Can an aircraft flying VFR with a squawk code enter adjacent class C or D airspace after being handed over to the destination tower? In the US, a VFR aircraft request VFR flight following and is given a squawk code after takeoff.
15nm before arriving at it's destination class D airport, the TRACON facility instructs the pilot to &quot;contact the destination tower&quot;.
The pilot keeps his squawk code and change frequency to contact the destination tower. The tower instruct the pilot to enter &quot;straight-in&quot; for the runway in use. However, in order to enter straight-in, the pilot must briefly transit through the class C shelf of an adjacent airport and through the class D of another airport not far from the destination.
Q: Is the pilot cleared to transit through both adjacent C and D airspace since he still squawking the code provided by the local TRACON?
I understand the legal requirements to enter each airspace (AIM 3-2). If the pilot was still in contact with the TRACON facility he would be cleared to enter adjacent C and D airspace since he is squawking a discrete code AND previously established two-way communication. In this case however, the pilot is not anymore talking to the TRACON and switched to the destination tower. I cannot find an official reference that covers this particular scenario.
I came across this question/answer, Does Flight Following automatically include permission to fly through class C or D airspace?, before posting but my scenario is different since the pilot is not talking to the TRACON anymore. It's subtle but makes a big difference.
Trust, but verify.
The pilot must comply with 91.129 and 91.130 unless otherwise instructed by ATC.
ATC of any kind (radar or tower, Class C or Class D) should coordinate with any affected tower if an aircraft they are providing services to will enter another facility's surface area airspace. At least that's how I read the 7110.65 2–1–16, which you will note is in the &quot;General Control&quot; section and not the &quot;Radar&quot; section... though the wording definitely implies that it's directed at radar controllers.
The radar controller should have coordinated with the Class C tower (if necessary) and Class D tower controllers before switching the pilot to the destination Class D tower controller, if they expected the pilot would have to enter the respective surface areas. The destination Class D tower controller should have coordinated with the other tower controllers, if they expected the pilot to enter those surface areas. If coordination was not effected, they should not issue instructions which would imply permission to enter the other surface areas.
The pilot should query whichever controller they happen to be talking to, and follow the instructions they receive (&quot;proceed through the XXX Class Delta airspace&quot; or &quot;remain outside of XXX Class Delta airspace&quot;).