Exercise E · for US student pilots
Services and airspace
Flight following, Class B, C and D airspace, and ending a radar service.
Worked here at Palo Alto (KPAO). In the app the same prompts use your own home airport and call sign.
Prompt 1 of 5
Request VFR flight following from NorCal Approach on 121.3. You are a Cessna 152 over San Carlos at 4,500 feet, en route Palo Alto to Hayward Executive.
What the AIM says: Call sign, type, position, altitude ('four thousand five hundred'), destination, 'request VFR flight following'. Expect a squawk; read it back.Prompt 2 of 5
You are 10 miles from the edge of the Class C around Palo Alto and intend to transit it. Call NorCal Approach.
What the AIM says: Class C requires two-way communication with the controlling facility before entry. Call sign, type, position, altitude, request to transit the Class C to Hayward Executive. If the reply uses your call sign, communication is established.Prompt 3 of 5
Your route crosses Class B airspace. Call NorCal Approach and request a Class B clearance.
What the AIM says: Class B needs an explicit clearance: you must hear 'cleared into the Class Bravo'. Position, altitude, type, request; do not enter until cleared. A squawk will usually be assigned first.Prompt 4 of 5
NorCal Approach says: "N172SP, radar service terminated, squawk VFR, frequency change approved." Respond, and set your transponder.
What the AIM says: Acknowledge with your call sign and 'squawk VFR'; then 1200 (AIM 4-1-15 b 2, 4-1-20). Saying which frequency you are going to is good practice.Prompt 5 of 5
Under flight following you can see a line of showers ahead. Ask NorCal Approach for a deviation.
What the AIM says: Request 'deviation (left/right) of course for weather' with your call sign and, if needed, how far. Radar vectors for VFR aircraft are advisory and on request (AIM 4-1-17); you remain responsible for VFR.
What this exercise is graded against
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Requesting VFR flight following | AIM 4-1-18 a 3 |
| Class C: two-way communication established before entry | AIM 3-2-4 c 3 |
| Class B: an explicit clearance before entry | AIM 3-2-3 b, e; JO 7110.65 7-9-2 a |
| 'Radar service terminated, squawk VFR': acknowledge and set 1200 | AIM 4-1-15 b 2; 4-1-20 |
| Requesting a weather deviation under flight following (vectors advisory) | AIM 4-1-17 |
Now say them to a controller
Push-to-talk, at your airport, with today’s altimeter. The AI controller answers and the grader tells you what the AIM says about each call.
Prompts and notes are written in our own words from the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (Change 3, 7/9/26) and the Pilot/Controller Glossary, with paragraph references. Frequencies are from the FAA NASR data and are for training only. Study aid; not approved or endorsed by the FAA. Always defer to the AIM, current FAA publications, your instructor and your examiner.