What must a pilot on a VFR flight operating within a Class C Terminal Control Area establish?

For a pilot flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) within a Class C Terminal Control Area, it is essential to establish radio communication with the appropriate Air Traffic Control (ATC) unit. This requirement ensures that the pilot is in contact with ATC, which helps maintain safe and efficient operations within the controlled airspace. Class C airspace typically surrounds busy airports, where communication with ATC is critical to coordinate the arrival and departure of multiple aircraft and to provide traffic advisories.

Establishing radio communication is not just a formality; it allows for the exchange of vital information such as traffic advisories and instructions that aid in avoiding conflicts, particularly in areas with a mix of VFR and IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) traffic. Only once the pilot has established this communication can they operate safely and legally in Class C airspace.

While visual reference to the ground is important for VFR flights, it does not fulfill the specific requirement of communicating with ATC within Class C airspace. Similarly, filing a flight plan with flight service or maintaining visual separation from IFR traffic are important practices, but they do not directly address the mandatory requirement established for pilots in this specific airspace classification.