¶ Links
- start here with VATSIM
- map showing current VATSIM activity
- pilot briefings of major german airports
- ACARS
- https://vacdm.vatsim-germany.org/vdgs/
¶ Tools
use a headset for ATC and Ground communication, use speakers for environment
thus you will clearly understand ATC even if engines are running
¶ xPilot
- you need a tool to connect your flight sim to VATSIM
- when using XPlane use xPilot
- connect your pilot PTT to xPilot
¶ CPDLC
- available via Hoppies ACARS
- EDDM prefers using CPDLC (though never used it)
¶ Training
Important routines you should train offline
¶ Planning
- use littlenavmap and play with routes
- SIDs/STARs/ILS
- runways
¶ Pushback
- How does your sim handle pushbacks?
- Do you need an extra plugin?
¶ extended runway centerline
- during landing
- enter direct of ILS entry point
- set inbound radial as opposite of your landing direction
- if landing in EDDB on 24L, set 64 as radial
- Where to get the radial from? Note before takeoff
¶ landing configuraiton
- make a lot of Touch&Go flights
- during landing write down which configuration should be done at which distance to the runway
- Speeds?
- Flaps?
- Gear Down?
¶ fly a hold
- or better said: tell your FMCU to fly a hold
¶ full flight
- put all together and make a full flight as you would on VATSIM
- no cheating
use pushback etc. - check if your setup and your plugins are working
¶ Stages
- repeat everything which is told you by ATC
- always have pen and paper near you
¶ Flight Planing
- currently I am using https://www.simbrief.com/ for flight planning
- after generating the flight it can be prefilled in vatsim, which is very handy
- submit flightplan to vatsim
- if you are fairly new to vatism, add this information in RMK (remarks) to inform ATC
- for inflight informations I am using [https://navigraph.com/](Navigraph Charts)
- very usefull, especially to have all waypoints and charts in one place
- it's important to know the waypoints as it is very common that ATC gives you directs
- LittleNavMap connected to your sim helps you to keep track of your aircraft during flight
- carefully read ATIS of your airports, there might be important informations like
call 118.825 when passing 2000- I started to note down all possible frequency changes during planing, thus having a chance to read the correct frequency when buzy
¶ Going Online
- after submitting the flightplan at vatsim you need to choose a stand
- NEVER EVER join on the runway
- at this point you really should read the pilot briefing of your choosen airports
- goto vatsim radar and look for a stand which is currently not occupied
- if you accidently join on an occupied stand, disconnect immediately and rejoin on another stand
- make sure the stand is covered by the pilot briefings
- start setting up your aircraft, but DO NOT start engines
- intially load your flightplan
- my aircraft model is able to load the flightplan directly from simbrief
¶ Requesting IFR
Delta Alpha Bravo Charlie Echo requesting IFR to Munic which information Tango- callsign DABCE (or whatever your callsign is )
- destiation Munic
- having read (hopefully) current ATIS information T
- callsign DABCE (or whatever your callsign is
- you will receive your clearance, be prepaired for a rapid response
- CRAFT-rule might help to keep track of the response of ATC
- C = Clearance (e.g. cleared to Munic)
- R = Route (e.g. climb via SID GIVMI4E, route as planned)
- A = Altitude (e.g. initial climb FL70)
- F = Frequency - often not used but ATC may give you information on which frequency to use after T/O
- T = Transponder (e.g. Squak 1000)
- again: the response will be fast, be prepared
- you have to repeat the clearance exactly given by ATC
- now, setup your aircraft including the FMCU
¶ Requesting Pushback
- often you will receive startup clearance during IFR request
- requst pushback from your stand
- be polite and tell ATC you stand like
DABCE requesting pushback from stand E12 - answer might something like
pushback aproved, facing west - this means, your aircarft nose has to be pointing to west once pushback is finished
- don't waste time, another aircraft might be waiting, start pushback as soon as possible
- during pushback, start your engines
¶ Requesting Taxi
DABCE ready for taxiing- you will receive taxi clearance like
F V2 B M2 hold short holding point of 24L - at this point you should have an airport map
- make sure you FULLY understood the taxi route before starting taxiing
- if in doubt, ask ATC for clarification
¶ T/O
- often you will receive your T/O clearance during taxi
- if there is a lot of traffic you really might have to stop on the holding point
- anyway, make sure you are prepared for an imediately T/O when reaching the holding point (flaps, auto brakes, etc)
- lift off
- you will receive a frequency change shortly after takeoff
¶ enjoy your flight
¶ landing preparations
- setup destination parameters like temp, QNH, MDA, ...
- calculate your latest point of descent
- in germany, most ATC will give you a lower FL early enough
- but, e.g. in poland you have to request a descent
- be prepared for a rapid landing, so setup everything (not gear or flaps, but FMCU etc) as early as possible
- never ever did I fly a STAR, you will receive a direct
- so shortly before landing you will get a new heading, shortening your distance to the runway
- keep an eye on your altitude
- as you will be very buzy right before capturing ILS, it is very handy to enter your ILS entry point as direct with inbound radial equal to the opposite runway direction
- this paints a nice dotted line on the ND which helps you to not overfly ILS
- setup landing configuration as you have trained
¶ landing
- after landing, vacate runway as soon as possible
- right of left vacate? may make a difference in taxiing
- fully vacate runway, make a full stop if you did not receive an taxiing information
- you might need to do a nother frequency change
- if not received any taxi instructions yet, request taxiing by giving your position and ask for a specific stand
- don't forget to swtich of your landing lights and strobe
¶ Overwhelming Help
- ask ATC for a hold pattern to have some time to get things sorted
- use communication templates
- prepare next expected frequencies (use COM1 and COM2 to switch)
- inform ATC that you are new to VATSIM (e.g. in flight plan)
- take a longer route so you can take a breath between takeoff and landing
- if you only have 30 min to play or something (which is obviously to short to have "real" flight, eh?) just sit on a high frequenced airport and listen to ATC
- fly fixed route (same one again and again)
And if you feel bad, read about my very first flight on VATSIM
- if you really think "that's it, I am out" be nice and call ATC with something like "going offline, <callsign>" and press disconnect on your VATSIM client before quitting your flight simulator
¶ Communication Layers
- Top-Down communication
- if a layer is not available goto the next one
- Delivery
- Ground
- Tower
- Approach (sometimes called director)
- Centre/Radar (called ‘Control’ in the UK)
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/VATSIM/comments/10blyfl/comment/j4b06r7/