@abelenky me too. They just pop up automatically.

Interesting: avherald.com/h?article=4a319157&opt=0

anyone here and got some time to clarify something for me?

@SnakeDoc time does not equal ability... ;)

@falstro lol

i'm slightly confused still, as a continuation of this question (but can't ask in direct question format, so hoping chat will help out!): aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/34349/…

so, last night I tried a short flight in simulator (Prepar3d from Lockheed Martin, which is FSX but modified). My flight was from KSMF to KSFO, about a 15 minute flight. I had several VOR's in my flight plan, and was set to cruise at 4,000 ft.

I got IFR clearance, and was told to fly runway heading (~346*) after takeoff, and to climb to 4000. I started doing this, shortly after ATC asked me to turn left 195* and then resume own navigation. I did this, and pressed the A/P's NAV button... it started to get on the purple FMS line, but shortly after again, ATC asked me to divert and turn to some heading. This continued my entire flight, making my NAV and flight-plan more-or-less useless.

are you using VATSIM ATC? or is it provided by the sim?

it's the ATC built into Prepar3d/FSX

ok, so it's not very realistic then I guess

i had traffic set to maximum, and there were a lot of aircraft in the air... so I originally thought I was being routed out of the way

hmm... that's a bummer if that's the case

that can definitely happen in the terminal environment (approach control), but usually as soon as you're on your way there should be very few deviations from your plan (except cleared direct)

i'm intimidated by VATSim at the moment, i'm too new

is it maybe because my flight is so short (~15 minutes)? i'm not really in any airways or anything, just VOR to VOR (until ATC gives me a different heading)

the headings they give me bring me close to the VOR's my flight plan intended, but not exactly on them (like a few minutes to the left or right, or even past them)

I can recommend listening to liveatc if you want to get a bit of a feel for comms, it can certainly help to get you a bit more comfortable

vectors would typically be used to get you on to an airway, or onto an approach, but not move you along your path.

hmm...

if you have VORs and your atc issues vectors that take you along that path, real world would probably say "proceed direct XYZ VOR" and your own navigation from there

it's a bummer. i switched from X-Plane because their ATC was absolutely terrible... FSX/P3D seemed to have better ATC... but I guess they are all terrible then.

never tried it, VATSIM is cool though, some of the events can get really busy and give you a good realistic feel

that said, realworld (and vatsim) would probably amend your routing to take you on one of the preferred routes if you're just making something up :)

i do listen to LiveATC (app on my phone), and am familiar with most of the things, but don't feel i'm up to snuff for VATSim yet... i might just have to give it a go then.

most of the time vatsim is rather quite and with plenty of opportunity to get comfortable, if you join a community, I'm sure they'll help you get started.

anyway I'm off for now, good luck.

well, thanks for your time falstro. i appreciate it! :)

no problem. I know Boston ARTCC has really well trained ATC on VATSIM (shameless plug...) ;) and they're really helpful too, if you don't know where to start.

@SnakeDoc LAX, SFO, and SEA are your best bets for getting ATC on VATSIM. If they're not busy they should be fine with helping you out. I know it's intimidating but it gets better with practice.

And I can't speak for everyone but short flights between VORs is good practice for the controllers too, it gets boring with just airliners on FMS plans all the time.

@fooot oh that's good news. I'd really like to fly in the SFO area, since I live nearby. I usually fly KSMF -> KSFO and back, or KSMF -> KSAN and back.

Everything points to using VATSIM, so I guess I'll just give it a go and hope for friendly controllers ;)

CNN is saying something about Ft. Lauderdale airport being evacuated.

I can't get much info while at work.

gunman

nbcnews.com/news/us-news/…

looks like the gunman is now in custody though

wow.

Several times in recent history, "In custody" later turns out to be "was shot and killed"

well, he could be in custody but already shot and later die from the wounds.

what is wrong with people!? 9 random people... geeze...

Now I see "multiple people killed"

ya, now i'm seeing 5 dead and 8 more injured.