Example of obtaining a VFR Flight Following service:
Pick the departure frequency from the Aeronautical Facilities Directory (AFD) for your aiport and give them a call once airbourne.
N48271:SoCal Approach N48271 With A Request
SoCal Approach:N48271 Socal Approach Go-ahead
N48271:N48271 is a C172/U 2 miles North of X request VFR Flight Following to Y at 4500ft
(The /U is your equipment, in this case a Mode C transponderis available).
SoCal Approach:N48271 Sqwawk 5842
N48271:Sqwark 5842
Bit of a pause.
SoCal Approach:N48271 Radar contact 1 mile north of x the X altimeter is 29.92
After that, it is usually continuous hand-offs to the next sector frequency with automatic clearences through Class 'C' airspace and specified clearances through Class 'B' if required. The will vector you about a bit if you are in the way and apologise for having to do it.
Flight following is more like handholding and it's bloody brilliant.
Personally I think a group of NATS/DAP/CAA people should all rent a bunch of C172's for a week, fly around the US for a bit and then come back and look at the hodge podge (that's a nice way of putting it
) that we have in the UK.
FIS