Flying online

Eurostar Aviation encourage all its pilots to fly online - our official online network is VATSIM, however if you want to fly on IVAOs net, this is no problem. This said, the guide here will adhere to VATSIMs ways of operating and software. Do check VATSIMs Pilot Resource Center.

Before you start

VATSIM is a private operated net, which is presented to you for free. Only requirements are, that you accept the rules of use and that you join as a member. When doing this, you recieve a number (PID) and a password for accessing the network. For further information, check at http://vatsim.net.

Next you need to download the software (clients), which connects your flightsimulator to the VATSIM net. There are 2 accepted clients for VATSIM: Squawkbox and FSInn. Which one you prefer, is the one you feel most comfortable with, so please try them both.

After installation you open your flightsimulator and a new menuitem is found in the menuline.

See Squawkbox3 Setup for further instructions. (to be published later)

See FSInn Setup for further instructions. (to be published later)

And remember, when you start your flightsimulator never to position your plane on the runway. Always find a parking - stand or gate to connect from! Otherwise you might interfere with traffic allready online. You might place yourself on top of another aircraft parked at the same gate. Please slew to a new position, when this happens.

After login

The first thing to do after login is to submit a flightplan. Remember to make sure the following items are filled in:

  1. Departure Airport
  2. Destination Airport
  3. Alternate Airport
  4. Route (from exitpoint of SID to entrypoint of STAR - use airways)
  5. Flightlevel(s) (Normally odd flightlevel when flying east, even flightlevel when flying west. Non-standard FLs exists!)
  6. Type of flight (VFR, IFR, SVFR)
  7. Voicecapability (Full voice, Recieve only, text only)
  8. Any remark, which could be helpful for the controller - Eurostar-callsign (not every controller knows 'ESA'), missing charts (you should NOT miss any), equipment restraints (unable climbrate, RNAV etc.).

After checking for errors send the flightplan. If a controller is to recieve it, allow some time for him to check it, before requesting clearence. In the meantime you should check the following:

  1. ATIS - read the controllers ATIS for information on runway in use, qnh etc.
  2. Get a current METAR and check it - compare the wind to the runway in use, perhaps you need to ask for an other.
  3. Consider the SID and taxiclearence you will recieve. You need to readback the following items: SID, Initial climb, qnh, squawkcode and taxiinstructions. If caught unprepared - this is a lot to remember!
  4. Prepared the plane for departure.

Who to contact

In the real world clearence delivery is online 24/7. At VATSIM this is not so, unfortunately. Actually _DEL is normally only online during events, but this does not nessesarily mean, that you cannot get a clearence. At VATSIM the controllerpositions are structured like this:

  1. Clearence Delivery (known normally with a _DEL in the callsign, eg. EKCH_V_DEL = Kastrup Delivery (Kastrup being the  name of the airport)) is the first to look for, if you need a clearence. It is his job to recieve the flightplan, check it for errors, assign the appropriate SID according to your route and the runway in use. Notice that the SID is given to you from clearence, so you normally do NOT write the SID in yours flightplan. If _DEL is not online you move to the next controller, which is
  2. Ground (_GND). Ground is responcible for all aircraftmovement on the ground except the runway(s). If no _DEL is online, you get your clearence from _GND. If you have got your clearence, _GND is the one to contact for permission for pushback, startup and taxiclearence. Remember to readback your taxiclearence, too. When cleared to taxi, you follow the assigned taxiway(s) (charts - do check them!) to the holdingposition of the assigned runway. During your taxi, you might need to cross an active runway. Do never do that, without proper clearence. If in doubt, ask Ground for permission and he will then check with Tower (or you might be asked by Ground to contact Tower yourself). Upon reaching the holdingposition you will be transfered to
  3. Tower (_TWR) and when your last checks have been made, you ask for permission for takeoff (t/o). When given "Cleared for takeoff" or "Lineup runway xx and hold" you put your landinglights and strobes on AND you set your transponder in normal mode ("mode Charlie"). You need to check, that setting the transponder on the panel to "normal" also sets the Squawkbox Transponder to "normal". Otherwise you should do so manually. Never takeoff with the transponder in the "off" position. Either you are flying VFR (and squawking "1200" or the have recieved a squawkcode and you need to transmit that code. Then you will be shown on the radarscreen with proper callsign instead of a '+'. If cleared for takeoff you must start your takeoff-roll and take off, if lineup and hold you are not allowed to takeoff.
  4. When airborne you will be asked to contact Departure (_DEP) or Approach (_APP). Normally Approach deals with both arrivals and departures, but during flyins, Departure might be online to help handling the departing aircrafts. You climb to your initially cleared altitude (Flightlevel), but not higher untill Departure clears you to. When you reach the border of Departures area, you will be handed over to
  5. Center (_CTR) (or Radar or Control - many names for the same). He takes care of you and hand you over to the next controller on the line.

When getting closer to your destination, you will be handed over to Approach, which clears you via a STAR or radarvectors to final for the runway in use. Then hands you over to Tower, who gives you clearence to land. When you have vacated the runway, you say so to Tower, turnoff your landing light and strobelight, sets the transponder on standby and contact Ground for taxiinstructions. Finally, when you get to your assigned stand, you reports this to Ground, who closes your flightplan and you are free to grab a beer.

Now, while the above is an ideal situation, several controllers might be missing, but then you just calls the next controller in the line. He has the responcibility for you then. However, if no more controllers are online, you will be asked to "resume own navigation, monitor unicom on 122.8" and you are on your own. Tune your radio to 122.8 and keep an eye on the transmissions there. Some other planes might be out there and interfere with your flight. Write your intentions, so others can plan their actions and if needed, communicate directly with fligths in your vicinity. This is also true, if no controller is online at all. Remember to communicate your intentions - others might need them!

Most important - HAVE FUN!!

What to say - fraseology 

First time online - you'll be very excited and very nervous. But remember we have all tried this and survived! However, it may not be the best of ideas to logon a huge, complex airport like Frankfurt/Main, EDDF as your first and it may also be not so good an idea to choose an evening, where a major event is going on. Choose instead a relative quiet evening at a minor airport/airfield, so that the procedures ATC will give you are easy and the ATC has time to help you along. 

As for what to say - the best way is to listen to other planes and ATC and try to get "the picture". However you can find a lot of help at VATSIM Europe Training Departments homesite at http://vateud-td.org/manual/atc/communications.asp. For some reallife examples see Stellan Hilmerby's site, where a lot of information and examples of radiotraffic can be found. 

In case you have any questions about online-flying please do not hesitate to contact me.