Question about TRACONS and airspace

[PureMuscle]

I was wondering when it is absolutely necessary to talk to the nearby tracon. When flying VFR, and doing a short cross country, do you only have to talk to them if you file a flight plan, or is it mandatory with all flights flight plan or not?

 

[Vector4fun]

Depends on what kind of airspace we're talking about. Is this Class B or C airspace? General info to follow:

First of all, know that ATC generally has NO idea whether you've filed a VFR flight plan or not. VFR flight plans are for Search and Rescue purposes only, stay at the FSS, and ATC will only get involved if FSS calls us looking for you because you're overdue. This is completely different from IFR flight plans.

Around Class C airspace, you're required to talk to ATC if you're in the C airspace, generally within 10 miles and below 4000' AGL. It's good practice though to talk to approach control if you're within 20 miles, and/or crossing the extended centerlines for the runways. Our finals sometimes get strung out 25 miles or so. I'd encourage you to get comfortable talking to ATC any time it's appropriate.

If you're operating around Class B airspace, you need a specific clearance from Approach to enter that airspace. You can sometimes operate underneath it without calling, but I still call whenever the freq allows me to get a word in. Again, the more you work with ATC, the more comfortable you'll become.

 

[PureMuscle]

Thanks a bunch.

I have a couple more questions. I fly out of Van Nuys which has it's Class D airspace lying under Burbanks Class C. When I feel like going to Camarillo or somewhere close for some touch and goes, as long as we stay below Burbanks airspace we're fine, but we still don't talk to So Cal Approach when we leave the towers airspace. Normally, we talk to the Tracon when we take cross countries, but not for shorter flights. I have no problem talking to the controller, I think I am just curious why we do it sometimes and don't others.

Sorry about the questions. I would ask my flight instructor but I stopped flying for a while because of money, and my college degree. I should be finishing over summer.