHF). That was also a great experience because I have flown out of that airport commercially before, but to be on the pilot end of things this time was much, much better haha. And parking at the FBO next to Lears and Citations certainly makes you feel cool.

Not to mention nothing feels better than being 21, and walking into an FBO solo after parking a $400,000 aircraft. I felt super rich! haha

Anyway I'm sure you can tell I had a great time. Felt very confident with my ATC comm, and I'm looking forward to doing more XC's once I get that PPL. So thanks for all the help.