VATSIM: is it difficult?

[Navy Chief]

I've always been curious about flying on the VATSIM network. The realism, I am sure, is on a higher, more professional level than I've experienced. But is it difficult to learn? NC

[ryanbatc]

No way, especially not for a USN guy! (Thanks for serving by the way!)

The first rule is to not join the network on a movement area (runway/taxiway). You also need to know how to operate your aircraft well enough to tune radios, change transponder codes, and adhere to altitudes/headings if applicable.

I'd recommend a monitoring tool like Vatspy to see who's online. Then you just download the client of your choice (FSInn or Squawkbox 4) and login. I recommend listening to a frequency for a little while if your radio skills are rusty. Then either file IFR or get VFR flight following. Vatsim operates top down... so if you're at a real world airport which would be towered (maybe a small class D), you'll still need to contact the center (or approach etc/tower) for clearance.

What type of planes are you planning on flying?

[Victory103]

NC,
VATSIM has several beginner tutorials along with pilot training to get you up to speed. As mentioned, see who's online and start small, DO NOT log on to at LAX!

It can add immersion to your sim, I can generally get the same vectoring as I would real world on VATSIM. If you want to sim military ops, most controllers will know how to handle you.

The biggest issue for most is the initial set up, ie FSInn or Squawkbox.

[robertorizzo]

No, it isn't.
Even for a non english mother language as I am. ATCs all over the world are very very kind, particularly with newbies.
I confirm FsInn is rough.
But it adds a new dimension to our hobby. And adds a lot of friends too.
You do not feel alone out there in the virtual skies anymore.
Try.

[Naismith]

http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...0tutorial&sm=1

[HansRoaming]

Learning the phraseology can be interesting at first but it adds some real immersion. I found that by flying out of the less visited airports you have controllers that are grateful and have time to be very helpful.

VATSIM isn't for tubeliners only, flew my P51D Civ a lot on there. Made me smile hearing people holding for the P51

[Navy Chief]

Thank you all for your replies. I think it is time I learned how to use the radios and proper navigation, so I can delve into this part of flight simulation that I have avoided all these years......NC

[srburger]

NC,

Here is a quick summary I wrote a while back. VATSIM is great, but it requires a little hunting to get going. This should help. Links for everything you need are provided at the end. It's all free, but you'll need a USB headset with microphone if you want to communicate by voice.


1. Begin by reading the VATSIM "Quick Start Guide" and installing your pilot client. (I prefer FSInn. If you follow the FSInn & FSCopilot Installation Instructions EXACTLY AS WRITTEN, you won't have any problems.)


2. Install ServInfo (or VATSpy as Ryan mentioned… or there's also a great iPad app called VatMap). It doesn't need to be installed on the same computer as the one you use for FSX. ServInfo has a map view that shows you which regions are currently staffed and all online traffic. You will typically see pilots and controllers online 24 hours a day. (You need to click on the VATSIM button in ServInfo to retrieve the information.)


3. The Los Angeles ARTCC has a GREAT series of graduated pilot ratings to get you up and going in the online ATC environment. Be sure to read the transcript provided with each rating to see how the communications work.


4. VATSIM also has written lessons that you can read at your convenience. They are a good complement to the ZLA ARTCC exercises. Be sure to read the Important Rules now.




*** TIPS ***


a. Start out with a C172 or similar IFR-capable airplane that you can fly with your brain tied behind your back.


b. Have a pencil and paper handy for writing down squawk codes, headings, and altitudes.


c. Using ServInfo, find a region that is staffed and has traffic. Then start FSX (at a parking spot - not a taxiway or runway!) at an airport in the region. From the FSX "Addons" menu, open the INN Control Panel, and click on the VATSIM button to login. Click on the ATC button to see the relevant frequencies, and tune your radio. Then just listen to the communications. VATSIM does not object to this, and in fact encourages it for new pilots.


d. Start FSX with whatever time of day you want. If you use a third party weather program, set it to use VATSIM weather.


e. If you have an AI traffic program, FSInn will use your AI models to depict other pilots' airplanes. You can turn off your AI traffic.


f. Don't pause your sim while online.


g. SkyVector is great for flight planning (and for charts in the USA). For Canadian charts, I use FltPlan.com (free, but requires registration). For the rest of the world, I use AirCharts.


h. Use SimRoutes.com to check for standard routes.




*** LINKS ***


a. VATSIM Website: http://www.vatsim.net/
Quick Start Guide: http://www.vatsim.net/pilots/quickstart/
Lessons: http://www.vatsim.net/prc/
Important Rules: http://www.vatsim.net/prc/prc-basics/prc-rules/


b. Los Angeles ARTCC: http://laartcc.org
Pilot Ratings: http://pilotcerts.laartcc.org/page/ratings.html


c. FSInn & FSCopilot: http://flightsim.apollo3.com/docs/fs...ontovatsim.htm
VATSIM Forums/FSInn Help: http://forums.vatsim.net/viewforum.php?f=43


d. FSInn & FSCopilot Installation Instructions:
http://forums.vatsim.net/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=20466


e. ServInfo: http://www.apollo3.com/download/download.php?id=18


f. SkyVector: http://skyvector.com


g. FltPlan.com: http://www.fltplan.com


h. AirCharts: http://aircharts.org

[Navy Chief]

Wow! Thanks! Great information! NC

[orionll]

What are you supposed to do if you start at a towered airport that lacks controllers? Takeoff at your own discretion and contact approach/departure when you're airborne?

[Navy Chief]

What are you supposed to do if you start at a towered airport that lacks controllers? Takeoff at your own discretion and contact approach/departure when you're airborne?

Good question. Was thinking about that myself.

[CG_1976]

Set your Com 1 to 122.800 and announce intentions and proceed and monitor 122.800. I do that with CYEG when Edmonton Ctr is off and no tower.

[ryanbatc]

What are you supposed to do if you start at a towered airport that lacks controllers? Takeoff at your own discretion and contact approach/departure when you're airborne?

As I wrote above, vatsim is operated Top Down... in this case the overseeing facility, probably a enroute/Center (starts with a Z) is the person you'd contact. They have control over all airports which would be towered in real life...

Oh, but if you meant "where no controllers are at all" then yes.... tune in 122.80 and announce your intentions via text.

[orionll]

So you'd tune to center's frequency and contact them as if they were the airfield's ground/tower?

[Victory103]

So you'd tune to center's frequency and contact them as if they were the airfield's ground/tower?

Yes, this is one of the differences between real world and what can logistically be possible in the MP environment. Many of your busier airports on both coasts tend to have ground, tower, and even departure controllers up for you to get the full fun of changing radio freqs. The best time to have all positions manned is a scheduled VATSIM fly-in event. Pending what time you login, most of the major areas (LAX) will have at least a center controller on.

Once you log in for your 1st few times, hopefully using voice, sit and listen to the controller. One of the big hang-ups for new guys (both real and sim) is radio comms, one suggestion is to head over to Liveatc.net and just listen, although not all the phraseology is by the book. (Pilot/Controller Glossary in AIM)