While it is pretty rare for NorCal to clear a VFR flight following airplane into the SFO Bravo. I did receive the clearance a few times so far:
- I was just south of HWD at 3500ft. I was kept high by the ATC. As the Bravo boundary crept up, I keyed up and asked if I’m cleared into Bravo. NorCal confirmed that I’m cleared into Bravo and asked me to start my descend for PAO.
- I’m on a departure from SQL to WLW which takes me pretty much straight through OAK. I was planning to go north following 880 as that is usually what they told us to do. Instead, the controller told me to turn on-course after the RWY30 number and contact NorCal. NorCal subsequently cleared me into Bravo and climb to 6500.
Each one of them is a non-event by itself, but I can’t help to find it curious and interesting as NorCal rarely gives it out. It also goes to show ATC’s work is really dynamic in nature. What they could and will do is totally dependent on the flow they’re seeing at the moment.