Just a question after reading the "why don't you fly online" thread:-)

to meet friends, which doesn't need vatsim :)

Just don't remember how was to fly offline. I have flown online and only online (except to try new ACs, panels, etc) for 8 months. I hate FS ATC and traffic. If I get ATC when I fly it is welcomed, if not, I don't have an annoying stupid guy asking me to do odd things, and also I can communicate with other ACs if I foresee there can be some conflict.Leo

Online flying and Internet access was what turned me on to MSFS. I had bought some earlier versions of MSFS, i.e. FS98 and 2k Pro but didn

The realism! I usually share the time flying and ATCing on VATSIM. The realism of the whole experience cannot be compared to FS ATC. Yes you have to seek out the areas where ATC coverage is available but I utilise both VATSIM and IVAO so can at any time find some area where I can fly. I usually just get time on the weekends so it is usually a little busier. Both VATSIM and IVAO controllers are very proficient and I enjoy the adherence to real world procedures. Why would I want to even discuss online flying if I was just going to get into an aircraft and zoom off...?I do a mix of AI and real world traffic sometimes when traffic is light. If I am departing from an airport where I know only one or two other MP a/c are at then I turn on the AI and fly with AI active. If I get to an area which is busy then I turn it off and on comes the VATSIM traffic.For the other complaint about lack of ATC coverage, I have another trick. I use FS Build to build a flight plan then export for both SB and the FS GPS. When I start a flight I load both flight plans so that my FS GPS gives me a moving map of the flight, and I use the SB FMC (which is very efficient I think) to actually couple the autopilot to. This way whenever the VATSIM ATC says radar service terminated, then you could just tune in to FS ATC and file a flight plan while going to the destination and off you go. Then atleast it is the best of both worlds.Shez

>I do a mix of AI and real world traffic sometimes when traffic>is light. If I am departing from an airport where I know only>one or two other MP a/c are at then I turn on the AI and fly>with AI active. If I get to an area which is busy then I turn>it off and on comes the VATSIM traffic.Are you on the ground when you go back to VATSIM?

I think for a lot of people they LEARN online. A computer isn't going to TELL you how to do things or explain things to you.

For me it's because I find VATSIM more enjoyable than 2k2's ATC. Sure I have to go through a set routine to get squawkbox up and running, but it's not that much of an issue. I enjoy the fact that I have to pre-plan my flights, file a flightplan, get it approved and, best of all, have to sometimes make changes. I'm not a real pilot but presume that real pilots have to obey ATC's instructions.I'm new at VATSIM and so don't always have all the SID/STARS available. I've always found that by including this info in my flight plans controllers are happy to vector me to the active. Without exception I've found controllers to be patient and friendly. When I've made an error a simple 'Sorry' keeps things happy and friendly.My system is not the best - P4 1.4G, GeForce2 64meg and 256M RAM. I've got Squawkbox, WxRE and FS Nav all running at once and, mostly, it's ok.Some people have complained that there're not always controllers on duty where and when they want to fly. Why should there be? They don't get paid. It costs nothing to use VATSIM. Some controllers may equally complain that there are no pilots flying where they want to control. For me freeware and the free use of peoples' time requires a little compromise from all parties concerned. More compromise generally might just make for a better world for everyone.Hope to see you sometime in the VATSIM skies!GavinGPB964EPWA

Realism !To me nothing beats talking to a real person and interacting with them on radio comms. To really enjoy Online flying you just have to know how to maximize the enjoyment of it.1) Fly where the ATC is actually staffed.The people in the other thread who bemoan the lack of ATC coverage, seem to want to fly anyplace in the world they want and expect ATC to be there for them.While the poor Vatsim Controller sits there staffing a position for hours waiting for traffic that doesn't come. Have a new Vatsim Controller do that several times and he'll also lose interest in online ATC. Why should he continue to staff that ATC position if traffic doesn't come his way ??Online ATC can only work if we fly and provide ATC services to the same areas.2) Keep your individual flights relatively short I'd say around 2 hours or so.If a Controller see's you'll be there in a hour he's more likely to stick around for your arrival. And you can always send him a private message and ask him how much longer he will be there.But if he's staffing LA and you're making a 5 hours flight to LAX from te east. Ok yeah by the time you get to LA you might not have any ATC there for you.If you want to fly coast to coast maybe stop somewhere along the way. The guy in Kansas City is staffed, why not stop there and give him some traffic to work on yur way to LAX ?If you visit certain areas regularly you'll start to notice what times these areas tend to normally have ATC coverage. This will increase your chances of getting ATC services.Work within the system and online flying can be very enjoyable. Regards.Ernie.