I like to use flight following when flying VFR but I’ve never figured out on what chart you can find that initial contact frequency for departure. I try to fly realistically so I always look up ATC frequencies from real charts but for that one, I’m not sure where to find it.
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When looking at the Airport Information plate for any particular airport (in the USA), normally a Departure or Center frequency will be listed for you to contact after departure. On the chart @EZEd1063 posted above, I believe you would contact Potomac Departure after take-off and request Flight Following. For a local airport not far from me (pic below), the chart lists Atlanta Departure to be contacted after departure. At airports with a functioning control tower, they will hand you to the appropriate departure frequency.
ATC are not obligated to provide the service (in real life) but if they aren’t too busy, they’ll help you out and hand you off as required along the way, provided the neighboring ATC is providing the service at that time. Just my thoughts. I am no longer an active pilot.
You can find additional info in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) here.
Thanks for all the tips. I’ll check them against what shows up in the sim and see if that sorts it out.
Are you flying in the US? Otherwise flight following is not a thing. The rest of the world you can check in on a “Flight Information Service” frequency and receive Flight Info, in the UK this is called “Basic Service” but essentially the same. Unfortunately none of this is simulated.
I fly in the U.S. pretty much exclusively.
I did check the approach plates and sure enough, it was staring me right in the face. I guess I missed it because I usually use just an airport diagram on departure and the ones on sky vector don’t have that like the Jeppesen charts do. Anyways, thanks again for the tips.
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