In US, the process to get flight following is pretty straightforward. You call the approach/center frequency, request a flight following and you get it.
On a recent flight originating from a Canadian airport (Lachute, CSE4), I contacted Montreal approach after takeoff and requested flight following. They asked me if I had filed a flight plan. I said no, and they asked me to speak to Quebec radio so that a flight plan could be filed, Quebec radio will then give me a number and I am supposed to call Montreal approach again with that number. I contacted Quebec radio and the lady asked me a number of flight plan related questions and then asked me to standby. She never came back. Can someone elaborate on this?
- What is the general process to get flight following in Canada?
- Is a flight plan required to get flight following?
- On another flight originating in Canada (CYKZ - KFRG), I was able to get flight following via Ground Control. So I am guessing a flight plan is not always required. What is so special about Montreal? How am I supposed to know which centers insist on a flight plan before they will provide flight following?