Question about flight following / weather updates from Flight Watch

wrote:

If I want to talk to Flight Watch to get an update on the developing
weather situation or give a PIREP, how do I do that? Do I need to
terminate the radar service with Approach, talk to Flight Watch, then
contact Approach again for further radar service, or is there an easier
way to accomplish this?

Request a frequency change of the controller to contact flight watch for
weather. If the controller is going to be handling you for awhile, s/he
will typically approve the frequency change.

Sometimes you might receive a limit from the controller, for example,
"Cessna 1234, frequency change approved, report back within five minutes."
This is often due to the fact that you are about to be handed off to the
next facility.

If that limit is acceptable to you (you think you can contact FW/FSS and
get the type of weather update you need), take it. Otherwise tell the
controller you will wait until after being handed off.

At the handoff, include the request when you check in, for example, "Cessna
1234, level 6,500 VFR, requesting a frequency change to contact flight
watch."




--
Peter