roncachamp
Final Approach
If you're receiving only flight following, if you're not in airspace where ATC has separation responsibility for VFR aircraft (Class B, Class C/Outer Area, TRSA), you should not be given any altitude directive. There's no reason for it and no authority to issue it. Some people will now point out that FAR 91.159 VFR cruising altitude or flight level includes "...unless otherwise authorized by ATC". That was added when TCAs were created so that ATC could assign altitudes inconsistent with the regulation.I use flight following for nearly any long VFR flight, but lately I've been annoyed by controllers giving altitude directives ("Maintain VFR at or below 3000") which would put me at altitudes that are undesirable in terms of aircraft performance or engine-out safety. I think these are sometimes issued to make it easier for ATC to clear the way for arrivals to busy airports.
One pilot friend has suggested I simply cancel flight following instead of complying with the instruction, put IMO this may be at odds with 14 CFR § 91.123 (b): "...no person may operate an aircraft contrary to an ATC instruction in an area in which air traffic control is exercised", since the instruction has already been given. Any thoughts about this?