JHB Online

JHB online

Many pilots are beginning to enjoy the experience of flying online. Basic MP sessions, or the more challenging online ATC services, are both great fun and provide a means of sharing your hobby with fellow pilots.

FS Multiplayer

Basic multiplayer is simple to set up and all that is required is someone to host an MP session. With my own preference for online ATC flying MP has been neglected of late but the good new is that there is now a permanent UK multiplayer server in operation. Rory Gillies has now set up a permanent MP server and so, if you are flying around the UK and fancy seeing other aircraft, try logging on to his MP server. Details can be found at http://lerwick.plus.com/

Online ATC

Online ATC has been around for some time but it is only recently that it's popularity has grown - no doubt owing to increasing Broadband use. JHB encourages pilots to try on line flying and these pages have been set up for the benefit of our pilots who use the services provided by IVAO or VATSIM.

IVAO is a structured ATC system that follows real world procedures. It is slightly less formal than VATSIM and therefore better for the more inexperienced pilots to learn real world procedures.

VATSIM needs no introduction. Reformed after the original SATCO system closed VATSIM has been running for many years now and can claim a huge following of both enthusiasts and real world pilots. VATSIM uses real world procedures and it must be considered the ultimate experience for any FS user who wishes total immersion in reality.

Flying online - Basic rules and guidelines

Joining in an online ATC session might sound intimidating. In truth it varies depending on what you try to do. As you are entering the world of ATC it may come as no surprise that a basic knowledge of how ATC works is needed - and most pilots have picked up the basics of this if they have used the AI traffic and ATC systems built into FS2004 and later. The only difference between FS and online ATC is that instead of using menu systems to obtain clearances and instructions you will be communicating to a real person sitting in a simulated airport or Centre.

If you wish to attempt an IFR airways flight I need not say that the knowledge to do this in a real world simulation is greater than if you wish to fly a simple VFR flight between two small airports. Most online systems have a wealth of tutorials and provide training for users joining the system, plus very helpful forums to answer any question you could possibly ask about flying or controlling.

There are some tutorials in my FS pages that may also be worth a read. For newcomers to online ATC I suggest looking at:

Multiplayer and On-line Flying in FS

and for users with a bit more experience with further questions to ask:

ATC - Online Headaches?

and

Flight Planning - Theory versus Reality

may help a little.

Before connecting

Assuming you have installed the pilot software and have run through the correct set up procedures here is a guide as to what happens.

There are just two things that you MUST do before the temptation to hit the CONNECT button overcomes you.

Make sure you are not sitting on a runway - you must be sitting at a gate or somewhere well clear of the runways and taxiways. It's obvious really - as soon as you connect your aircraft would appear on radar screens (and to other pilots) sitting on the runway. If the airport is busy it would spoil their day a bit. Be considerate and park somewhere safe.

Fill in the Flight Plan - This is to inform other users of your intentions. This may be new to you but most of the boxes are self explanatory. If it is just for a test then type "Testing only" in the remarks box. That way you can go online and play with the various software settings without being disturbed by others. You may see other aircraft moving around but no one should pay you any attention.

When you connect to multiplayer it will disable all your AI traffic. If you see aircraft moving around they will be other online pilots flying around you. You will see these aircraft both visually (just like AI aircraft) and on the TCAS display in your cockpit - or on the TCAS provided with the Pilot Club software.
 

Things you do (and don't do) before you jump in

This bit is mainly for beginners or the curious. It covers what actually happens when you connect online plus good (or bad) habits you should be aware of. First I will describe what to expect when you connect on line for the very first time.

One very important rule for all pilots.

Don't have the aircraft on an active runway when you press the CONNECT button! Yep, I said it above too but this is important. If a controller is active at your airfield and has other aircraft on final it isn't fair to pop up on his screen blocking the runway!  As in real life it might cause something of a panic..  Instead, slew over to the apron and then connect.

The second part of this rule is also obvious - NEVER SLEW IN FS WHEN YOU ARE CONNECTED. Not unless ATC gives you permission to.

What do you see when you connect? 

Well, possibly nothing. It really depends on the time of day you connect and how many other people are online. Choose somewhere busy like Heathrow or Frankfurt on a Saturday night and it will be a lot busier than Exeter.

Where is ATC?

As soon as you connect don't expect to be inundated with lots of radio chat and controllers barking at you!.

The ATC panel will actually show you any ATC units that are active so you always know just how much ATC is available. There may be a lot of airports active or there could be none at all. You won't hear any of them until you tune into their frequency.

Some useful rules

There are a few rules for online ATC but most are simple common sense. I've already mentioned the prime one of not starting up on a possible active runway. Others are:

1. Don't be worried by ATC. We all do this for fun and ATC are well aware that there are a lot of beginners around - which applies to ATC too!
    

2. If you don't understand what ATC have said then do not be afraid to ask him to repeat a message. "Say again" is a well used phrase!
    

3. Keep all calls to ATC short. If you talk a lot it can spoil the fun for other pilots because you stop everyone else from passing messages. Apart from that it is all too easy to get tongue tied if you try to say a lot in one go.
    

4. Use real weather if you want to. ATC have access to current real weather reports and this helps make the experience more realistic. Note that on VATSIM real weather is automatic and could easily give you conditions outside your abilities..
    

5. Choose flights carefully. By this I mean relative to your knowledge of the procedures that would be required for that flight in an ATC environment. VFR flights should be no problem but, conversely, if you elect to fly an Airbus IFR into Hamburg be aware that you could possibly be asked to conform to the procedures the real flight might expect. If you can fly SID's and STAR's you'll do just fine..
    

6. Pick up the radio "patter" by listening to what others do or by listening to the ATC instructions more carefully in the default ATC. This patter is quite rigid so it does not take long to build up an adequate list of phrases for most of your flights.

John Woodside, HC JHB