Who to ask?

[Daniel Turcotte 1375374]

Still trying to learn before my first flight and I've been watching a few videos on YouTube of VATSIM flights, and I noticed that pilots will ask the next highest controller for clearance, taxi, etc. if the appropriate controller isn't manned(but normally would be for the airport). For example, they will ask tower for clearance and taxi since the ground controller isn't manned. My question is how high up should you go before you just state your intentions on UNICOMM? If only an app/dep controller is manned is it expected they will provide clearance, taxi and take off? How about only a center? Thank you for your help.

[Ernesto Alvarez 818262]

the way VATSIM works is Top - Down. so basically it goes all the way up to the enroute controllers where appropriate (some only handle enroute, while others handle enroute + top-down service for the airports below)

[Kirk Christie]

Suggest you start in the pilot resource centre where this question has already been answered for you.

 

https://www.vatsim.net/pilot-resource-centre/general-lessons/airport-atc-procedures-cd-gnd-twr

[Jonathan Fong]

VATSIM works on a Top-Down priority system. When on the ground, if DEL is online, contact them; otherwise go to GND. If GND isn't online, then you call TWR; if TWR isn't online, call APP/DEP (same thing); if APP/DEP isn't online, call CTR. Generally FSS stations don't follow this system, though - they generally only do enroute control above a certain altitude (e.g. Eurocontrol (EURx_FSS) only controls above FL245).

[Daniel Turcotte 1375374]

Suggest you start in the pilot resource centre where this question has already been answered for you.

 

https://www.vatsim.net/pilot-resource-centre/general-lessons/airport-atc-procedures-cd-gnd-twr

 

Thanks for pointing that out! I had read through all of those but somehow missed the intent of that article, but its really clear now.

 

Thank you to everyone else for the quick replies.