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The FAA's Air Traffic Control Order (JO 7110.65W, at paragraph 7-6-1) and the Aeronautical Information Manual (paragraph 4-1-18) both define basic radar service for VFR aircraft includes safety alerts (see the sidebar on page 8), traffic advisories, limited radar vectoring (on a workload-permitting basis) and sequencing (at locations where procedures have been established).

Flight following, Part II: more tips and tricks on getting and keeping VFR flight following, plus what to do when ATC cancels the service and you want it back

According to the FAA's Instrument Procedures Handbook, FAA-H-8261-1A, and as discussed above, "When ATC is radar vectoring to the final approach course, or to the intermediate fix as may occur with RNAV standard instrument approach procedures, ATC may specify in the approach clearance "cleared straight-in (type) approach" to ensure that the pilot understands that the procedure turn or hold-in-lieu-of-PT is not to be flown."

Procedure turn, or not? With vectors to final the norm these days and not the exception, it's rare to perform the procedure turn. Yet, ATC may still expect it. When in doubt, ask

(2) Where other navigation equipment is required to complete the approach, e.g., VOR, ILS, or other non-ADF approaches requiring ADF or DME for the missed approach, use: 'Chart note: ADF required,' or 'Chart note: DME required.' When radar vectoring is also available, use: 'Chart note: ADF or Radar required.' "

Trust, but verify: just because you're "flying blind" doesn't mean you should blindly trust what it says on the plate. Sometimes it's wrong

It's used by ATC for radar vectoring only upon the controller's determination that an adequate radar return is being received.

Beyond the MEA: getting as low as possible while remaining IFR can mean a non-stop, light or getting in on a visual. Asking ATC often is the key

Doing it in a quick GA airplane like a Cirrus SR22 still consumes between four and six hours because of all the radar vectoring and ground delays.

Swimming with sharks: small aircraft can fly into NYC's busiest airports, but only with sharp IFR skills, good humor and a healthy bit of chutzpah

When ATC is radar vectoring to the final approach course or to the Intermediate Fix, ATC may specify in the approach clearance 'CLEARED STRAIGHT-IN (type) APPROACH' to insure the procedure turn or hold-in-lieu-of-PT is not to be flown.

Procedure turn follies: cold logic dictates when you must fly the published procedure turn even though common sense may say otherwise

But there is also something called an "approach gate" along every final approach course, before the final approach segment, whenever radar vectoring is in progress.

Spoonfeeding the final: getting a vector to the final approach course is the norm at most airports, not the exception. But there are still a few things you need to know