New pilot Text Or voice?

[michael Abramovich 1315827]

Hello, I'm a new pilot in VATsim, I know the age limit for VATsim is 13, I just turned 13 so I wanted to use VATsim, The problem is, I have a really high voice, And I'm scared people will start laughing at me so I know there is a text way to use VATsim but every time I minimize Fsx the game pauses I don't want it to pause, What should I do? Voice or text, If text is there anyway to stop Fsx from pausing ?

 

 

Hope you answer, Michael Abrmovich starter pilot at vatsim

[Ross Carlson]

Hello Michael, welcome to VATSIM!

 

There is a setting in FSX called "pause on task switch". If you uncheck that setting, it will stop pausing when you switch from FSX to another program.

 

As for text or voice, I would encourage you to use voice because it is so much more realistic and enjoyable for both you and the controllers, and even other pilots around you. We have plenty of young pilots on the network and no one is going to laugh at you for your voice. As long as you take your "job" as a pilot seriously and don't goof around, you'll fit right in and be welcomed by all your fellow pilots and controllers.

 

Part of taking it seriously is educating yourself. Read through the PRC (Pilot Resource Center), do some observing on the network and listen to other users interacting with ATC, learn the basics of flight planning, and know how to fly the airplane. Above all, if you don't know how to do something, don't be afraid to say so. It's much better to ask for clarification from ATC or to say "I don't know how to fly that procedure" than it is to accept an instruction without knowing how to accomplish it, and then do something totally different.

 

Again, welcome to VATSIM, have fun!

[michael Abramovich 1315827]

If let's say I ask for taxi clearance wrong will the ATC help me?

[Don Desfosse]

Hello, Michael, and welcome to VATSIM!

 

You definitely don't have to worry about the pitch of your voice. You are certainly not the first (by a long shot), and are certainly not the last, young man whose voice hasn't changed yet to join VATSIM. Voice is BY A LONG SHOT the very much preferred mode of communication on VATSIM. It makes things so much easier for pilots and other controller to be able to hear you, makes things much more efficient for everyone, and is much more realistic. We do still offer text to accommodate folks that are unable to use voice (i.e. broken headset, deaf, etc.), but strongly encourage you to use voice if you can.

 

In terms of your sim pausing, make sure you have "Pause on Task Switch" turned off. Options - Settings - General - Pause on Task Switch

 

And you need not be ashamed of your voice. Your youth shows your enthusiasm. All we ask is that you be a young man excited to join our simulation hobby, learn, simulate as professionally as you can, and do the best you can. And everyone has their own unique voice; don't be nervous or ashamed. Heck, there is a RW tower controller at an airport near me who regularly gets called ma'am even though he's a man, just with a rather high pitched voice. I know, because after I apologized for doing it myself, he said, "Don't worry about it, hundreds of pilots have called me ma'am, no worries."

Edited October 14, 2016 at 12:56 PM by Guest

[michael Abramovich 1315827]

Thank I will Thank you all for helping me! I'm so exited about my first vatsim flight wish me luck!

[Don Desfosse]

Yes, of course ATC will be happy to help you. I'll mention a couple of things, though. ATC is happy to help you, on a workload permitting basis, but is not responsible for training you. Your best bet is to study the PRC and other instructional aids available to you as best you can, and when you think you're ready to fly your plane with ATC, start at a small airport with little to no traffic. If you need training, in addition to studying the PRC and VATSIM pilot training materials, you could sign up with a VATSIM Authorized Training Organization (ATO) for pilot training. More information on that can be found at: https://www.vatsim.net/pilots/training

 

The second thing I'll mention is to start out slowly. Like I said before, start at a smaller airport and/or at an airport with little to no traffic, but a controller that may have time to [Mod - Happy Thoughts]ist you. Some people make the mistake of getting excited to see dozens and dozens of pilots at an airport, not realizing it's during an event where the operational tempo is very high. That's not the time to be connecting with ATC and looking for help; it just won't be available to you.

 

I do hope this information helps. And again, welcome!

[Thimo Koolen]

If you're flying out of the airport I'm controlling (at the moment only DEL) and there isn't much traffic, I'd be happy to help and I am sure there are plenty of controllers that wouldn't mind to help if workload permits. Ofcourse a DEL controller has (in general) more time to help than a ACC controller.

 

Voice is by far the preffered method of communications. One because it's much more realistic, but also because it reduces the workload. Controllers can use aliases in their scope to reduce typing time, but it still has an increased workload. If someone needs a heading and ILS clearance, it'll take time for them to read it and then follow the instructions. If voice is used, pilots could follow the instructions while the instruction hasn't finished yet and read it back almost immediatly after (that'll keep the flow in the communications when the controller doesn't have to wait seconds for a readback).

"KLM111, turn right heading 150 *change heading*, cleared ILS approach 18R *click APP button*"

Edited October 15, 2016 at 02:03 PM by Guest

[Don Desfosse]

Text is by far the preffered method of communications.

Michael, I'm quite certain this is a typo (and a spelling error ). Everything Thimo said after this sentence was consistent with voice being preferred.

 

[Thimo Koolen]

I didn't saw that

[Martijn Rammeloo]

VPilot (and I guess other pilot clients as well) has a 'private chat' option. As a controller, this is is my preferred way to help, answer questions etc. Use the frequency for regular messages. Like many (all?) controllers, I prefer voice. Please don't be afraid of anyone laughing about the pitch of your voice, I have never experienced behavior like that.

 

As said by others:

- know how to fly your plane, practice offline...

- download the proper charts

- if flying IFR, learn the basics about SIDs and STARs

- observe at the airports of origin and destination: you will soon learn that many messages have a standard format, making them easier to understand

- when in doubt: ask

 

Good luck!

 

Martijn

EHAM APP controller

[Lindsey Wiebe 1101951]

Like others have said almost all people on the system are quite mature; and if you take it seriously which it sounds like you will, if anything people will think "wow that kid sounds seriously professional!" Will they know you are a kid, yes, but you can prove to them that age doesn't really matter.

 

Just go for it, you'll do fine. As Martijn said above, use the private chat with the controller to ask questions (".msg OAK_CTR" for example), but be aware that if it is a busy airspace they may not have much opportunity to a) read a lengthy question, and b) reply to it. However, if it's not overly busy then any controller would be happy to help out, it also gets them thinking and gives them something to do between regular calls. Go ahead and ask the question, be patient for their reply.

[Robert Shearman Jr]

Biggest tip -- if you get a long clearance you didn't understand, say via voice: "can you say again via text for {your callsign}"? They'll send it to you over chat and then you can read it back right off the screen. But try to use that fallback-and-punt strategy as little as possible; challenge yourself to get it via voice as much as possible.

 

The hardest things to hear are intersection names you're not familiar with (especially when ATC doesn't pronounce them the way you'd think they should), but, if you've looked at the departure chart or arrival chart ahead of time, you should be somewhat familiar with what's on it and should be able to guess what the controller is likely to be about to say. It comes with practice and experience, but, the more you anticipate what you should be about to hear, the easier it is to recognize.

[Andrew Ogden]

As an almost C1 (Enroute) controller, I can tell you right now that we all prefer voice over text. It reduces the workload of the controller by far and it also challenges the pilot to remember what the controller has said and to execute it to the best of his ability. Don't be afraid of your voice, lots of pilots on VATSIM have a high voice and we aren't going to think any differently because of it. As long as you know what you are doing, I am happy to have any traffic at all! (being in NZ ) Or even if you are new, all we ask is that you have the courage to speak up and ask for help. I am always happy to help a new and struggling pilot. As multiple people have said, it will all come naturally with time and experience.

 

Anyway, that was my rant. I hope to see you on the scope!