Expert: Colin Woehrle - 1/12/2011

Question
Hello.  I am looking at getting my private pilot license in the summer of 2012 and also a multi engine rating and hopefully a instrument rating after that.  I just have a curious question.  After I receive my license and training, it is my understanding that you can fly to most airports.  So lets say I want to fly from my hometown to Orlando International airport.  Do you call Orlando airport and tell them that you are coming there.  After all, air traffic control needs to know who is all in the sky that day.  How does it work?  How do you go from one airpor to another?  I am assuming that you have to stay in contact with ATC control centers on the entire flight

Answer
Hey Vincent,

This is kind of a tricky question...

After you get your private pilot's license you can fly to pretty much ANY civilian airport you wish. Keep in mind the services available at that airport though. You would want to make sure that they carry the type of fuel your aircraft requires (most likely 100 low-lead Avgas) and also a place for you to park. I'm based at Portland International Airport (pdx) and while most air traffic flying in and out of here is commercial air traffic, there is still a section of the airport that offers general aviation aircraft services. I imagine the same offerings at Orlando International. You'll learn how to look up this information in your pilot training.

To specifically answer your question, you would NOT call Orlando International Airport to let them know you're coming. Depending on where you're flying out of, you'd most likely file a flight plan via dialing 1-800-wx-brief. This is a national government service contracted to Lockheed Martin that provides in-flight weather information and also files flight plans for your your route of flight. NOTE: You are not required to file a flight plan or obtain this briefing unless you're operating under instrument meteorological conditions with an instrument rating, although it's encouraged for safety reasons should there be an accident. Contrary to your assumptions, Air Traffic Control only knows who is in the air via filed flight plans or via the pilots contacting them prior to entering their airspace, or if they see an object on their radar (but they have no idea who it is unless you identify yourself). I can tell you with certainty that you cannot enter Orlando's airspace unless you contact them first, otherwise you're violating federal aviation regulations (a serious violation).

If you're flying without an instrument rating then the weather needs to be within certain limits and you would fly your aircraft by complying with certain cloud clearance requirements. If you have an instrument rating then you would wouldn't care about cloud clearance requirements and you'd simply file a flight plan and navigate via ground-based navigation facilities while remaining in radio contact.

Hope this all makes sense. If not, contact me again. Thanks and best of luck in your aviation endeavorers.

Sincerely,

Colin