HI there, I am wondering if I can View VATSIM to see if it’s for me in the future? Any information is greatly appreciated. TIA
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Yes, in the vPilot client there is an observer mode.
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Yes, you can log on as an observer (it’s a checkbox in VPilot when you go to connect). I’m new too and I tried that the other day. You can see everyone else and hear the ATC - even fly - but nobody can see you. Perfect for learning.
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Thanks guys for the help…
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I would suggest checking out YouTube for Vatsim. Lots of very helpful videos there for learning how it works, and how to use it. Vatsim really makes flightsim so much more fun!
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How have I missed this. I’ve logged in and park way out of the way and just listened to start to get familiar. Thanks.
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Take a look at this
Its how I started off
Does VATSIM cater for GA aircraft? or is it mostly jet airliners that operate on the VATSIM network?
It depends on the area where you plan to fly - but mostly the controller are very helpful and also happy to have GA traffic. And my feeling is, that the GA traffic is increasing since the last year - also based on the fact that MSFS has got a lot of GA pilots because of the good graphics that supports VFR flights!
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Take it as in real life,
then no difference in type of aircraft but experience of atc and local fir rules. On other case atc are very friendly and can understand lag of rules knowledge. This problematic is thousands time here on Forum debated… Simply as me, real life experience is then advantage but no worry about, as previously stated, you can sit on apron and listen for first, improve real rules as needed, aplicate due type of flight. Again, this isn’t multiplayer as first thing, is real life air traffic control simulation.
Update: be careful, here on Vatsim are also rules aplied about use of this network. You can be easy confronted with Admins and get a ban, maybe also definitelly closed one without return. I recommend go to Vatsim main page to look at all about first.
Not exactly,
vfr traffic can differ in rules to airliners what is most problem with knowledge, especially if atc is experienced with this, then local rules and vfr routes can be applied also as irl what can be problem to pilots.
You can 100% fly GA aircraft either VFR or IFR on VATSIM.
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Here in Austria they are very friendly and helpful. VFR pilots get’s every support! Here you can call also the “Wien Information” like in the real world. They will support you even with traffic information… As a real PPL pilot I was really surprised that the service is similar to the reality
Can confirm 
same at lhcc 
and of course in our lzbb. I must say that full Information service i saw only in our fir but lhcc friends are sometimes also helpful more as standard. To me about that Info service, most of time atc doesn’t pick this service due little activity and rules lag of pilots, maybe during vfr events is better handling that. Looks to me that i saw Info in lovv in this case.
Its also helpful to note in the vpilot remarks, Student Pilot.
If IFR:
When you ck in with clearance delivery, identity yourself as a student pilot and you will get some additional training as well as slow instructions. IFR can be very challenging. Stay away from busy airports when learning.
If VFR:
Practice with Flight Following. This can ease you into comfortable communications. Oh, and announce yourself as Student Pilot after tour tail ID.
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On a technical note , if you are observing at a gate then its fine , but if you go flying off somewhere the controllers can still see you as a blip so it might be against their code of conduct, further reading on that is probaby required
I think you can be an observer if flying a route if you are sharing a cockpit with someone who has filed a flightplan, thats perfectly fine I believe.
How that works in practice I don’t know though