Hello fellow PMDG simmers!Have been flying online on VATSIM for a while and thought I should give FPI (Flightproject) a chance and see what it was like. I think the subject line says it all...you'll just have to try it out yourself to realize how smooth everything is when comparing to VATSIM for example. Just too bad there are so few users. But nevertheless, it sure was a joyful experience - try it out if you haven't already!Cheers,

May be I am missing something here. I flew on VATSIM twice. But othet than the life ATC, I dont really find anything different! In addition, while life ATC is good but it's not really the fun part of simming. FS9 has it too.Michael TanYSCB

To some it is. FS9 ATC is ok, but it's always the same. Never reroutes you, gives you SIDS/STARS, and you never get the feeling you're talking to real people. I get that when flying VATSIM. Only wish more people used it...I have flown about 6 flights so far on VATSIM and have yet to have more than 1 other plane flying in/out of the airports I was flying out of/to. I've flown only on the west coast, so maybe it's different elsewhere.

Hi folksFlying online on VATSIM is the perfect as real as it gets experience. You can't compare REAL ATC :-jumpy with FS9 ATC :-mad !!!A good idea is to check the actual traffic situation first using ServInfo. Then plan a flight right where the action and the online traffic is. Or join one of the online events... For example a PMDG group flight :-beerchug Hope you'll enjoy online flying as much as I do.Best regardsBrunoHB-IIP / LSZH

Bruno,While you're generally right, your vatsim experience may vary greatly depending on what "controllers" are online.Some are very power-hungry and have the most fun giving you routings and instructions that would definitely get complaints filed against them in real life. Unfortunately while I tried vatsim, I got the impression that there were entirely too many control freaks and I have no real desire to make sim-flying more of a hassle than real life flying already is.Those guys are most likely a minority in the vatsim community, but they're still the ones that drove me away from vatsim and into the arms of radar contact 3.Best RegardsMax (Bern, LSZB)http://www.hifisim.com/images/as2004betateam.jpg http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/800driver.jpg

Ive been using VATSIM for over a year now and your above comments is completly misleading and untrue, the ATC 9/10 times is fantastic and extreamly realistic..the controllers are always willing to help newbies if they are not too busy and I have yet to meet a 'control freak' on there..last time I checked a controller was supposed to control you!!..if you want the best ATC VATSIM is the way to go :D

VATSIM is amazing, when you get into a heavily populated Zone.Here's a good example. Last weekend Oakland and Seattle hosted their "Thread the golden Needle" Event. I Flew from San Francisco into Seattle, and had a BLAST! When I touched down in Seattle, I went online as an observer, and the scope was FULL. Never had an online experience like it. I'd suggest to anyone to try one of the big online events.Even though I'm a controller at Seattle, I don't believe I'm biased, as we had MANY compliments on the coverage that day. Only way to know, is to try it yourself.As for the control freaks? I Have no idea what ARTCC He's talking about, that certainly does not happen in Seattle. We always try to be as courtious as we can, so the pilot can enjoy the flight.

Who me?? I'm down with VATSIM!!!I fly online on the VATSIM network almost everynight/day... Europe and USA space mostly...I think 99% of the controler are doin' great job...And REALLY, you CANNOT compare FS9 ATC the real one... Big events on VATSIM are the ones that comes closer to real ATC...Like somebody said above : "check your servinfo and go where the action is..."Men, try Europe (UK, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Scandinavian,...) and USA (Mainly ATL, MIA, ORD, BOS, DEN, LAX, SFO, IAH...). They got real ATC other there believe me...VATSIM is great...

Hello Bruno,I agree. Of course just beeing able to control and fly an a/c like PMDG's 737 is very satisfying on it's own but when stiving for that "As real as it gets..."-feeling, beeing able to communicate with real human beeings instead of choosing amongst different predefined ATC messages in a menu adds ALOT in my opinion. I used to fly "on my own" and never bothered trying to get online but now when I have I must say it has been the best move in my FS "career" so far! But...what I don't like part from all the hazzle settings up the online environment is the movement of the other a/c around you which leaves you with much more to wish for...But now after having a look at FPI I realized just how good online flying really can be with the right software and technical platform - a/c around you that moves just as smooth as the AI planes normally do when not flying online, beeing able to see how the pilot at the stand next to you turns on the lights on his a/c just before requesting push and so on. Below is a link to the movie that caught my attention and had me trying FPI out...and I'm glad I did! And the fact that you get both pilot and ATC client software that is 100% FS2004 compatible right "out of the box" packed with functions like built-in charts, TCAS, voice etc all in a very nice looking panel that fits perfectly right in your cockpit I simply see as a bonus. No more hazzle with SBRelay, sbhost.dll...http://213.158.118.19/fpi/FPIMovie_320x240.wmvAlmost sounds like an advertisment :-), but it's not...I was just very surprised and amazed and suggest all of you online pilots have a look at it. Won't cost you more than the time downloading the client software and try it out. Just imagine a PMDG groupfligt where we would be able to do formation flying in the true sense of the word!Cheers,

Sorry,But that's just my experience. Flight plans were rejected 9 times out of 10, instructions were sometimes between unrealistic and insane (By the way I was filing the same flight plans I would file for real flights, which would be accepted as filed by ATC 9 times out of 10). I've never been issued such crazy clearances in real life, even in busy airspace, as I have been on VATSIM (For the record, I am instrument and multi rated in real life).Yes, a controller is supposed to control air traffic, but if they send you all over the place when there is little traffic, it gets more than a little frustrating.My statement is neither misleading nor untrue. It's based on my personal VATSIM experience, which was rather bad, your experience of course may be different, but your just dismissing my experience as untrue comes across as rather arrogant, IMHO, not entirely unlike what I experienced on VATSIM.Best RegardsMax (Bern, LSZB)http://www.hifisim.com/images/as2004betateam.jpg http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/800driver.jpg

I suggest you complain via www.vatsim.net, if it is as bad as you have made out im sure they will take action against the individuals you mentioned...

Sorry if I sound arrogant Max, my post wasn't meant 2 be like that.But just like you... that's my personal experience too...And I respect your personal experience.But I really think you should give VATSIM another chance...Talking to real people + PMDG = Very good experience!!PS : That video from FPI is great Richard!!! Thanx for the link!!!

I agree. I played arround with sqauwk box, sb relay and the rest needed for Vatsim (so i'm told). SB ver. 2.1 or wahtever does not seem to like fs9. Peopple have been waiting forever for SB3. Very much a pain.I installed FPI's pilot/software "ATOC" it worked first time no problems and it's voice. For someone without a headset you can use text if you need to. I have't had time to go online yet, except for a few minutes after buying a headset. I could here the controller no problem but I could not transmit. I went into MS recorder app. and set the mic etc. up, should work because I can record using the mic now.Vatsim is far larger than FPI. I asked why one could'nt connect to Vatsim (on the Vatsim forum)using FPI's ATOC, I was told the FPI offerd the use of their software etc. but that Vatsim refused. Vatsim and IVAO can use each others servers and have an agreement.Then I was told that FPI's software didn't meet Vatsim standards. Well I dont know how good Vatsims standards work because I cant even begin to make any headway with fs9, fs2000/02 no problem. I dont want to use the old flight sims anymore, I dont want to use a text based deal. I want to Talk to the controller, not write him/her letters.I sent an email to Paul who is proposing the Priemere/Pricision VA about the possibilty of FPI, have not recieved a reply.Regards

You're welcome Fritz, and what's even better is that's exactly what you will actually experience when flying on FPI. Checked it out myself yesterday to see if the reality was as good as the movie...and it was. The only thing missing at the moment on the FPI network is more traffic, but hopefully that will change.All the best,

Odd...I use FS9 with AS2004, Sqwakbox, SB Host, RW or AVC+AVC Tuner and SB Relay to fly on VATSIM and it works just fine... just like I used to in FS2002.But just like you : waiting for Squawbox 3.0... And it would be nice to have a software like FPI for VATSIM anyway...