To the newbie - First Time Jitters

[Thimo Koolen]

Oh, I did do that. I added a remark "first voice flight" in my flightplan. It can sometimes still be difficult to understand a controller, but that might be due to an accent or voice quality. Some other pilots were completely incomprehensible due to noise in the connection and I really wonder how the controllers could understand that person. I really appreciate all the work the controllers have done.

 

I hope I'll be able to start as a controller soon too, I'm just waiting for an availible mentor to be [Mod - Happy Thoughts]igned so I can start my training.

[Chris Hayter]

I remember my first time on Vatsim, I thought I would take a quiet flight with no controllers.

Five minutes after take off, every controller between me and my destination came on-line, I had my cursor hovering over the disconnect icon ready too click, but said to myself "Bite the bullet and stay on" glad I did, after the first couple of nervous conversations everything went well. apart from a couple of small things on approach, but the controller wasn't very busy and helped me loads.

 

I think they all know what newbies go through and are willing to help (if their not busy that is )

[Jonathan Fong]

I remember my first time on Vatsim, I thought I would take a quiet flight with no controllers.

Five minutes after take off, every controller between me and my destination came on-line, I had my cursor hovering over the disconnect icon ready too click, but said to myself "Bite the bullet and stay on" glad I did, after the first couple of nervous conversations everything went well. apart from a couple of small things on approach, but the controller wasn't very busy and helped me loads.

 

I think they all know what newbies go through and are willing to help (if their not busy that is )

 

That's the spirit My first flight was intended to be non-ATC, but I logged on (I was doing KBOS-KJFK as NKS7124) and lo and behold - BOS_CTR had come online. 'Oh well, might as well get some ATC practice,' I reckoned. It really helped that the controller was understanding of myself having default KBOS scenery (BADLY outdated; I've since upgraded to FlyTampa's Boston) as well as the fact that I was VERY new.

[Jon Story 1357003]

I've only done a handful of flights, so I'm still a bit nervous!

 

First flight was in a DA42 from EGNL (a smallish local UK airfield) to EGKK (Gatwick) There was no ATC online until I approached EGKK. I wasn't sure on the protocol and there was an aircraft ahead of me with no flight plan, so I got in touch with ATC via PM and said hi, asked if mine was okay and when I should contact them. He told me to go direct to another waypoint and to contact him, which I did.

 

He was very understanding, and vectored me in nicely. When given IFR clearance, though, I couldn't work out my glideslope (I still haven't, in that DA42): he gave me a Visual Approach clearance and I landed somewhere on the runway. Taxi-ing was beyond me at that point (too scared of cocking up) so I just left on the taxiway after saying thanks. It went reasonably, though

 

My second flight was a bit of a mess - I brought my 737 instead. EGCC (Manchester) to Gatwick again - with ATC at both ends but nothing in the middle. Leaving EGCC was fine, and included my first taxi clearance which I was happier with because it's easier to find a runway than a stand! When approaching EGKK, though, it was quite busy. The controller, to his credit, handled it well - but I made a mess. I read back his instructions, then didn't actually do them! Why? Because I forgot to disengage LNAV and engage Heading Select... so I was entering a new heading and thinking I was flying that, when in fact I was just following the STAR on LNAV. Whoops!

 

After about the 5th heading instruction, I finally caught on and followed instructions, PM'ing the controller to apologise. He was pretty okay with it, probably realising how new I was. He managed to vector me back in, at which point I accidentally flew parallel to the ILS rather than intercepting it (Entering 080, runway heading, into the autopilot, rather than 060 to intercept the localiser, will do that). "QFA54, confirm established on the ILS?" with a questioning tone. "Ermmm, standby, QFA54" being my not very professional response. Fortunately he managed to get me back on the ILS and I taxi'ed to the stand my first "pretty much fully controlled" flight.

 

The next flight was similar to the first, but included a handoff from Center to Approach to Tower and then Ground, which was fun. I did a bit better this time, following the vectors and altitudes properly, managing the handoffs etc. Unfortunately my sim crashed before I could finish taxi-ing to the gate, but I felt pretty proud of myself.

[Steve Rickabaugh 1359052]

Today I did my first flight on vatsim. I want to thank New York Center and Wrightsville Approach with their [Mod - Happy Thoughts]istance (and patience) on my departure from Lakewood (N12) up to Peterborough (CYPQ).

[Derek Vento 1063331]

Today I did my first flight on vatsim. I want to thank New York Center and Wrightsville Approach with their [Mod - Happy Thoughts]istance (and patience) on my departure from Lakewood (N12) up to Peterborough (CYPQ).

 

Glad you had an enjoyable experience with the guys in New York, come back sometime soon!

[Randy Tyndall 1087023]

Welcome to the fold Steve. Glad you enjoyed your first flight of many to come.

 

Derek, I like your banner. A fitting tribute to a great man. I miss him.

 

Randy

[Derek Vento 1063331]

Welcome to the fold Steve. Glad you enjoyed your first flight of many to come.

 

Derek, I like your banner. A fitting tribute to a great man. I miss him.

 

Randy

 

I appreciate that Randy..I was looking around the forums the other day and realized it will be 5 years this August. I miss the guy, and what I love most is reading everyone's experience they've had with him on this network. I'm sure my discovery of this article isn't a surprise for many but I did find this yesterday. Pretty cool to read up on some of his personal background in aviation.

 

http://www.avsim.com/pages/0902/d_boulay/interview.html

[Randy Tyndall 1087023]

Thanks for that Derek. Interesting interview. Wish it had been longer. I can only imagine the stories Andre would have told.

 

Sorry for the hijack Steve. This in no way takes away from your experience and I revel in a new face and pilot.

 

Randy

[Roger Curtiss]

Thanks for that Derek. Interesting interview. Wish it had been longer. I can only imagine the stories Andre would have told.

 

Sorry for the hijack Steve. This in no way takes away from your experience and I revel in a new face and pilot.

 

Randy

 

There were many evenings when I was a controller working ZOB and Andre would be making one of his regular forays across my airspace. It was always a huge pleasure to work his flights-he was very professional and confident.

[Ian Cowan 1364926]

On my first Vatsim flight I was super nervous. Like I was sweating and shaking so bad I couldn't hand fly the aircraft nervous. This was out of Charlotte and it turned out to be a busier night than I was expecting. After hearing other clearances and calls from ATC I was within a click away from disconnecting and trying again when it wasn't as busy but I thought might as well do it how else am I going to learn? So finally I got the nerves to call for clearance and I had the controller repeat at least 3 times until finally I got it right. Then once I finally pushed back and called for taxi clearance I got myself to the runway I realized I forgot to configure for takeoff...so I got takeoff clearance and I bet the controller was wondering what I was doing. Then once I got into the air the controller advised me that I forgot to set my transponder so when I went to fix it, the squawk wouldn't change. Once I finally got that changed the nerves started to go away and the controller began to type all the calls. After I got into the air I went to unicom and didn't have anymore ATC for that flight. I feel so bad for the controller that night but I'll give it up to them now for being patient with me and not getting too upset even though I did basically everything wrong. I'm still a noob at Vatsim but I'm getting used to it and is it addicting; I find myself on there doing all my flights based around the online controllers.

[Ferdi Ladeira 1354300]

Yikes, just did my second VATSIM flight - Real newbie - First one went fine, this one, I somehow managed to miss the localizer and was instructed to go around - how embarr[Mod - Happy Thoughts]ing !!!

Somehow pulled off the second attempt at landing, only to crash off the end of the runway cause my keyboard/fingers got confused.

ATC kindly asked if I wanted taxi instructions to the Wwest or north aprons ? I was so embarrased, I had to logoff

[Randy Tyndall 1087023]

Ferdi,

 

No reason to log off just because of that. I have over 3,000 hours and my keyboard still avoids my fingers all the time.

 

As for the go around, relish it, but know the Missed Approach Procedure (MAP) each time you prepare to land, even after 3,000 hours. I enjoy being told to "Go Around". It makes for an exciting end to a good flight. The more you fly, the less you will have to do it and, believe me, you will come to miss the feeling of slamming the throttles forward, raising the gear and flaps, and heading for your first fix on the MAP, unless given vectors by ATC.

 

Welcome to the on line world of VATSIM, my friend. You're gonna love it!

 

Randy

[Thomas Derbyshire]

Hi guys,

 

Quick update from me. Been simming for 2.5 years but only recently started using Vatsim. Bear in mind I've watched a ton of you tube videos and read the excellent resourcing guide on vatsim to make sure I know what I'm doing. The other night I completed a flight out of EGLL to LSGG as part of a fly in event. Apart from contacting Geneva approach instead of Swiss Radar I didn't make a single mistake. It's so much more fun knowing that all the planes around have virtual people operating them.

 

I always get a readability 5 from the controllers but the quality of other people's mics are terrible! I don't know how the controllers understand a word some of them are saying.

 

Cheers

[Shemer Takai 1372780]

Hi Guys

 

New guy here. I just completed my first flight on Vatsim from KSAN to KSFO. Flying the plane from take off to landing wasn't bad as i have been doing this for at least 3 years. It was trying to understand ATC and correctly read back the instructions. So far i made a few mistakes trying to read back clearance and i had to ask Ground to repeat said instructions. Luckily he was patient and was helpful. unfortunately the rest of my flight was quiet because ATC at KSFO went to sleep. I hope the next flight i'll do will be more interesting than my first flight.

[Ernesto Martinez]

Make sure to add that you are new in the remarks it will let controllers know to speak a little slower for you. Also, make sure you turn of the Simulate VHF in settings since it makes it harder to understand ATC.

[Andrew Ogden]

Hi guys,

I always get a readability 5 from the controllers but the quality of other people's mics are terrible! I don't know how the controllers understand a word some of them are saying.

 

I totally understand what you mean. vPilot (or from my experience, any other pilot client) is notorious for its rather bad voice quality, but I will [Mod - Happy Thoughts]ure you it is clear as day (usually ) on the controllers scope!

[Don Desfosse]

I *REALLY* don't want to drag this off topic, but please don't go dishing on the various clients. It's VATSIM's antiquated voice codec that is one of the key drivers to sound quality on the network. Peoples' [Mod - lovely stuff]py mics and background noise also have a large part to play. But don't blame the clients. We now return to your regularly scheduled programming

[Thimo Koolen]

Half agree with you here Don. While the voice quality is much the same, as a pilot on vPilot I have a worse voice quality than as a controller on Euroscope.

[Simon Bellette 1212252]

My first time online was a couple of nights ago in Australia. I'm a Paramedic by day/night but I think I was more nervous about flying online than anything my job has thrown at me! I must have had 5 or 6 attempts at pressing the push to talk button then chickening out before I finally bit the bullet. It was the best thing I ever did! I managed to bumble my way through it without any embarr[Mod - Happy Thoughts]ing moments, but I'm sure they will come! It wasn't super busy but controllers were awesome. I can't see myself flying offline anymore!

[Joseph Jucha 1343412]

I have to admit, Simon, when I am sitting at a tower and a hesitant/shy pilot shows up, I smile when by the time they are in the air they are back to their normal selves. I don't always suceed but it's a step closer.

I have (currently) a HUGE advantage in that I normally have time to help people file correctly and can take the time to speak clearly and slowly so pilots understand what to do. I'm not bragging. Honest, it's one of the highlights of my day when someone new fires up and sees how much there is to do and learn here.

I consider my time well spent when a few days,weeks,months, down the road that 'noob' pops up, files a correct flight plan and then executes the comm skills, taxi, and departure like a pro. I just love it.

Now when it gets busy, I'm just sorry I don't have the extra time to give. That's the down side.

There is no requirement, but the best thing one can do before visiting a controlled area is to view the P1 program from the resource page. It will provide a template on what is expected in communications and so many other things. You *will* make mistakes, and chances are good I will too. But you will get a general idea of what to expect.

[James Martin 1382880]

Made an [Mod - Happy Thoughts] of myself tonight. Tried a simple flight from KBWI to a small airport on the Eastern Shore of MD. Your second flight on vatsim is not the time to learn the G1000 gl[Mod - Happy Thoughts] cockpit. I managed to taxi to the runway okay sorta. Took off then without realizing it..the automation steered me back over the airport. BWI_TWR and _GND were patient with me tonight so for that I am thankful and I did make it to Salisbury Regional. How some of y'all fly the heavy jets is something I have to work up to.

[Dace Nicmane]

Not without learning first, that's for sure.

I learned for two years before I flew on VATSIM.

[Robert Shearman Jr]

Tried a simple flight from KBWI to {...} Salisbury Regional.

James, are you from that area? I'm in suburban Baltimore myself; I consider KMTN my 'virtual base' and KOXB my virtual home-away-from-home (I'll be down in that area for real this weekend in fact).

[James Martin 1382880]

Robert, I am from Baltimore originally and most of my family is still there so I am quite familiar with the area. I currently live in Norfolk so KORF is serving as my virtual home airport right now.