DFW Flight Following

Archer Jack

Archer Jack

Pre-takeoff checklist
Joined
Oct 24, 2018
Messages
302
Location
Mansfield, TX
Display Name
Display name:
Jack
I will be departing KGPM which is practically on the south approach to DFW airport. I need to fly almost due north into OK. Will flight following route me around the dfw airport and around several others (Meacham, Alliance, Arlington, etc.) to go north? I can stay under the bravo minimum altitudes but then I run into Class D airspace going up to 3200 ft. I could always just fly south and then head west to go around the whole metromess but that would add around 25-30 minutes to the flight and burn a lot of extra gas.
 
Its a crap shoot.
You can certainly fly under the shelves and go around.

Coming from the south you are not likely to get over the top.

Generally from GPM they will send you west until you are near Ft. Worth then let you go north. On FF, they won't route you around Meechum, etc. You will likely go through all the Class D airports (nothing for you to do or worry about there. They coordinate that for you)

Edit: They will clear you into the bravo but still route you out west a bit before letting you head on course.
 
Get FF before you leave and ATC will route you around, over, under or wherever they want you to go. Typically it wont be a straight route but itll be better and safer than circumnavigating the Bravo by yourself. Easy-Peasy
 
I had two recent flights TKI-JWY-TKI where once on FF, they cleared me direct thru Bravo with no issues. On one instance, ATC gave me a code and cleared me thru Bravo only 5-8 minutes after initial contact.
 
Archer Jack said:
I will be departing KGPM which is practically on the south approach to DFW airport. I need to fly almost due north into OK. Will flight following route me around the dfw airport and around several others (Meacham, Alliance, Arlington, etc.) to go north? I can stay under the bravo minimum altitudes but then I run into Class D airspace going up to 3200 ft. I could always just fly south and then head west to go around the whole metromess but that would add around 25-30 minutes to the flight and burn a lot of extra gas.
Click to expand...
Yes, you're NOT going to go straight through the DFW surface area. Expect to decide which way you want to go - east or west. Flight following is easier because you can often go through the Deltas - the controllers will often arrange it for you.
 
I do it all the time from GPM. On the ground contact GPM tower, tell them where ya are on the ramp etc and you’d like to taxi to runway along with “I’d like to try and get flight following to XYZ airport if possible “

They will acknowledge your request, clear you to taxi to the active and most likely say “will get you a squawk code before take off”
 
I flew into Meacham a few months back. I spend most of my time outside a lazy class C, so it was eye opening how much traffic there is in that area between all the airports. The controllers were very helpful and friendly, however, so no real issues when using flight following.
 
MacFlier said:
I had two recent flights TKI-JWY-TKI where once on FF, they cleared me direct thru Bravo with no issues. On one instance, ATC gave me a code and cleared me thru Bravo only 5-8 minutes after initial contact.
Click to expand...
SixPapaCharlie said:
Its a crap shoot.
You can certainly fly under the shelves and go around.

Coming from the south you are not likely to get over the top.

Generally from GPM they will send you west until you are near Ft. Worth then let you go north. On FF, they won't route you around Meechum, etc. You will likely go through all the Class D airports (nothing for you to do or worry about there. They coordinate that for you)

Edit: They will clear you into the bravo but still route you out west a bit before letting you head on course.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks everyone for your help. I'm probably making too big a deal out of this. I'll just call ATC to get FF and let them handle it. Stay safe. <];-D
 
As others have said, getting Flight Following at GPM is easy. Just tell the ground controller your request (including altitude). He will coordinate with Regional Approach and come back to you with the squawk code and frequency.

Routing will likely be Radar vectors toward the west until about downtown Fort Worth where they will turn you North.

As you pass over DTO, be sure to give me, John, Bryan, and a few others a one finger salute.


And good on ya to be thinking of this while flying in this busy airspace. That's thinking with your dipstick, Jimmy!
upload_2019-1-15_10-59-38.png
 
Always a chance you won't be able to get FF right now.
 
It’s all about the flow when you request. If they are basically north-south it will be easy. Probably over KDAL and up.

If they are working the east west routes you'll likely get a round about.
 
Stan Cooper said:
That's my thought too. If they're short handed because of the shutdown, they may not be able to accommodate flight following requests.
Click to expand...
Knowing a few of the controllers that work DFW Regional, I doubt this will be an issue. All of them say that they would rather be talking to you while in the busy space than not.
 
Challenged said:
I flew into Meacham a few months back. I spend most of my time outside a lazy class C, so it was eye opening how much traffic there is in that area between all the airports. The controllers were very helpful and friendly, however, so no real issues when using flight following.
Click to expand...
Yeah but which FBO did you stop at?
 
AggieMike88 said:
As others have said, getting Flight Following at GPM is easy. Just tell the ground controller your request (including altitude). He will coordinate with Regional Approach and come back to you with the squawk code and frequency.

Routing will likely be Radar vectors toward the west until about downtown Fort Worth where they will turn you North.

As you pass over DTO, be sure to give me a one finger salute. It is what we Aggies deserve


And good on ya to be thinking of this while flying in this busy airspace. That's thinking with your dipstick, Jimmy!
View attachment 70776
Click to expand...
 
I just depends on the winds (arrivals and departures being used) and the controller.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top