Hello Captains,After reading Tom Metzinger

You have a couple options:a) Use VATSIM. This is what I do most of the time.:( Fly your flights offline, but not obey FS ATC. Just fly your routes at your pace, and you can look at the AI. This is what I do when I fly offline.c) Obey FS ATC.

Thank you, Captain Clausen,Pardon my ignorance, though... I searched the entire AVSIM library and found too many topics on VATSIM. So, duh, some obvious and elementary questions:a)What is VATSIM?b)Is it downloadable?c)Where do I get it?Thanks again. Greetings from Brazil.Sergio

Check this link out Sergio http://www.jdtllc.com/This is Radar Contact and is a brilliant add-on ATC program. You will require the latest version which is beta 3.1. The software is only available on disc because of size but it is worth both the cost and wait. This is the link for the Radar Contact forum should you have any further questions. http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=135Keith Sandford

Sergio,VATSIM is a free worldwide online network where you can fly using the multi-player feature of FS9 and combines pilots and air traffic control. Because the controllers need to take and pass tests, you should get a much more realistic experience than with the ATC in MS, or even add-ons (while very good, simply cannot duplicate a live person). Controllers are also trained to use the proper procedures for the real world counterparts. As a matter of fact, even if you're a real life controller, you still need to pass an other the shoulder test with a VATSIM instructor.I'll give you a quick rundown here because info on this because I have gone through it, and it's not exactly simple to get unless it's explained to you.The first thing you should do is visit www.vatsim.net, register and obtain your user ID. This will let you connect to the network. There is a lot of information on VATSIM that will help you get the stuff you need working. You should also get all the tutorials in the pilot section.Software wise, depending on your FS configuration, you will need the following software from the avsim library and/or the Vatsim web site.Squawkbox (currently 2.x, a beta version that's been around for at least a year). This software also known as SB lets you interface with the VATSIM network. This lets you communicate with ATC and also relay to the network your position, and that of other planes. A new version 3.x is in the works, but not available at this time. Because it was not designed for FS9, you will also need a program called SBRELAY. SBRELAY acts like a server to FS9, and lets you connect Squawkbox and FS9 to a single connection to VATSIM (you are not allowed multiple connections). The principle is simple: you connect FS9 to SBRelay, you connect SB to SBRelay, and all is working through a single connection.AVC - advanced voice client - this works with SB and lets you communicate with controller via voice. See the link on VATSIM. I highly recommend you use voice, although not all pilots nor controllers are able to use voice. Actually, if you are a controller, the ability to use voice requires a certification, and yet another test. You, as a pilot, do not :)VATSIM uses real world weather (albeit with some delays occasionally) and you may want a weather add-on like AS2004 that will work with VATSIM weather.Recommendations to start:- before you connect, make sure your plane is at a gate or parking area.- pick a busy airport (NYC, Chicago, LAX), and listen. This will give you a good idea of what's expected of you.- in the flight plan remarks, tell the controllers you are a noob online pilot - that helps them give you extra assistanceCheers,

Gee, Captains:You both have passed all my expectations! Absolutely friendly and right to the point! I remember my old times as a "hangar rat", some 20 years ago (I