Talk to a Real Air Traffic Controller | VATSIM Tutorial 

Dude you are amazing teacher with vatsim...thanks for the video

I'm a long-ago retired CPL and was delighted to find Vatsim. The controllers are excellent but because I am hearing impaired I listen in first before committing. I don't want to spoil other pilots enjoyment of the experience by having to ask for repeats too often and sometimes I find a controller's voice doesn't work well with my hearing aids. Flying Vatsim I always add a note that I am hearing impaired and most controllers slow down the instruction pace - thank you for that, it is greatly appreciated. So if you, like me, are concerned about being able to cope with the voice rather than the flying, the controllers are terrific. Fear not. Final point if I may. You can sign on to Vatsim using the "Shared cockpit/Observer" box. With this you can listen to all the calls and see all the aircraft but not be seen yourself so you don't pose a problem for others. You can 'shadow' a pilot who is actually active on the Vatsim network, follow the ATC instructions all without being an active aircraft yourself. Great practice before you take the next step and some good RU-vid tutorials on that function. Navigraph is the best sim investment you'll ever make!

One important thing when first setting up vpilot is to calibrate your microphone in the settings. Adjust the mic volume so when you speak normally the bar goes into the green area, but doesn't go up into the red. Trust me, if you calibrate your mic properly the controllers you speak to will appreciate that you aren't blasting their ears, and you will be much more understandable.

That was a very thorough rundown on the nuts & bolts of VATSIM. Thank you, it was very well done! 😊

I think there should be a training at room where new people can go on and get use to it

Thank you for the presentation, I really enjoy listening to you because you have a good and sympathetic pronunciation! Only at Navigraph do I have a lot of trouble understanding everything, because I've actually never learned English, I'm just confronted with it every day with virtual aviation !

I have wanted to experience VATSIM for a while now. To be honest I have put off joining as I am somewhat nervous and worried about getting it all wrong. I think with this great tutorial I may take a leap of faith and give it a try. Identifying myself as a Student flier seems a great idea. I do subscribe to Navigraph, spent time learning the charts and flight programming so this has certainly helped with my confidence. Thank you again for a great tutorial.

Great introductory video. Thanks

Super helpful now know where to start cheers

Dhaka Control, Identified on Squawk 47XX!

Bremen Radar, identified :)

Hey! I know this guy. He's my real world boss.

Brussels control, radar contact.

Nice

very useful startup tips, thanks. btw, it's coast, coast, not cost :D

Keen to give VATSIM another try now that I am retired. Living in New Zealand the time difference didnt work out too well as the well manned ATC frequencies were in the US or other northern hemisphere areas. Now I can log on a better times. So what happens if you cannot complete a flight due to real life problems (eg visitors or household emergency) or silly mistake like not taking enough fuel?

I am a long time simmer but I will be new to vatsim. Can you still use simbrief flight plans in conjunction with vatsim or do you hafta file a flight plan through the vatsim client server? I am kinda attached to simbrief plans for when I fly commercial routes, theyre very good and accurate to real life.

I have a navigraph data sub but my 737's indicate nav data out of date??

Porto Approach, bom dia. Identified.

I ruined a session of vatsim many years ago when I logged in my PTT was permanently keyed so no one else could talk but me, I have never done it since, I wonder if this is not possible anymore to hot-mike everyone out by accident?

New York Departure, radar contact

I guess I’m not afraid to play with other people, I’m afraid that everyone is gonna look at me weird when I say something wrong or do something stupid

Is this a paid service?

How much? I know so far for the paid addons for MSFS are pure half done scam paid products.

Real life controllers? Hahahaha no way guys..

Im never EVER playing VATSIM again!I got bullied afyer my first transmission! Its very bad!I hate this :(.

The problem is that Air Traffic Controllers talk too fast and have no patience with foreign (non-native English speaking) pilots. Pilot2ATC is better.

Sorry, but VATSIM is woefully behind on procedures, techniques, training, and in short how real air traffic works. It could be good for a weekend or two. But not consistent training. Traffic Management is non existent. They don't have the resources to make this work well. It may appear to work, when there are only a few aircraft in the air, but and "Lifelike" traffic scenarios quickly de solve into nightmare scenarios of pilot's not listening, always talking over each other during big rushes. Controllers not able to handle those rushes. It all deteriorates into an unusable, and unprofessional system quickly. ... Real ATC ...