Hello

 

I was wondering at which point prior to pushback you guys request your IFR departure clearance for flying on vatsim.

would you do it just before or after inserting your FMC data and flight plan, or would you do it immediately after startup?

 

just hearing out people’s preferences and reasons as to why.

 

regards

It really just depends. Just get the clearance when you're ready to.

 

Things to consider:

1. Are they using PDC?  If so, get it before you enter your data, in case the clearance changes.

2. Is there an event going on?  If so, get it as soon as you can.

3. If you're flying a CTP there are time slots and you'll have to do what it takes to be ready when it's your time to go.

 

With the above in mind, it's totally up to you when you get it.

From a real world point of view most airfields have a stipulation not to call for clearance earlier than about STD -10 to STD -15.

In practice thus it is normally best to do the bulk of the setup, get the route loaded and checked and generally just be in a position where once you have received your clearance all you need to do is update the departure runway/SID in the box if necessary, set the squawk code, do the performance if the departure runway is different to that expected and run a quick brief.

By the time you have done that you will likely be approaching STD -5 and thus really by now should be looking to close up and push back rather than have your head in the FMC programming and checking the route etc... there lie dragons.

Basically, think workload managment: you have (depending on the airline/type of operation etc) usually between 20 and 40 minutes on the ground to set up and go. How you allocate that time is up to you (Captain!) but really you want to avoid getting in to a situation where you are rushing to get lots of critical things finished so you can push back and if you have to wait until STD -10 or so to call for clearance anyway it would make sense to use the time beforehand to get everything else ready rather than sitting twiddling your thumbs for half an hour and then rushing to do everything in the last 10 minutes!

10 hours ago, skelsey said:

From a real world point of view most airfields have a stipulation not to call for clearance earlier than about STD -10 to STD -15.

In practice thus it is normally best to do the bulk of the setup, get the route loaded and checked and generally just be in a position where once you have received your clearance all you need to do is update the departure runway/SID in the box if necessary, set the squawk code, do the performance if the departure runway is different to that expected and run a quick brief.

By the time you have done that you will likely be approaching STD -5 and thus really by now should be looking to close up and push back rather than have your head in the FMC programming and checking the route etc... there lie dragons.

Basically, think workload managment: you have (depending on the airline/type of operation etc) usually between 20 and 40 minutes on the ground to set up and go. How you allocate that time is up to you (Captain!) but really you want to avoid getting in to a situation where you are rushing to get lots of critical things finished so you can push back and if you have to wait until STD -10 or so to call for clearance anyway it would make sense to use the time beforehand to get everything else ready rather than sitting twiddling your thumbs for half an hour and then rushing to do everything in the last 10 minutes!

I appreciate the helpful and elaborate answers.

 

regards