VFR Center Hand-off?

[JB74]

Quick question,

If when in "radar contact" with center and receiving advisories in class E and the controller is nice enough to hand you off to say a class C app controller, are you supposed to get atis "inbetween" controllers for that class C? Are you supposed to ask a very busy center controller for a "frequency change" to check the atis, then come back before the hand-off?


Thanks in advance!

p.s. The plane only has one radio.

 

[midlifeflyer]

I assume that you are going to land at the Class C primary airport since you don't need ATIS if you are just passing through. So you can probably anticipate that you are likely to get the hand-off.

With only one radio, a call to Center before being handed off to change frequencies or a similar request when or after checking in with Approach would be the best bet.

I would not do it between frequency changes unless I advised Center so he can relay the information to his counterpart. There's usually no pressing need to check in within a later controller in the first few seconds after being handed off, but (unless there is congestion of the frequency) you don't want the first contact with Approach to be her looking for you. Rules, shmules. It's just not polite.

 

[flyifrvfr]

Normally after you contact an approach controller from a center hand off, the approach controller will tell you the altimeter setting and verify radar contact. "Potomac approach Cessna 12345 level 5500." "Cessna 345 radar contact altimeter 30.34." If you are landing at the airport you should get atis as soon as possible. If you have two radios you should have done this before center hands you off so you can be expect what is going on at your destination.

 

[labbats]

I can almost hear the controllers smile when my initial call is "Cherokee XXXXX, level 5000, information XXXX".

With one radio, just ask for a frequency change well before the switch. If you're having trouble picking up atis, try pulling out the volume knob, helps on some radios. Or call up 122.0 and ask.

Best of luck

 

[JB74]

Thanks for the replies.

The situation was as I was handed off to Ft. Meyers app (I was VFR to Naples from the north) I was asked "...confirm you have information xxxx". Being that Ft. Meyers wasn't my destination (nor was Naples underlying class C), I didn't quite understand why I was asked.

Thanks again.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Might have been a simple slip of the tongue or force of habit. Your response could have been as simple as "Negative ATIS. Landing Naples"