Definition
An optional service provided by air traffic control (ATC) to aircraft operating under visual flight rules (VFR), in which a controller monitors the flight on radar, provides traffic advisories about other aircraft, and may issue safety alerts. The pilot remains responsible for navigation, terrain clearance, and seeing and avoiding other traffic.
Plain English
A free service where ATC keeps an eye on your VFR flight and tells you about other aircraft nearby. You are still flying the airplane and looking out the window — they are just a helpful extra set of eyes on radar.
Context Anchor
Pilots often use VFR flight following during cross-country flights, near busy airspace, or as a risk control when extra traffic awareness would help.
Derivation
VFR stands for visual flight rules — the rules used when the pilot navigates by looking outside rather than by instruments alone. 'Flight following' simply means ATC is following along with your flight on their radar.
Why Pilots Care
It raises situational awareness and lowers mid-air collision risk while preserving full pilot authority over the flight path.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “following” means air traffic control is guiding or controlling the flight for you. You are still the pilot in command; the controller is providing help when able.
Example Sentence 1
After departing the practice area, the pilot contacted approach control and requested VFR flight following for the trip home.
Example Sentence 2
While receiving VFR flight following the controller advised of traffic at two o'clock, four miles, same altitude.