1 hour ago, skelsey said:

I'm not sure if the FAA have something similar?

I don't know for sure.  Where it really gets weird is when I'm on UHF and the other aircraft is on VHF. 

blaustern

This is why I don't do VATSIM. I can live without the attitude.

4 minutes ago, tooting said:

basic RT. how to follow instructions for a start.  so when its busy in gatwick the controllers not waiting 5 mins for a read back

 

It would't be practical to administer pilot exams.  Too many to do.  There are a number of good quality Youtube videos providing all the necessary tutorials necessary. As with everything in life, you have to be patient and help those with a genuine interest in learning - even if it slows you down.  It'll be to the benefit of VATSIM if more people join and learn.

20 minutes ago, skelsey said:

Sounds great. What sort of exam is this going to be and who's going to do the instructing/examining etc?

and anytime you want to visit our OCC come on a Sunday morning, I promise you will be an eye opener.  Best time is in August bank holoday weekend, Feb half term or Easter when the crew   cant get childcare we actually take bets on whos goes sick and fatigue.  I guarantee you will change you mind on pilots, i promise, youll see this magic fatigue and sickness is effected by child care.

13 hours ago, DaveCT2003 said:

It's really difficult to know what blaustern meant when he said "it's just a game", as that term, like many others, is subjective.  Depending on what blaustern meant the term "game" to mean, I might well agree with him, but trying my very best taking his comment in context I find that I have to disagree (though I wish it were not so).

Dave,

I've been on VATSIM since 2006.  I enjoy flying on it, but in no way is it related to the real ATC world I've been flying in for the past 40+ years.  There is a lot that can be learned and enjoyed like any other hobby/game. 

Grace and Peace,

blaustern

26 minutes ago, tooting said:

never had one complaint from a pilot, not one.  And have you ever me??, no I didnt think so.

They just think take the mickey, from my experience a new person into OCC from external or from being ground staff or ex crew will normally take about 6 weeks to have the same attitude as I do about flight crew as do 99% off the staff in OCC's  

like the others have said on pprune youll see theres always hostility among pilots vs ops staff.    As the same hostility from qualified staff who do the job day in day out to completely unqualified radio DJs.

Same as doctors and nurses.  and as I said 4 times now, I just wish vatsim gave pilots an exam and proper training. 

 

You have absolutely no idea what we as pilots deal with on a daily basis. You just don't know. It's no fault of your own.

Like I said, don't knock it untilk you habe actually sat in the cockpit and have dealt with what we deal with every flight.

Let's face it, you don't and have never made some of the decisions we have had to make and consistently make.

You're on these forums chest pumping about a subject you habe absolutely no experience with.....flying the airplane.

Next time you are at work and you get made because some pilot called in sick or fatigued, think about how you get to go home from your work everyday....no matter what happens. Then, think about how the pilot who once they get the airplane in the air, something they missed because they were tired and decided not to call in caused them to not get the airplane back on the ground.

You talk about pilots myopathy, you're the one who is just as myopic.

Go grab a beer with a few pilots and hear their stories about OCC. It goes both ways...

1 hour ago, Anders Bermann said:

Oh dear - this is the exact reason, why I don't fly on VATSIM, and why I'm discouraged to do so! That attitude alone, is - to be bluntly honest - sad and a little bit frightening. 

If that's the guidebook for ATC controllers on VATSIM, to be told off like that for newcomers to the hobby, it's really scary. We all have to be here. The poor guy, made an honest mistake - frankly, I would have made it too - and then comes in here to learn more. And instead of a welcoming tone and a pad on the back, he gets a ripping. 
While you may be knowledgeable of the topic (and undoubtedly, you are), your tone is simply so condescending and disappointing, that I wonder what the goal of your original post to the OP was.

Oh, well - If the tone you're leading with, in any way is preference for the way to guide and help newcomers...
... well - I think I'll stay clear of VATSIM for the forseeable future...

 

23 minutes ago, skelsey said:

Sounds great. What sort of exam is this going to be and who's going to do the instructing/examining etc?

Go for it!   I procrastinated for years to get on Vatsim even though signing up. Now that ive finally jumped in, I regret I missed all those years. Its a great immersion assuming there is controllers online.  

To all ones who are thinking of Vatsim, and who are actually still reading this thread without being discouraged, just go ahead and do it. Never mind Pete Kings demands. Fly what flight you want, with what aircraft you want and what number you want to give it but its not a bad idea to check on flightaware for recently used flights. Its just not a hard and fast rule. Just adhere to the Vatsim rules not Tooting Pete Kings rules.   

Go find a Vatsim training organization and do the P1 training and exam. (They are free and I used VATSTAR) You get an all around general knowledge that can be  put to practical use.  P1 rating will help to recall later on, because even after doing the exam you will forget to put the knowledge to use until you get comfortable. I made lots of mistakes after, but the next time I remember to be more prepared. And controllers make mistakes too. Im sure Pete is an excellent controller with his career experience but without the attitude but they are all not infallible as he would insinuate. So what. We learn and then move on. Respect on both sides goes a long long way and enhances this awesome hobby of ours. 

The hardest thing to overcome is the nervousness at first and to train your ears to listen to instructions that may be partly audible due to poor mics, or internet lag and breakup. Ive gotten it wrong a number of times, so if you are not quite sure, just ask again. The instructions should make sense to what you are expecting to happen anyway. 

And stay away from the southern UK until your really comfortable with quick action. There is lots of airports that would love to see your traffic who dont get much relative to the busy hubs.     Hope to see you all in the virtual skies. Cheers

1 hour ago, thibodba57 said:

I find this a bit interesting.  You complain about pilots and their self absorbed attitudes but then demand that “newbies” stay out of your way so you don’t have to deal with them at major airports and to only fly RW routes and flight numbers at appropriate times.  I’m thinking it’s time for some internal reflection of your views of the world.  You need to take a big long breath.  I have seen nothing but hostility in your posts.  Is this the level of hostility you use when interacting with your fellow coworkers (pilots) on the phone.  Could be they are hostile towards you cause you are hostile with them. Given how hostile you are with almost everyone in this thread.  Just some food for thought.

I suspect someone who has failed to be accepted for pilot training.

8 minutes ago, DavidP said:

I suspect someone who has failed to be accepted for pilot training.

Nope never done it, not even thought about it.  cabin crew for 10 years then decided to go into the office.  I like going home every night.  The thought of suitcases and hotels doesn't appeal at all

You can low ball all you want. 

22 minutes ago, ahsmatt7 said:

You have absolutely no idea what we as pilots deal with on a daily basis. You just don't know. It's no fault of your own.

Like I said, don't knock it untilk you habe actually sat in the cockpit and have dealt with what we deal with every flight.

Let's face it, you don't and have never made some of the decisions we have had to make and consistently make.

You're on these forums chest pumping about a subject you habe absolutely no experience with.....flying the airplane.

Next time you are at work and you get made because some pilot called in sick or fatigued, think about how you get to go home from your work everyday....no matter what happens. Then, think about how the pilot who once they get the airplane in the air, something they missed because they were tired and decided not to call in caused them to not get the airplane back on the ground.

You talk about pilots myopathy, you're the one who is just as myopic.

Go grab a beer with a few pilots and hear their stories about OCC. It goes both ways...

You singed up to be a pilot it's your job. If you don't want to do it and come home each night be a hero become a doctor in the nhs or a unionist train driver for Southern.  I've no sympathy for you.  None. you signed up for it.   I spend 10 years as crew In hotel bars listening you pilots trying get out of work. 

5 minutes ago, tooting said:

cabin crew for 10 years

That explains it then.

This thread is lost, we should lock it.

Also this is a space were people come to enjoy their hobbies, or to ask help about how to improve their experiences.

We should leave political discussions out as this is not the place.

Simbol 

 

 

 

3 minutes ago, DavidP said:

That explains it then.

Low ball all you want I dont care

This is silly.  The claws are coming out. 

5 minutes ago, tooting said:

Low ball all you want I dont care

Well, no one is "low balling". You clearly have issues with Pilots (real or simmer), and I think we have established why.