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From: jnaus@netcom.com (John Naus)
Subject: Re: Flight Following/Filing Flight Plan
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Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 02:17:18 GMT
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St. Stephen, Kim & Lacy Ames (stephen@stephenames.com) wrote:

: Little discussion I wanted to bring up and hear some opinions on...When
: it comes to Flight Following and Filing a Flight Plan it seems like you
: have to utilize both for real security...If you file a flight plan and
: get way off course and then have an accident it could take months to
: find you...Assuming you are way off course only...They will search route
: of flight plan and after that then extend search, lots of time involved
: here...Flight Following seems to know exactly where you are but being
: "workload permitting" there is no guarantee someone will notice you drop
: off their screen, get way off course or land somewhere else...Also they
: may terminate the service at any time...Disapppearing off their screen
: could mean(to them) you landed...But using both would seem give you the

I would not worry about getting dropped by Flight Following.  I fly in 
South Florida which is alot of very busy airports and have never been
dropped.  Sometimes ATC doesnt want give you Flight Following because
they dont want to enter your information into the system.  But, if you
insist they will do it.  I find that if you are nice to the controllers
they will try to give you as much help as possible.  


But, don't get lazy while on Flight Following the controllers 
will sometimes forget about you.  I was once on Flight Following flying 
a vector given to me by an Approach Controler who forgot about me.  I was still 
on the vector when I realized that if I didnt turn soon they were going to 
fly me directly into a restricted area.  Instead of causing a big stink
I called Approach and gave a detailed position report.  As soon as he
realized where I was he called and had me turn immediately.  After that the
controller was my best buddy and keep a close eye on the radar until
I was handed off.



					John


