On 12/18/06 15:04, Steven P. McNicoll wrote:
"Alan Gerber" wrote in message
...

Underneath the New York Class B airspace: TEB (Teterboro), MMU
(Morristown), CDW (Caldwell), HPN (Westchester), and FRG (Farmingdale) -
all pretty busy Class D airports.


When you're in any of that Class D airspace, do you feel you should be
talking to the tower or still on flight following?


Is there a reason why the pilot should not be on flight following once he
enters Class D airspace?

The controller will hand you off to the tower when both are ready for you.

To the original poster: Sighting the field is not what is needed to have
the FF controller hand you off to the tower controller. I think because
this has happened to you a few times, you may have gotten the wrong
impression.

The FF controller is not waiting for you to find the field. He assumes you
know where you're going. He is not providing directions to you (unless
you ask for it, of course).

Telling the FF controller that you have the field in sight is just a polite
way of letting the controller know that you're ready to be handed off to
the tower. It is not necessary. The FF controller will hand you off when
he and the tower controller are ready for you. If you want it sooner, just
ask: "XXX Approach, Cessna XXXX, Request frequency change to XXX tower",
or just terminate flight following.

As to whether or not you've spotted the field, this has little to do with
either controller - again, they assume you know where you're going. If you
need help, ask either one.

Hope this helps,

--
Mark Hansen, PP-ASEL, Instrument Airplane
Cal Aggie Flying Farmers
Sacramento, CA