lml@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

Keep in mind that air traffic controllers primary function is to separate airplanes in the IFR environment. IF they are not too busy, they can and are required to provide VFR flight following if requested but there is a limit to a human mind as to how many airplanes they can keep track of (how many is that?- it varies). Once you are receiving this service, you are given just as much priority as an IFR airplane as far as separation and keeping you advised and away from other airplanes. I remember working by myself once several years ago in a very large sector near Canada. I knew I had a lot of airplanes but I didn't feel busy because they were all just passing through. I had time to count them and counted 44 on my frequency at the same time. In SoCal, that number could be as little as 8 and be too many to accept further workload from a VFR airplane. Since things happen there so quickly, you might just monitor the frequency and call again in a few minutes. In SoCal I am very uncomfortable flying without a traffic system. TIS-B would be the minumum I'd recommend, then a TCAD such as the Avidyne TAS600 series, but the best money any of you can spend is to equip your airplanes with ADS-B now. You can get a full UAT for as little as $2500 which is the cheapest safety device you could possibly get for flying in those highly congested places plus you get full weather just like XM weather but it's FREE!!!!!

I have an extra Wx Worx UAT for ads-b that I'd like to sell if anyone is interested. New in the box for $2350. (can bring it to OSH) :-)

Ron

----- Original Message -----

From: rwolf99@aol.com

Sent: 07/18/11 12:26 PM

To: lml@lancaironline.net

Subject: [LML] Flight Following in SoCal

I agree that flight following is a valuable service. However, last time I asked for it in the Southern California area the controller responded: "Unable flight following -- multiple targets, all altitudes, all quadrants -- good luck!"

Of course, it was a pleasant Saturday afternoon, I was about ten miles from Torrance, and it seemed like every airplane in the basin was up flying. When I flew IFR in my Cessna 150 on a Tuesday morning a month later I seemed to have the entire airspace to myself.

Flight following in SoCal? It's great. Except I can't get it when I really need it...

- Rob Wolf