VATSIM tutorial melted my brain!

[Guest]

I really, really want to try using VATSIM and SB. The VA I fly for uses it for fly-ins and it looks like fun.I registered and went to the FS 2002 tutorial and...MY BRAIN MELTED.It's a shame because I needed it for other things!It seems like the instructions are much more complicated than what I'm used to from the built-in ATC. Some of it (like specific code-named departure procedures) is totally beyond me.So... how do you get over the hump? I don't want to get on and annoy everyone by being as clueless as I am now. I feel quite competent with the built-in ATC and using FS Navigator to build flight plans but this seems kind of obscure and requiring a ton of work.Anyone have any tips/tricks? Or can someone who felt as lost as I do right now tell me how they managed to get up to speed?I have a feeling VATSIM and SB will really complete my FS experience and I'm looking forward to joining my VA peers in the same airpspace.Thanks for any assistance

[JimBob 0]

Ditto what he said, anyone kind enough to help rbanzai out will be helping me also. I feel like standing on a cold windy street corner with an empty coffee cup whispering "spare a little Vatsim info please" !!!!JimBob

[Guest ielchitz]

Rob & Jim,I am more than happy to help you out - fire me an e-mail (use the e-mail link in my profile) with your questions and I will help you through them step by step.Also - try browsing back in this forum - there is a lot of great information.It's worth the journey .Looking forward to hearing from you.Ian Elchitz CYWG

[JimBob 0]

Thanks for the offer Ian, I'll be in touch !JimBob

[Guest flightpro08]

Ah yes, I remember those pre-VATSIM days. Looking at the tutorials in awe, wondering if I'd ever be able to figure it out. Here's what I did. I spent about two weeks looking over the tutorials and installing SB (which BTW used to be a heck of a lot harder than it is now.) After I felt farily comfortable with the tutorials, I jumped on. My first flight was by far one of the most nerveracking experiences of my life, but was also one of the funest times I've ever had with Flight Sim.One thing I think you're trying to do, and I mean this in a good way, is that you're expecting to be perfect the first time you plug in. As long as you have a general idea of flight planning, can fly assigned headings, and can fly a few different types of instrument approaches (mostly ILS and localizer,) you'll be fine. Don't worry about DPs/STARS right off the bat if you don't want to. It took me a good three months after I started with VATSIM to truely master DPs/STARS. Simply put "New pilot" or "First flight" in your flight plan comments, and I garentee you any controller will be more than happy to help you out.So, in conclusion, relax. VATSIM is like no other Flight Sim expereince you'll ever have. I started on VATSIM a little over a year ago, and haven't flown once offline since. Once you get past your first couple of flights, everything will just come automatic and you'll breeze through everything. Feel free to e-mail me anytime about any questions you may have at young49er@cox.net Good luck, and I hope to see you in the virtual skies soon. :-)Ryan-Flightpro08 :-cool VATSIM Pilot/ControllerZLA ARTCC Senior Controller (C-3)SAN TRACON Lead [link:www.taxiwaysigns.com|Taxiwaysigns.com] Scenery Designer-----------------------------My "Home Made" System Specs:Intel Pentium 4 2.2GHz ProcessorTurbo Gamer ATX Mid-Tower with 420W Power SupplyEPoX 4G4A Motherboard with Intel 845G ChipsetVisiontek XTASY GeForce4 128MB Ti4600 (Det 30.30 Drivers)512MB PC2100 DDR RAM40GB Matrox 7200RPM Hard DriveWindows XP Home Edition SP1*No CPU or GPU Overclocking*3dMark2001SE Score: 11298-----------------------------Click [link:ftp.avsim.com/library/esearch.php?DLID=&Name=&FileName=&Author=Ryan+Fretwell&CatID=Root]Here to Download my New American Eagle POSKY CRJ-200!

[Guest]

Thanks for the info. I hope to give it a try sometime in the next two weeks.

[JRR 9]

Flying with vatsim is really great.I've flown my first flight on vatsim yesterday. Take a few hours to read the tutorials, install everything according the tutorials and you're readdy to fly online. I've flown ESSA-EGLL. I only had some problems with filing my flightplan, but I think I made a mistake somewhere.Goodluck with flying online :)Jasper :-wavehttp://ftp.avsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3dce502e3435b480.jpg

[Guest]

>Flying with vatsim is really great. >I've flown my first flight on vatsim yesterday. Take a few >hours to read the tutorials, install everything according >the tutorials and you're readdy to fly online. I've flown >ESSA-EGLL. I only had some problems with filing my >flightplan, but I think I made a mistake somewhere. First flight ESSA-EGLL with instrument flight rules? Yep yep, realistic. And too difficult for most beginners. Try some VFR flights with Cessna 172 first. You learn basic phraseology when flying with Cessna and have more time to think what next (slow aircraft). Next, you can try IFR with Cessna, after it with a turboprop and finally with a jet.I see three big problems in VATSIM. Flight planning quality, phraseology and common weakness in procedural flying. If you manage these three things in simulator by real life regulations, you can be very proud of yourself.A few test questions:-How to answer when controller says "continue approach"?-What is wrong in this IFR route: "RUNEN SUA OSMIN RUNGA XILAN"-How long it takes to fly four circuits in a standard holding?-How to make sure that you're staying at the glide path in 2NDB approach?-What is the difference between track and heading?