Thank you both for you comments.

As scandinavian nicely showed up with some information, I would like to add some more:

The ARCARS will be done in a unique way. Everybody VA is very welcome to come up with some request and we will be able to deliver an SDK where you can "code" your VA ARCARS like you want it, but the major coding is unique.

 

Regarding CPDLC:

As we are a VATSIM hosted service, it will be active all over the VATSIM network once u log in as a controller and ur ATC client is already updated to promote this service. 

Today I have spoken with the Euroscope developer and we will work on ES with him first, to get it integrated. After that we will go for the other ATC clients as well / parallel, to see how and if they are able to integrate that service as well.

 

Hoppie is not an options as its not VATSIM integrates, webbased and at the end its not integrated into the clients.

The effort of an CPDLC is high in high traffic situations. With aliases and easy methods like in real life the controll can manage and controll the aircraft in his airspace. We are creating the unique text and command options out of the real world instead of the ATSU link switch. The ATSU link switch will be created in a more easy way, as we do not have all these stations and features like in real world - so we can make it in this way easier as it will not effect the function of a CPDLC in any kind for the network.

 

Here the latest news (as the VATSIM forum got a blackout the last months) for the client and CPDLC:

http://forums.vatsim.net/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=61678&p=449633#p449633

Strange, How could it mean more work? If it was more work why would it be in use in real life. So many times on big events i have sat for an age on the ramp trying to get my call in for clearance. Only to have other pilots jump in or be ignored by the over stressed ATC. A pre filled text message is sent in a instant. the controller gets an ordered list of requests he can browse at his own speed and reply. Messages are pre formatted. thats the whole point. 

Thats exactly why its less work load - even for DEL Andy So mostly its a misunderstanding of online controller of how the system works. Great example for the effort of this system.

Strange, How could it mean more work? If it was more work why would it be in use in real life. So many times on big events i have sat for an age on the ramp trying to get my call in for clearance. Only to have other pilots jump in or be ignored by the over stressed ATC. A pre filled text message is sent in a instant. the controller gets an ordered list of requests he can browse at his own speed and reply. Messages are pre formatted. thats the whole point.

 

I'm not a controller on VATSIM or IRL but I have friends that are VATSIM controllers and thats just what they told me. I think Kyle hit it on the head that VATSIM needs to take the first steps (which sounds like they are doing) and lay a frame work for other developers to build on. IRL CPDLC is very useful but it is not all there in the simming world....yet

 

 

How could it mean more work?

 

VATSIM generally requires a little more effort than real controlling, in a certain way:

 

Controlling requires a little more effort because many of the pilots haven't the slightest clue what they're doing.  Looking away to type could mean not catching some bonehead error by a pilot.  I know this happens in the real world, but not as often.  We can never hit the aircraft arrival rate of the real world DCA on VATSIM because pilots on the network tend to be a little...well...inattentive or just plain inexperienced.  In the tight airspace of DCA, you can't waste time.  If I repeat an instruction in a busy event, you'll get a ripple delay to everyone behind them (seen below at 15 seconds - one guy doesn't pay attention and everyone gets rippled back).

 

I always use this as an example:

 

That's me on DCA Finals (DCAFR) during a VATSIM FNO.  Note the third aircraft I controlled wasn't paying attention and was turning the wrong ways, so he got awkward vectors to final.  Then, 15 seconds in (in the timelapse, anyway), you can see a scatter caused by a single person not paying attention.  Then some guy paused in the middle of a busy arrival stream (bottom right about 20 seconds in - OJAAY stream).

 

...and on and on.  Granted, it got better as the video goes on, and I wouldn't be using CPDLC on finals very much, but think about working center on VATSIM when it's busy (and have to work all airports in your airspace).  Imagine that above scenario if I hadn't kept my eye on things because I was sending text-based messages (which, the controller side of CPDLC is aliased so you don't have to type much, but you still have to take your eye away from the picture).

scandinavian:

You are right with your impressions about the pilots in the network. Thats we as why we say, its mostly not used on APP or DEP but more on CTR, GND, DEL... There you got more time and space, to use the system via the aliases and predefined buttons to get easily and fast messages to loads of aircrafts. 

 

...and you dont need to get your eye off the screen as the buttons with the predefined messages are directly as a box in the screen - you do not have to write anything

I dont think CPDLC is used for approach, that would be crazy in the fast paced approach and landing phase. But during clearance and delivery, taxi clearance, NATS clearance, position reports and during non busy periods level change or request for step climb CPDLC is ideal.

I think it is fantastic that VATSIM are putting time and effort into making a new client, and that they are trying to make the experience realistic by adding modern ATC systems. well done VATSIM

Thanks andy. Much more we would be happy, if we could get connected to the 3rd party developer and it will not end at the pilot client but will work with your plane (CPDLC/ACARS) etc and interact. Then we are on the way to the future where we wanna be.

The way of the future!

 

Haha, great

Great work!!  I gave your forum post a fb post.  This is the holy grail on online flying IMO, and the last thing to complete the circle for most serious flyers.  Almost makes me wanna get back into simming.

 

Best of luck!

Great work!!  I gave your forum post a fb post.  This is the holy grail on online flying IMO, and the last thing to complete the circle for most serious flyers.  Almost makes me wanna get back into simming.

 

Best of luck!

Many thanks Jeff for supporting Hope to see you then back in the sky next time.

Sascha, I'm sorry to sound a bit pessimistic, but is this pilot client even under development? Or is it planned? I just don't know where the idea came from or where it was discussed. Was there a VATSIM forum post I missed?

Yea, that was at vatsim forum, very detailed discussion, I don't really know at what stage they are right now.

There is a post on Vatsim, even has some screenshots. I say "well done"!! congratulations on the initiative and all the best for the development, I look forward to using it.

There is a post on Vatsim, even has some screenshots. I say "well done"!! congratulations on the initiative and all the best for the development, I look forward to using it.

 

Can you link?

I think vatsim forums are hacked.