VFR cancel flight following to avoid following a vector

170tovocus

Active Member
Messages
36
I was following an interesting exchange over on reddit ATC about whether a VFR pilot in Echo airspace is allowed to cancel flight following if he receives a vector that he doesn't want to comply with. Curious if anyone here has any thoughts.

Basically, Controller A says that if a VFR requests flight following, he can vector them as needed to stay clear of traffic, and the pilot has to comply (except in an emergency or inability to maintain VFR conditions). And once he's issued control instructions, the VFR pilot is not allowed to terminate flight following without the controller's permission. For this he cites 91.123:

(b) Except in an emergency, no person may operate an aircraft contrary to an ATC instruction in an area in which air traffic control is exercised.



as well as a clarification letter from the FAA:

Controller B says that it's a moot point, since the book doesn't allow us to vector VFRs in Class E airspace without their request/consent, and cites a few passages including:

2−1−21. TRAFFIC ADVISORIES 6. When requested by the pilot, issue radar vectors to assist in avoiding the traffic...



and

7−6−1. APPLICATION a. Basic radar services for VFR aircraft must include: 3. Limited radar vectoring when requested by the pilot.



saying that since there's no separation reqs in E airspace and we can't vector them without their consent, we can't force them to continue FF if they want to cancel.

Any opinions one way or the other? Seemed interesting to me, and I'm curious to hear what the ultimate resolution is.
 
Not true...

5.6.1

NOTE−
VFR aircraft not at an altitude assigned by ATC may be vectored at any altitude. It is the responsibility of the pilot to comply with the applicable parts of CFR Title 14
Yeah that’s exactly what I was saying. You can’t both assign an altitude and vector unless it’s above the mva. If he’s maintaining VFR and is below the MVA it’s his responsibility to maintain terrain separation in the vector
 
A little off the original topic but still kind of related: There's a guy in our nightly arrival push that's known to be a bit dour and impatient. We're in a Class C so we vector IFR and VFR for the sequence. If we're on visual approaches and he's got the field 25 miles out, he's always put off if issued a vector or altitude for the sequence.

I have him near the downwind once and issue a 90 heading for the sequence and number 5...he's all, "Cancel IFR, and runway in sight" or something. I reply, "Cancellation received, maintain VFR, continue 090 heading, still number 5, it's a class C and we vector VFR and you won't beat the other planes just because you're VFR now".

He didn't like still being #5.
 
A little off the original topic but still kind of related: There's a guy in our nightly arrival push that's known to be a bit dour and impatient. We're in a Class C so we vector IFR and VFR for the sequence. If we're on visual approaches and he's got the field 25 miles out, he's always put off if issued a vector or altitude for the sequence.

I have him near the downwind once and issue a 90 heading for the sequence and number 5...he's all, "Cancel IFR, and runway in sight" or something. I reply, "Cancellation received, maintain VFR, continue 090 heading, still number 5, it's a class C and we vector VFR and you won't beat the other planes just because you're VFR now".

He didn't like still being #5.
He can always remain outside the Charlie and be number 9 or 10, if he doesn’t want to comply with ATC instructions. Someone has to be first and someone has to be last...
 
Heh I know. That's why it's funny. He thought being VFR was going to let him turn right in front of someone and be a tie over the numbers or something. Oh, and he was already in the C when he canceled.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom