IFR/Flight Following -- ATC Preferences?

"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in
t:


"Bob Gardner" wrote in message
...

JFK, Jr. was not required by regulation to use flight following...but
the outcome of his flight might have been drastically different had
he done so.


How would have flight following made a difference? He didn't run into
an unseen airplane.



The NTSB report refers to a descent into the water caused by spatial
disorientation.

A simple Altitude Alert from a controller could have reminded him to look
at his altimiter and VSI and realize that he was pointed into the water
instead of into the Horizon, potentially yeilding different results.

Even if he didn't look, but just pulled or powered up, it could have been a
life saver.

From what I hear on the radio, flight following is often a lot more than
just traffic alerts...