Flight Following, where to find frequency?

[172PIC]

Just curious how I would find the frequency to call up on if I wanted flight following from somewhere like St. Thomas or Peterborough (once outside the airport area of course), or can you even get it in those areas? (I assume you can, could be wrong).

[skypirate88]

Toronto VNC and the CFS. A frequency for centre may be found with each airport excerpt.

[172PIC]

There's nothing in the CFS airport listings, not for St. Thomas (just using it as an example), but I noticed under Toronto Centre it lists all the frequencies for various locations, going to assume the frequency in bold is the one to go with.

[FlaplessDork]

Grab a LO chart and go with the closest PAL.

[172PIC]

Sorry what is a PAL?

[tca]

PAL = PeripherAL station, a transceiver for centre located away from the actual centre. If you look in the CFS under Toronto Centre, all of those frequencies listed for the various locations are the PALs. So look up the closest one to where you're starting from, and give them a call. If you have the wrong frequency, they'll tell you what the right one is. As somebody mentioned, an LO chart will give you a graphical description of where the PALs are, and if you can find approach plates for the airports you are using, they mention the local control frequency too. Even the CAC, available for free on the nav canada Wx page (at the bottom under additional links, "airport diagrams"), show the departure frequency who should be able to give you flight following.

Enjoy!

[172PIC]

makes sense, thanks

Anyone know where in the AIM to look for info on this?

[tca]

makes sense, thanks

Anyone know where in the AIM to look for info on this?

RAC1.5.3 Radar Traffic Information
Traffic (or workload) permitting, ATC will provide IFR and
CVFR flights with information on observed radar targets
whenever the traffic is likely to be of concern to the pilot,
unless the pilot states that the information is not wanted. This
information may be provided to VFR aircraft when requested
by the pilot.
If requested by the pilot, ATC will attempt to provide radar
separation between identified IFR aircraft and the unknown
observed aircraft.
When issuing radar information, ATS units will frequently
define the relative location of the traffic, weather areas, etc., by
referring to the clock position. In this system, the 12 o’clock
position is based on the observed radar track rather than the
actual nose of the aircraft. In conditions of strong crosswind,
this can lead to a discrepancy between the position as reported
by the controller and the position as observed by the pilot.
The following diagram illustrates the clock positions.
Traffic information when passed to radar-identified aircraft
will be issued as follows:
1. Position of the traffic in relation to the aircraft’s
observed track.
2. Direction in which the traffic is proceeding.
3. Type of aircraft and altitude, if known, or the relative speed
of the traffic.
Example:
TRAFFIC, 2 O’CLOCK 3 1/2 MILES, WESTBOUND, (type of
aircraft and altitude, or relative speed).
An aircraft not radar-identified would be issued traffic
information in the following manner:
1. Position of the traffic in relation to a fix.
2. Direction in which the traffic is proceeding.
3. Type of aircraft and altitude, if known, or relative speed.
Example:
TRAFFIC, 7 MILES SOUTH OF QUÉBEC NDB, NORTHBOUND,
(type of aircraft and altitude, or relative speed).
1.5.4 Radar Navigation Assistance to VFR Flights
When requested by pilots, radar-equipped ATC units will
provide assistance to navigation in the form of position
information, vectors or track, and ground speed checks. Flights
requesting this assistance must be operating within areas of
radar and communication coverage, and be radar‑identified.
VFR flights may be provided with this service:
(a) at the request of a pilot, when traffic conditions permit;
(b) when the controller suggests and the pilot agrees; or
(c) in the interest of flight safety.
The pilot is responsible for avoiding other traffic and avoiding
weather below VFR minima while on a VFR flight on
radar vectors.
If a radar vector will lead a VFR flight into IFR weather
conditions, the pilot must inform the controller and take the
following action:
(a) if practicable, obtain a vector which will allow the flight to
remain in VFR weather conditions; or
(b) if an alternative vector is not practicable, revert to
navigation without radar assistance; or
(c) if the pilot has an IFR rating and the aircraft is equipped
for IFR flight, the pilot may file an IFR flight plan, and
request an IFR clearance.
Emergency radar assistance will be given to VFR flights which
are able to maintain two-way radio communication with the
unit, are within radar coverage, and can be radar identified.
Pilots requiring radar assistance during emergency conditions
should contact the nearest ATC unit and provide the
following information:
1. Declaration of emergency (state nature of difficulty and
type of assistance required).
2. Position of aircraft and weather conditions within which
the flight is operating.
3. Type of aircraft, altitude, and whether equipped for
IFR flight.
4. Whether pilot has an IFR Rating.
Pilots unable to contact radar but in need of emergency
assistance may alert radar by flying a triangular pattern
(see SAR 4.5).

not the easiest to decipher.... but easy to use in real life!

[DHC-1 Jockey]

For your example of St. Thomas, I believe it lists under the COM in the CFS Toronto Centre on 135.3 You would make initial contact with them giving your type of aircraft and intentions (destination, routing, etc) and they will provide you with a transponder code. Getting the next frequencies are easy as ATC will just pass you from one controller to the next.

Nearing Toronto or other large centres the respective VTA lists all of the frequencies to contact depending what direction you are coming from and how high you are.

I think someone else mentioned it, but if not you should also be able to find the frequencies on normal VNC charts, you just need to look really hard. You could alternatively use IFR LO charts which take away most of the clutter and make frequencies easier to locate. What I used to do is just look for the nearest centre or terminal frequency, and if I got the wrong one, the controller would just tell me who to switch to anyways.

[172PIC]

I looked on the VNC but couldn't find it. For Toronto itself it's easy to find on the VTA. I'm just suprised it's not listed in the comm area for each airport in the cfs.

[DHC-1 Jockey]

Then I would do what someone else said and look for the nearest PAL or centre from where you're starting. Take a look at a few of the closest airports in the CFS and you're bound to find something there. And again, the LO charts have all of the frequencies listed and are easy to find.

[172PIC]

Airport diagrams from the CAP and the download on the NavCanada site have the frequencies on them too it seems.

Thanks for the replies.

[ogc]

Airport diagrams from the CAP and the download on the NavCanada site have the frequencies on them too it seems.

Thanks for the replies.

This is what I have been using lately, it gives you a departure frequency for almost every airport.

Either way it is no big deal if you use the wrong one, they will just give you the correct frequency.

[172PIC]

Ok thanks.