Hi,I am going to be taking part in Vatsim's Cross the Pond event 2012 event which will take place on the 31st March. On the website where flight bookings are made there is an option for Selcal. Now I gathered that this meant selective calling (after a brief Google) but I don't quite know how to set it up. I know that it is primarily used so that the pilot doesn't have to listen to the noise of the HF radio when going across the Atlantic but I don't know how to set it up and what it does.I will be flying the PMDG MD-11; any ideas regarding how I set it up with this aircraft?CheersMatthew

Just set your selcal in SquawkBox. Then just folow the flow, ATC will ask for test at one moment, you confirm the bell ringing and you are in the train crossing the Atlantic. When ATC want to talk to you, they will ring at your bell.

Just set your selcal in SquawkBox. Then just folow the flow, ATC will ask for test at one moment, you confirm the bell ringing and you are in the train crossing the Atlantic. When ATC want to talk to you, they will ring at your bell.

Thank you very much for your feedback. So, do I set the Selcal I have been given on the event page into squawkbox and then when I hear the bell do I start speaking? What I can't understand is this. Do I turn off my radio or something because I thought that Selcal was used so that I don't have to listen to the constant noise of HF radio. And then i suppose when ATC selcal me, I turn my radio back on or do I keep it on the whole time?CheersMatthew

Hello, you turn your radio down. When ATC wants to talk to you, they will send a specific signal, denoted by the lettters, that your airplane will recognise and it will chime. This is your signal to turn up your radio and advise ready to recieve.

Awesome! Is this the only thing that differentiates transatlantic flights from domestic flights? I thought that there was something called NAT or something.Good luck on CTP, Matthew! I will be departing JFK to go to Cleveland or somewhere close just to experience the traffic... :(

Awesome! Is this the only thing that differentiates transatlantic flights from domestic flights? I thought that there was something called NAT or something.Good luck on CTP, Matthew! I will be departing JFK to go to Cleveland or somewhere close just to experience the traffic... :(

Yes there are NATS and ETOPS rules. NATS will be updated daily.

Yes there are NATS and ETOPS rules. NATS will be updated daily.

So what exactly is NATS? I know about ETOPS rules.

So what exactly is NATS? I know about ETOPS rules.

Basically an entry waypoint followed by several coordinates.https://www.notams.faa.gov/common/nat.htmlhttp://nyartcc.org/pilotcenter/nats

So what exactly is NATS?

North Atlantic Track. Basically, airways over the North Atlantic that change daily.

Vatsim UK has an overview of Oceanic procedures here: http://www.vatsim-uk.co.uk/website/oceanic-procedures/Selcal is used in the real world so that pilots can turn their HF radios down rather than having to listen to white noise for the entire flight. FS only simulates VHF radios, so on Vatsim the SelCal call is done via Squawkbox (or FSINN) and then you reply using the normal comm radios but use the phraseology you would use over an HF radio. Bascially in Oceanic airspace you're pretending that your VHF radio is an HF radio even though it's not. In other words there's no need to turn your radios down or off in FS.This site has some more info on the phraseology surrounding SelCal and how to make a position report: http://zak.vatusa.net/tutor/oceanic_procedures_tutorial.htm. Note that there is some stuff on there that is no longer applicable (e.g. all the stuff about 'roger wilco rooms'), but the basic communication procedures are correct AFAIK.

its a bit old now but what do you do with FSINN for SELCALs?

In the InnCP, click on SET -> Basic and there are two drop down boxes to set the SELCAL code.

Thanks mate ;)