Want More Realism in your VA flights? Try Online ATC! Ok. You've just gotten your pilot number from the Human Resources Manager of your VA. You download the timetable, and start diligently planning your flights. Oooh, here's a good flight... Dallas Ft. Worth to the VA's hub at Chicago O'Hare. Flight number VA101, departs 10:30am, arrives 12:22pm, you've set your waypoints, set the weather, downloaded your aircraft, and you're rolling at 10:31am.

Wait! I wasn't cleared for takeoff. Oh, well, it's just a game right? As a VA pilot myself, I love the whole idea of flying with a purpose. The realism that a VA offers is great in the sense of making a flight meaningful, conserving fuel, keeping a schedule. But, it's so darn quiet up here! Ok, I passed 5000 ft. Shouldn't I be contacting departure right about now? Up over flight level 250, heavy clouds and turbulence pretty strong; gotta call Center and get clearance to climb, right? Oops, no Center here… How can we make flights jump to life with live Air Traffic Control?

Well, a site like www.fstower.com is the answer. Online ATC services for Flight Sim 98 and 2000 are available here. Fully controlled flights from startup to shutdown. VAs can register, and sponsor flights on their timetable with FSTOWER.COM. For example, XYX Virtual has scheduled flights from KDFW to KORD. Both of these facilities are available on fstower.com. A schedule can be worked out that pilots will be able to fly this fully controlled flight on Wednesdays at 0100zulu. This is a GREAT way to generate interest and realism for your VA!

Ok, starting my descent into one of the worlds busiest airports, KORD. Flipping through the com1 radio, don't hear a single word from anyone. KORD airspace is a ghost town. Was that a tumbleweed I just saw getting sucked into the left engine? Oh, well. Positioning myself for final approach. Looking and listening for traffic. None. Am I cleared to land? Sure, there's no one here! Land anywhere you want! Doesn't matter. There is no active runway, because there is no activity! Oh well, it's just a game, right? Wrong. We join VA's for added realism, right? Wouldn't you like to fly for a VA that offers this type of benefit to their pilots? I would. VA's can offer weekly scheduled Fly-Ins to their hub airport. It would be great to know that on Thursday night, I could fly my weekly scheduled flight into my hub with full ATC control. Use that VA call sign they gave me a little more realistically. "Dallas Center, XYZ Virtual 234 100nm inbound to KDFW at FL180, heading 230." "XYZ 234, radar contact. Squawk 2-0-3-0, descend and maintain one zero thousand, turn right heading 2-6-0, expect ILS approach Runway 1-8 Left, do you have the numbers?" "2-0-3-0 in the box, descend maintain one zero thousand, right to 2-6-0, expect 1-8 Left, have the numbers, XYZ 234" Ahh, music to the VA pilots ears, right? I think so.

Online ATC services make it more fun, more realistic, and are very educational. They also open up a new world to the flight simmer. Do you like the way the ATC sounds on Roger Wilco? You say, "I can do that, too." Well, chances are you can. These type of dedicated online ATC sites offer controller training for positions with their site. Imagine, you fly a few times a week, and you control a few times a week. Adds a lot to your hobby, doesn't it? "XYZ 234, Dallas Approach, turn heading 3-2-0 for traffic, one o'clock at 5000 ft." "Right turn to 3-2-0, have the traffic, XYZ 234." Do yourself a favor, VA pilots AND VA management. Check out this added service that you can utilize. This can be the one thing your VA offers that others don't. You don't have to do anything to use these services, like get passwords, and read extensive training documentation. This is easy. Roger wilco, and CH client is all you need. Join a session whenever you want, without doing an hour of preparation. File your flight plan, and take off. Just make sure you get your clearance!

"Dallas Tower, XYZ 234 is at the outer marker for 1-8-Left" "XYZ 234, Winds are 180 at 5 knots, Altimeter is 30.40. Check 3 green and flaps, cleared to land, Runway 1-8-Left. Contact ground upon arrival. Good day!" "Cleared to land, 1-8-Left, will give ground a call upon arrival, XYZ 234, good day!" Ahh, another successful VA flight. This time, however, it was a little more real.