I guess that would result in the depiction of visual elements (clouds, vis, precip) being different for every pilot depending on which weather engine they’re using.
Most certainly can be.
Never due to weather inaccuracies. It’s not that much of a difference to cause different instructions from ATC or for a pilot to change route, altitude or an approach in my experience. However, we probably should never say never when it pertains to weather!
Cheers
Can the controllers on VATSIM handle requests from pilots due to dynamically changing weather, or are they more used to dealing with static weather that changes at regular intervals?
I’ve asked for deviations due to weather a lot, it’s not a problem.
I have always found the controllers to be very helpful.
For example I had filed an IFR flight plan due to origin being IMC and destination forecast for IMC, flying GA. I was following airway’s and I knew one section of the route might be problematic as the lower level of the airway was at 9000ft. The controller asked if I could climb to 9000ft in order to keep me in controlled airspace. After looking at the cloud layer above me and the OAT, I said I could not comply due to concerns with icing (I am sure you have seen how aggressive MSFS can be with that) It was no issue, they just gave me a basic service and latter along the route as I joined another airway where the lower level was back down at 6000ft they brought me back on to a radar service.
On V Pilot there is comments field, I always put in there “Iam Using MSFS” I am pretty sure a lot of them have MSFS and they know its quirks etc.
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Thank you! This insight is helpful.
I’m trying to understand why there is a push to get METAR clouds into the sim when it seems like what we had before worked much better and seemed to pose very little problems for VATSIM users.
Hopefully this kind of info will help shed light on what it’s really like flying with MSFS live weather and VATSIM.
It wasn’t much better.
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In what ways? Please elaborate.
It’s a total coin toss. When I am using Active Sky in P3D and XP the weather depiction is virtually never off that much (though XP does have a few limitations). In MSFS the discrepancy is night and day. PIREPs are pretty useless to me on MSFS.
I honestly take all reports of weather when in MSFS with a grain of salt and yeah, I’m aware a METAR is just a snapshot at a given time and does age however sometimes the weather depicted in MSFS isn’t near what a fresh METAR is reporting.
I do really hope they improve on if they won’t open up the weather engine so HiFi can have at it. The weather model in MSFS does have it’s advantages but honestly it can be pretty bad for usage on VATSIM. A step in the right direction would be getting the METAR reports right because that is what controllers give us.
You can fly VFR or IFR on VATSIM.
Using SIDs and STARs really depends on the kind of field you’re going into, just like in real life. Wanting an ILS into a class B airport? You’ll likely be on a STAR; if you didn’t file one you’ll be re-cleared onto one. Going into a class E or G little strip, no SIDs / STARs.
Winds are probably the single most important weather aspect that need to match; not only for runway assignment but for controllers to manage spacing.
But, visual phenomenon are important as well. If everyone else is being assigned and accepting visual approaches and you need a CAT III, that’s going to alter the controller’s plan. Type of precip - snow especially - resulting in a contaminated runway and a performance-critical landing can be a factor. If mixing VFR and IFR traffic, it’s helpful for the controller to have an idea of when it’s reasonable to expect that visual separation can be maintained. It’s also helpful for everyone if PIREPs actually have some meaning, which only works if everyone is seeing roughly the same weather.
I used VATSIM a lot on FSX with ActiveSky. I tried it earlier in MSFS and the weather, while pretty, was often jarringly different from what other aircraft were experiencing. I’ve recently returned to some GA VATSIM flying on MSFS, coincidentally the day after SU7, and have been pleased to see that the weather “works” now, for VATSIM flying. It’s greatly improved from what we had before, and flying on the network works more smoothly. All in all, I’ve been enjoying it quite a bit. I sure wouldn’t want to go back.
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