I'm afraid to use VATSIM, I think ATC will shout at me. I've already read the rules. Just not sure where to start >.<I am aware that it will higten the communication ascpect of my flying experience, but I cherish my dignity, I'm also a scarred I'd be made fun of because I can't afford much payware, Oh jeez.

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With some real life experience on even smaller aircraft, combined with quick ability to learn and adapt and deep knowledge on the said aircraft's systems... Yes, it's possible.I remember my first FFS experience. It was on MD-11 on 2000 I think. The thing was so hard to keep on ILS, let alone land nicely. That was my first experience, and already then I had quite a bit of flying experience from smaller props. Needless to say, small props and MD-11 ain't the same thing :).At that time I had already been simming for like 12 years. It helped, but it didn't help me in controlling the aircraft by hand. Then some time passed and I started devouring 767PIC which I did for many many years. The first opportunity to fly a similar sim, a 757, came on 2004. I was surprised at how easy it felt. I hand flew approaches (in good conditions) with little effort, and made safe landings. Time passed and I was able to attend something like 10 more sessions with MD80, DC9, 757 again many times, A320 and MD-11 also many times.As you learn how the jets fly and how they should be handled, things become easier. It's absolutely necessary to be fully familiar with the said aircraft. Steering the aicraft at first is a massive task. After all these sim sessions and something like 30 hrs of flying combined (which is not much, I'd like to point out), my latest sessions were flying the 757 on full IMC with a 70kt x-wind on approach (and 30+ on surface), on one engine, at night to a safe landing after 2 go-arounds. Last time I flew the MD-11 sim I planted it to a small 1000m runway with little effort. And the Airbus... lol. That thing isn't even an airplane, so easy is flying it compared to any of the more conventional aircraft. And I hear the sim is more difficult than the real thing... yikes :).So. Nobody without any experience (ie. sim alone) would IMO stand a chance in hand flying any transport category jet down to runway by hand. Using autoland, yes, provided that the pilot is fully familiar with the airplane, how to configure it in real life and how to manage radios and many other important stuff.I think I could land a real, say 737 or 757. But who knows... If I ever manage to train myself to get the possibility to try that for the first time, I'll report back :D.Tero Partanen

I'm a RW pilot and I think flying in FSX is more difficult than the real world mostly due to visual limitations and lack of sensory input. I'm sure most sim jockeys would do just fine if pressed into service.

keep in mind Iv flown a cessna for 6 hours. It may be few but if this situation was real, there is no choice.

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I'm truly sorry I offended you.

What does this have to do with the topic of this thread?

Just because you don't get it... He's being honest about nerves. Point being that if VATSIM scares you, then a RL life or death situation where you're told to fly the aircraft would petrify you. And BTW that whole vatsim "first flight jitters" is perfectly normal. Just write "newbie first flight" in the comments field and ATC won't shout "you're doing it wrong, I'm calling a supervisor!" but they'll do their best to help you out. I've never met an ATC yet who shouts at pilots.

I'm afraid to use VATSIM, I think ATC will shout at me. I've already read the rules. Just not sure where to start >.<I am aware that it will higten the communication ascpect of my flying experience, but I cherish my dignity, I'm also a scarred I'd be made fun of because I can't afford much payware, Oh jeez.

lol dont be bashful up their. What you are experiencing is totally normal. Imagine feeling that way in a Cessna approaching airspace where you are REQUIRED to talk to someone and get a clearance before being able to pass through it. That my friend is UGH...for a lack of a better word. Think of it like this; The voice on the other end of the mic is a person like you. They want to help you. Believe me, you aren't the only making a mistake up there. (if that even happens at all) The ATC and pilots at major airlines make mistakes as well.

Sweeeeet! Where? Is it a public one that you can pay to use, or do you have a friend at an airline?

Hi Ethan,Even better than that.... I work for a major European airline and we have our own simulators. Every now and then I'm able to get myself some time during a maintenance slot on the sims. Most of the time that's in the middle of the night, but I don't really care :( I've flown on the 737NG, A330, 744 and 777 simulator (now guess which airline I'm working for :( ).

Hi Ethan,Even better than that.... I work for a major European airline and we have our own simulators. Every now and then I'm able to get myself some time during a maintenance slot on the sims. Most of the time that's in the middle of the night, but I don't really care :( I've flown on the 737NG, A330, 744 and 777 simulator (now guess which airline I'm working for :( ).

Sweet! You are very fortunate my friend.KLM - It was THOUGH to figure it out! I had to do some serious research. :(

I've got a PPL with over 100 hours logged many years ago now, and a lot of "playing" on the sim. Can I fly a light plane from point A to point B? Sure. Does that mean I can land a real commercial airliner if put in a crisis situation? In a sim, likely. In the real world, I'm not so confident. Sure, I know where most of the "stuff" is now on a flight deck which would help tremendously. But flying a real-world unfamiliar airframe the size and weight of a 737 successfully down to the ground, adding all the complexity of that kind of aircraft, then adding turbulence, wind, gusts, changing temperatures, rain, fog, vertigo, traffic, communications, CRM, and a host of other human and non-human factors, I certainly would be the first to admit I'd be terrified out of my mind. And that doesn't even consider the pressure to keep passengers safe.I have the utmost respect for commercial pilots, especially more so these days thanks to complex simulations like PMDG's which highlight just a fraction of how much commercial pilots have to know with regard to systems alone. Factor in all the rest they have to know and one has to step back and really appreciate all they have to go through to be consistently safe day in and day out.