Quote:
Originally Posted by John_Mitchell  ...I have already obtained VFR flight following at 3500', and I see something ahead of me, on the ground, that I want to swoop down (obviously maintaining minimumaltitudes/distances, etc..), circle a couple times, and take a closer look. Also, say that this area is outside of any Class B/C/D airspace.
How is this request made? I was thinking that maybe I should request a temporary release to VFR and then request flight following once a get back on my original path....is this close?
Thanks in advance. |
The required answer depends on whether or not the controller issued any instructions (altitude or heading) to the VFR flight. If not, the pilot is free to change course and heading (IOW, descend and orbit over a point) within the contstraints of VFR flight rules. OTOH, if altitude or heading instructions were issued the pilot must obtain new instructions consistent with the descent and orbit, or have the instructions removed. That said, even if no instructions were issued it is good form to offer a heads-up to the controller if the descent and orbit is much of a deviation from what the controller would reasonably expect given the destination or route the controller was advised to expect.
If, for example, I wanted to orbit my sister's house I'd simply tell the controller, "We will (or wish to if an instruction has been received) descend and make a few circles over a point __________________, after which we will then proceed back on altitude and course", where the blank is an aviation related description of the point. The description might be "1 nm north of the towers on south ridge" for my sister's house, but in other cases "3 south of Smallville Muni", etc. works, too.