Hi,Today I did my first full flight using RC4 and flew from EKCH-Copenhagen to EDDF-Frankfurt.Flight was controlled good, I only have a question relating the switching of centers:I had contact with 2 Copenhagen Centers, 4 Bremen Centers and 2 Frankfurt Centers, all on different frequencies.Is this correct? I would have expected only 1 of each.

we're researching that.

>I had contact with 2 Copenhagen Centers, 4 Bremen Centers and 2 Frankfurt Centers, all on different frequencies. Is this correct? I would have expected only 1 of each.Each control centre divides the airspace for which it's responsible into sectors. Each sector has its own control team and frequency but uses the same call sign - Bremen, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London etc.Although RC4 does not model the real world sectors for each centre, it does correctly replicate the principle of transferring a flight from sector to sector as it passes through a centre's airspace and that was what was happening to you on this flight.http://www.jdtllc.com/images/rcv4bannerbeta.jpg

I'm not a controller, but doesn't ATC also divide the airspace vertically? One Bremen controller could be handling flights below FL230 and another those above FL230. If you are climbing and passing FL230 you could be transferred between 2 Bremen centers on different frequencies. Not sure whether (1) this is how it works in real life and (2) whether it's modeled in RC4.Love the product so far!! My main disappointment is the lack of local accents. Listening to a controller with a UK accent over Russia or Korea spoils it a little.

OKI I see, I wasn't aware of this.Neverthless switching 4 times (Bremen) over an distance of appr. 200nm seems a bit much. But then again, I'm not a real pilot.Thanks for the answers!

what we tried to do was make this as flexible and open as possible. when we asked for volunteers 9 months ago, we had many europeans and a few americans.as v4 becomes more prevalent, and more people want to hear their native accents, or their voice as pilot, we can accomplish that. but we have to do it in a quality way.we'll be asking for volunteers again in february, so watch the google group mailing, our website, and of course, here.jd

Hi there,As one of the 'UK' controllers I'm constantly amazed at the different parts of the world I turn up in :-lolRC does model the switching to new controllers as you pass through different vertical strata so it's possible you might get a switch to another 'Bremen' controller as you pass (vertical) into another stratum followed quickly by another change if you enter another sector (horizontal).We extracted the sector boundaries from the FS scenery I believe.All the best,John

>I'm not a controller,< That's OK, I am. :-)>but doesn't ATC also divide the>airspace vertically? < Absolutely correct.>One Bremen controller could be handling flights below FL230 and another those above FL230. If you are climbing and passing FL230 you could be transferred between 2 Bremen centers on different frequencies.Not sure whether (1)this is how it works in real life< Yes it is although not necessarily at the FLs you mention but the principle is correct>and (2) whether it's modeled in RC4.http://www.jdtllc.com/images/rcv4bannerbeta.jpg

It sometimes happens you get transferred e.g. from Bremen control to Copenhagen and then back to Bremen and again Copenhagen. Same between Copenhagen and Mamo further flying northbound.I assume that wouldn't happen in real life, probably some unlucky sector definitions in the bgl ? I had a look to the Lat/Lon values in the s4.csv file, these seem to define the boundaries ? Probably a daunting task to change those.Mike

Hi Mike,The names of the centres are governed by the z4.csv file. And, yes, the boundaries aren't actually straight so you can get the sort of thing you mentioned happening. I suspect the shape of the boundaries could tell you a lot about European history :-lolI'm not sure how 'real world' controllers deal with that sort of thing. After all the aircraft has flown into someone elses airspace, albeit briefly.All the best,John

>I assume that wouldn't happen in real life, probably some>unlucky sector definitions in the bgl ? I had a look to the>Lat/Lon values in the s4.csv file, these seem to define the>boundaries ? Probably a daunting task to change those.You're correct, Mike, wherever possible, these sort of problems are solved by a process called delegation. This where authority to control parts of the airspace belonging to one centre is delegated to another centre to ease or solve control problems caused by national airspace boundaries.One thing that exacerbates this problem in Radar Contact is that the airspace definitions used by RC are actually those for the FIR/UIR boundaries rather than the centre area of responsibility boundaries. As you say, it would be a daunting task to get those changed but, who knows what the future will bring...:-)Petehttp://www.jdtllc.com/images/rcv4bannerbeta.jpg