Like a lot of others, I’ve recently made the leap and become acquainted with the world of Vatsim. It’s been awesome! I’ve learned so much over the past couple of months on the network, and almost all of the controllers and pilots I’ve interacted with have been friendly and helpful.
At this point, there’s no reason NOT to fly on the network for all of my flights. I fly exclusively GA, and the level of immersion just monitoring unicom or a center while flying VFR to and from untowered airfields brings the sim to a whole new level. Mix in some Bravo transitions, and controlled airfield departures and landings, and I’m having even more fun now than when I just started my flight sim journey. I’ve also done a ton of IFR training off the network over the past couple of months, and I’m now just about ready to start mixing in some some of that also. Overall it’s been such a blast.
Obviously the airliner population on Vatsim speaks for itself, but is anyone else using Vatsim 100% of the time like me, even for just simple uncontrolled airfield GA VFR flights?
I was going to use it, but some of the elitist gate keeping comments toward new members trying to learn it kinda put me off in the end. I did the test got all the stuff setup but, never used it.
Great that you are having good experiences with it though, might be worth sharing your first experiences with it and how you adapted so others can get an idea of what entry is like.
I would say just give it a shot. I think you’ll find that the vast majority of people you interact with on the network, are friendly folks just enjoying their hobby. That goes for controllers and pilots alike.
The two main things I would really recommend, are reading all of the lessons / guides available on the website, and not being timid about asking for clarification. Even the most experienced pilots will ask for clarification at times…just listen to any live ATC and you’ll hear it all the time.
Doing the best you can to stay ahead of your aircraft is also key. The more things you can anticipate / have ready, before being asked by ATC to perform them, lessens your work load and allows for much smoother communication.
I have been simming for years but just started using Vatsim recently… 3 weeks maybe. I fly the CJ4. My biggest hurdle was the first few flights in busy areas. It is getting easier and more comfortable. Know your tail number or whatever you are using to ID on the network. I find myself stumbling over that and then falling apart for the rest of the communication. Readbacks make me nervous but getting better. Enjoy your place in the community! Write it down, write it down, write it down… even before you speak sometimes to help.
There’s also a great group of folks over at VatStar where you can get Vatsim training and interact with others and they are all volunteers. There is no cost to join. Their website is Home (vatstar.com) and you can find them on Discord also. You do need a Vatsim ID in order to join but that also is free. I have started doing some training with them but even with all the hours I’ve put in on the sim I’m still not ready to fly in Vatsim.
I too recently delved into the VATSIM world. I started in GA, flying the cessna 172 skyhawk sans garmin avionics (as this is what I have real world experience with). Since a few GA VFR flights, I have gotten much more into flying IFR. It is a lot of fun. The biggest challenges I have encountered thus far are: 1. bugs linked to COM frequencies in the A320 and, 2. Difficulties in managing and adjusting the FMC on some aircraft (CJ4, A320). I seem to have more success with the 747 and 787, perhaps due to my prior familiarity with the PMDG products. That said, I still run into difficulties with these if my route is amended or I am assigned a new SID/STAR. Regardless of these ‘problems’, VATSIM has been incredible. There is a bit of a learning curve. I recommend having a pen and paper handy, as well as another screen for monitoring traffic as well as analyzing the SID and STARS. Also, I have found simbrief is a great resource for flight planning. Connecting with controllers and pilots from across the globe is an almost surreal experience. If anybody wants to rendezvous and do some flying together, message me!
I have been in the Vatsim worlld for several years. I agree, It really adds a whole new level to realism.
It is well worth the small effort to join and experience the realism. I have not used MSFS 2020 with vatsim yet. I am waiting for the core program to get a bit more stable.
Sometimes, it is difficult to follow msfs core discussions on the forum due to all the entries and discussions about addon stuff.
With vatsim its just a whole new game, it becomes so much more exciting. If you guys are new and flying over US airspace, try Boston’s airspace, their ATC is very noob friendly and they tend to provide ATC much more regularly.
Hi, I use IVAO for online ATC flights. Actually on VFR World Tour in B350i . For IFR flights only CJ4 moded by Working Title seems to be reliable (FMC-direct to, SID/STAR changes) with good FPS.
I am afraid to fly longer than 2 hrs flights because of frequent CTD without a notice…
Enjoy IVAO/VATSIM
Cheers
The fact that there’s currently no possibility for getting TCAS in this game—which is a huge oversight by Asobo imo—makes it quite difficult to fly online, especially when there’s no ATC coverage.
I’m using the WT CJ4 exclusively on VATSIM but I don’t feel comfortable being completely blind.
I’ve been intending to try it for a while, but as you mention it does seem very heavily weighted towards IFR, especially airliners. There’s another network, Pilotedge which, by all accounts, is much better for GA. However, it has two drawbacks: there is a monthly fee and the area covered is limited to certain parts of the US.
I really enjoy Vatsim in FS2020. It’s even better in VR… I did the massive MLK event into Atlanta this past Friday in VR and it was unlike anything else! Vatsim really adds another dimension to this game then add VR and that takes flight sim to a whole new level.
