First steps on VATSIM

[Amos Fasoletti]

Fair enoug!

Thanks
Amos

[Amos Fasoletti]

Finally X-Plane 10 is here (they have a very bad postal service...)

I spend the whole day yesterday to configure it up.

I started flyin this night and I'm practicing my first flight, LOWW-LSGG which will be the first one I will try out on VATSIM.

Here I ask for your help:

Departure
LOWW

Route
SITNI UL856 AKABI UZ613 TRA Z69 OLBEN UN869 VEROX

Arrival
LSGG

Now, I'll be practiging the BENOT1R and 1T to land on RWY23 at LSGG (as specified on the VACC website, correct?)

I'm tryin to set the same for LOWW but... which runway to use? I suppose 29 with SITNI departures... does anyone know? Should I ask to the vACC Austria?

[HP Rutschmann]

But then, your route should end on UN869 BENOT , correct?

General rule of thumb concerning runway selection:

a) If a controller who responsible for the aerodrome (needn't be GND or TWR, may be APP or even CTR) is around, he'll provide you with the IFR clearance including active Runway and SID - active runway and STAR respectively.

b) If no controller is around, you should check if other pilots are near you and eventually coordinate with them on the dedicated UNICOM frequency, 122,80. You should monitor (means: listen to) this frequency at any time you are not an an ATCO's freq.
In that case, you may choode your runway on own discretion - however keep looking what other pilots are doing.
Maximum headwind component is one factor to be considered, runway lengths and maybe alignment to your destination may be others.

In your case, at LSGG, runway 23 will be used with a tailwind component up to 10 knots, so only with quite a strong "Bise", 05 will be active. BENOT1T is rarely used, BENOT1R is much more common.

[Amos Fasoletti]

Hey guys. I did a lot of flights on the LOWW-LSGG route.

Thanks Rutschmann, of course yes, the route ends with BENOT (don’t know why I tiped VEROX)

I understand BENOT1R for 23 and BENOT1P for 05 may be used more often since I just noticed that in the 1T and 1N you have to keep higher flight level until the turning points due to mountains (correct?) so it seems descent will be more stressful.

Now, XPlane ATC default definitely sucks, it’s OK for clearance and departure but totally misses on cruise notifications and approach procedure (they miss STAR, can’t get LSGG ATIS, can’t contact LSGG approach, they make me do Visual Approach instead of ILS, …)

This is how I simulate VATSIM ATC (only needed aircraft FMC/Autopilot procedures are listed). I’m tryin to simulate a real VATSIM flight so when I’ll check in for the first time I’ll be fully ready.

The procedure is based on VATSIM documents, youtube videos and the standard X-Plane ATC

Please confirm if I’m right and spot what I miss (there are some question around)

I will list the complete procedure but I assume in small airports such as LSGG the TWR controller does all the procedures (CLD, GND, …) unless they are automated (recorded).

FILE PLAN

LOWW (how do I choose the gate?)

Listen to ATIS -> Information alfa (example)
-> Aircraft set from ATIS (baro, Vref)

Contact CLD and request for clearance, reporting information ALFA
->Readback (Readback Correct)
->Input correct SID on FMC, trasponder set, autopilot re-check based on ATC indications.

Contact GND and ask for Pushback&Taxi
->Readback Taxi instruction, start Pushback
->Check charts and start Taxi

RWY Entry
Contact TWR and ask for Takeoff clearance
->Cleared for takeoff
->Takeoff! (ev. report airborne or similar)

NOW that we are airborne the controller may give me add. instruction so during the whole trip I may expect

-“mantain route as filed”
-FL changes
-Speed Changes
-(Heading changes)
-Route changes (after XX direct to YY)

always performe and readback

or:
-Change frequency to 1xx.xx for the next controller (may be LSZH?)
->Readback, (byebye), set next freq and check in with next controller

If so I have to expect add information from controller and repeat the procedure above

or:
-No further ATC for you until LSGG (WHEN to contact LSGG?)


Top of/during descent
->Get METAR/ATIS and prepare baro, Vref, …

->Checkin with Approach controller
->Expect ILS on RWY23 and STAR
->Set STAR on FMC, tune NAV to ILS Freq

Final approach 10nm
->Contact FINAL / TWR, proceed to ILS (3000ft) intercepting VOR and G/S, follow ILS auto or manual
->Set AP for Missed Approach?
->Wait for landing clearance
->Minimum decision height -> Continue/Missed
->Land (autoland or manual)

Landed
->TWR will say contact GND?
->Contact GND and get Taxi instruction and Gate number



Last question: I noticed that X-Plane freq and those on Vacc Charts may concide (often but not always).
I assume for VATSIM I need to tune on charts freq and follow all instruction based on Charts and not X-Plane map (correct?)


Thanks a lot to all you guys, hope to solve my doubts and join VATSIM experience in a couple of weeks!

Have a nice weekend
Amos

[Jonas Kuster]

Hello Amos

Actually I would suggest you to listen to the frequencies for some hours. That will answer most of your remaining questions. Just come to an airport, choose a stand and tune in the frequencies of ATC around, listen and learn.

Jonas

[Thomas von Ah]

you to listen to the frequencies for some hours

Or request a vatsim-intro in our TMS.

[Amos Fasoletti]

Hello Amos

Actually I would suggest you to listen to the frequencies for some hours. That will answer most of your remaining questions. Just come to an airport, choose a stand and tune in the frequencies of ATC around, listen and learn.

Jonas

of course I will do this!

Thanksss
Amos

[Mauro Gerber]

next VATSIM intro:

02.05.2014
1800z (20:00 local)

[Thomas von Ah]

follow all instruction based on Charts

That's correct. Please always use the vACC charts and frequencies. Switzerland / Austria

It is very easy for the ATC Area of responsability. It's the same for the DEP/ARR - Airport:
If there is no ATCo online use unicom 122.8 (only text, no voice)

If DEL is online -> only responsible for the IFR-CRL
If _GND is online -> taxi-CLR, if no DEL then also for the IFR-CLR
If _TWR is online -> DEP-CLR and Landing-CLR (responsible for a Control Zone), if no DEL/GND then also for the IFR-CLR and Taxi
If _APP is online -> responsible for a TMA around an airport, if no DEP then also for Departures in the TMA. If no DEL/GND/TWR, then also responsible for IFR-CLR, Taxi, Dep, Arr
IF _CTR is online -> responsible for a whole FIR, if no DEL/GND/TWR/APP online, then responsible for everything in his area.

No further ATC for you until LSGG (WHEN to contact LSGG?)

stay on unicom 122.8 till.....
... APP online -> around 50 NM of the airport or 5-10 minutes before reaching the first point of the STAR or you will receive a contact me
... TWR online -> established on the ILS
... GND online -> after vacating the rwy, only for taxi clr to the gate

[Amos Fasoletti]

next VATSIM intro:

02.05.2014
1800z (20:00 local)

Teamspeak? I may join!

That's correct. Please always use the vACC charts and frequencies. Switzerland / Austria

It is very easy for the ATC Area of responsability. It's the same for the DEP/ARR - Airport:
If there is no ATCo online use unicom 122.8 (only text, no voice)

If DEL is online -> only responsible for the IFR-CRL
If _GND is online -> taxi-CLR, if no DEL then also for the IFR-CLR
If _TWR is online -> DEP-CLR and Landing-CLR (responsible for a Control Zone), if no DEL/GND then also for the IFR-CLR and Taxi
If _APP is online -> responsible for a TMA around an airport, if no DEP then also for Departures in the TMA. If no DEL/GND/TWR, then also responsible for IFR-CLR, Taxi, Dep, Arr
IF _CTR is online -> responsible for a whole FIR, if no DEL/GND/TWR/APP online, then responsible for everything in his area.


stay on unicom 122.8 till.....
... APP online -> around 50 NM of the airport or 5-10 minutes before reaching the first point of the STAR or you will receive a contact me
... TWR online -> established on the ILS
... GND online -> after vacating the rwy, only for taxi clr to the gate

Thanks a lot, easy to understand and doubt-solving!

[Jonas Kuster]

Teamspeak? I may join!

Use TMS (Training Management System) on our homepage to subscribe for the lesson: http://www.vacc.ch/en/TMSv2/.

[Mauro Gerber]

Teamspeak? I may join!

http://www.vacc.ch/en/TMSv2/-_lesson_offers/

[Amos Fasoletti]

Thanks guys,

last week I had to work a lot and the time I spent in front of my PC was all to configure and fine-tune my setup.

Hopefully now it's all OK and I'll be practicing a lot LSZH->LSGG on the next days (offline).
I reduced to this route because I can practice better and more frequently departure and approach. Flyin from Wien was good but too much time on cruise for practicing!

Today I was doing some works and I listened to real ATC for abot 2 hours to get used to some real situation.

I will ask for a VatSim intro on the next weeks!

I also got an email from VatSim today, introducing the new client as an alternative to Xsquawkbox but as far as I can see it's only for FSX and not for Xplane, right?

[Roger Kaufmann]

but as far as I can see it's only for FSX and not for Xplane, right

Unfortunately yes, no X-Plane on vPilot ... but there's a separate project ongoing for a global VATSIM Pilot Client. No ETAs as yet, though.

[Mark Nelson]

Pilot VATSIM Intro in English:

Date: 14.05.2014
Time (UTC): 18:00 - 20:30

I'm an X-Plane Pilot aswell. Book the Lesson via the TMS or let me know which dates and times might suit you better.

Cheerio
Mark

[Amos Fasoletti]

Booked!

Practicing a lot this week to be ready!

[Amos Fasoletti]

I just like to say BIG THANKS to Mark Nelson for being such a good teacher and person on the VATSIM Intro we did tonight.

About 2 hours and 30 mins where I had occasion to solve my doubts and check the procedures with Mark.
I now feel safer and ready for my first flight in VATSIM.

I am excited to join this community and I would like to thanks anyone like Mark who puts time to teach to newbies like me!

Thanks, Danke, Grazie!

See you soon!

[Mark Nelson]

I'd like to thank you for being as prepared as you were. To be honest, you didn't actually need me. But I'm glad that we could clarify the topics you weren't certain about and I am looking forward to seeing and hearing you in the virtual skies.

Remember: We are all here to learn and have fun.

[HP Rutschmann]

such a good teacher

Hehe, I'll take only the best!

[Amos Fasoletti]

Here is a little update

First of all I'd like to say THANK YOU! to all controller which assisted me during my very first flight these days.
I joined Teamspeak tonight after my flight to say thanks, but then took a little break and went back and no more people online

I'm currently OFF teamspeak during flight since these are my first flights and I just want to be concentrated on the COM, hope (and sure) you'll understand!

So, here's my first experiences to share..

Did 5 flights (2 unicom only), all LSZH to LSGG

Still making mistakes (of course), biggest one on the procedure side is trasponder on mode C for takeoff and then stanby for ground (wasn't used to do this until Mark explained this to me!)

Yesterday evening was a good flight, take off from LSZH on UNICOM then Mauro joined as Swiss Radar and I contacted him. It was good because there was some traffic so at a certain point Mauro told me "Speed 250 until ILS and 210 until 12NM from DME" (which I did not understand at first), that was a really good indication and something new to expect! Then with Mark on LSGG tower for Landing, then GND with Therese and.... I missed the taxiway for Parking Was a little relaxed after landing and underrated the LSGG taxiways that, in my scenario, don't have markings on the ground. Also, I usually have Georeferenced charts for GND on an App called ApolloAirmap, works well in LSZH but the app is kinda bugged and don't work for LSGG right now.. So... I took the paper chart and was studyin an alternate taxi route to ask but Therese was really faster than me and gave me indications for a different gate . So sorry, so today I studied taxiways in Geneve and hanged the GND paper chart on the wall...

Tonight also a great flight, super FULL ATC. Some things unexpected, I.E. I saw LSZH arrival online but no idea this took control also for DEPARTURE, so I wasn't ready with the frequency and TWR was forced for a double call to me. Then with radar, first I had problem of listening (disturbed transmission) so I asked for typying, then trx was ok and back to full voice. And... I missed the glideslope was too high on SPR and had problem with the plane itself tryin to go down to recovery (then too close @ too high speed... you know). I was already on contact with tower and announced a missed ILS, followed the missed approach procedure. TWR sent me back to Swiss Radar, explained the problem and asked for vector to go back on ILS for RWY23 and here Hanspeter was so nice. Then back on ILS and successfully landed. Sorry that I can't remember who was on TWR but gave me an "hard gate" (good exercise!) to reach but I was ready on this side this time Also there was traffic on taxiway and I had to wait a little bit.

So, as you can see, many mistakes but I think every mistake is a good way to learn something new.

As I stated at the beginning I'd really like to thank all controllers for the great service. Hope I can join this friday for another flight (or maybe 2!)

See you soon!
Greets and... tailwinds to everyone