r/VATSIM

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As a flight simmer since over 20 years and staff member of VATSIM for the past 6 years, I’ve been thinking about how overwhelming flight sim can be, especially when learning airliners.

Between checklists, procedures, and setup, it can feel like you need hours of prep just to enjoy a flight.

Some people like the realism and go through with it, others simply start the engines with CTRL+E and off they go.

Hence I’m exploring an idea -> an AI copilot inside Microsoft Flight Simulator that:

• Guides you step-by-step (startup → shutdown)

• Reacts to what you do in real time

• Explains things simply (like an instructor)

• Adapts to your level (beginner → experienced)

Basically, something that sits next to you and says:

“Alright, let’s start the aircraft. Turn on the battery - you will find this in the central part of the overhead panel above you”

Not a static checklist… more like a real copilot.

My questions to you as a community:

• Would you actually use something like this?

• Would you pay for such a software, if this was to be considered?

• What would it NEED to get right for you?

Trying to figure out if this solves a real pain or just sounds cool.

Appreciate any thoughts and feedback!

Hey there,

I know it’s a long shot but if anyone can’t make their booking I’d love to take it. I missed the signup period to help my dad with health issues. Any help or available slots would be so amazing!!

Thanks so much!

Captain T.

Hey folks! Today I'm glad to announce that VATSIM Radar now supports vIFF system for pilots overlay.

That includes:

1. TOBT/EOBT/TSAT/CTOT display
2. Regulation type display with a reason
3. Flight status, ready status and AOBT display
4. An ability to edit OBT and set REA(dy) status directly from VATSIM Radar - synced with the system

Learn more about this system and participating vACC: https://cdm.vatsimspain.es/

I'm glad to have this system now supported on VATSIM Radar, in hope it will increase it's popularity among pilots, and improve clarity for airports that have CDM online. Enjoy!

Of course, if you don't like the space it takes, if you collapse it, it will stay collapsed next time you open overlay.

This update also comes with a fix for SIDs transitions not displaying if selected manually.

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ICYMI "Year 2 of VATSIM Radar" blog: https://docs.vatsim-radar.com/blog/year-2-of-radar

Hi everyone,

I've been mainly flying Airbus a320, a340 and a350 on VATSIM, however i would like to branch out in to simulating private flights on some smaller jets. I use MSFS24 to fly.

I was wondering if any of you had any favourites you like to fly? I'm not really into the older jets. I like the look and feel of a more modern glass cockpit. I was currently looking at the FlightFX HJet HA420 and the FlightFX Cessna Citation X.
Thanks in advance for your opinions!

Hey folks, I took advantage of the fully-staffed Sydney this evening, since it was the Milk Run Mondays event that they have, but I was flying elsewhere instead.

I don't fly in Australia or Oceania that much on VATSIM, but I do have 2500 hours so I'm no stranger to VATSIM. I took the time to read their pilot briefings on their website to ensure that I didn't cause delays or annoy local controllers.

Firstly, I requested PDC from the clearance delivery controller, who assigned me 16L, to which I accepted it and set my squawk, then as per the ATIS, I contacted Sydney Coordinator with my callsign, bay number, and requested pushback. I was told to standby, which was fine, and a few minutes later the controller asked if I had recieved my clearance from Delivery, which I replied that I had via PDC. He acknowledged this and then told me to monitor a ground frequency. I then monitored this ground frequency for around 4 minutes, then called up requesting push in case they had forgotten about me, I then heard "You were told to monitor frequency not call up, please continue to monitor." (fair enough, as a controller I get it can be annoying when someone is told to monitor a frequency, or contact with callsign only, and the pilot does the opposite), after a few more minutes I'm handed off to another ground frequency (I guess coordinator handed me off to the wrong one?)

This second ground controller was great, after monitoring freq for less than 30s I'm issued with push clearance, once I had pushed back, 16 minutes had passed since contacting the coordinator, and my APU was burning fuel for no reason. I'm then given taxi instructions to hold at 16R, which I questioned as delivery had sent me a PDC for 16L and hadn't heard anything to suggest a runway change for me. This ground controller tried contacting delivery but said he couldn't get through, so re-issued my departure clearance for 16R. Again, this guy was great and really understanding.

Then handed off to tower, and from tower to Melbourne center things were much more streamlined.

I suppose my question is, is it usually this bad during events in Aus? In terms of ground movements it wasn't particularly busy, I was on the international side of the airport where the only movements were a few inbounds, and only one other outbound who was behind me. I'm used to flying in busy airspaces where delays can be expected, but this was honestly quite bad, and seemed quite uncoordinated for delivery/coordinator/ground positions.

Hello!

I'm an S1 trainee hwo has pretty mich everything set up in ES and TrackAudio and I'm just a little confused about something: I see on thhe VATSCA wiki on a screenshit that there's something called a departures list. I can't see that on my scope. Is that just something that appears when I'm controlling an aerodrome or is it something that I'm able to toggle?

Thanks!

I’m an S1 with 100 hours on the network who’s under the age of 16 and I was just wondering what everyone else’s opinions were on the whole situation. Let me know if you think it has been a positive or negative change, or if you think there has been no impact at all.

Had some issues with Fenix A320 when flying on VATSIM, persistent stuttering on taxi, takeoff and approach.

Really want to buy PMDG 777 but hesitant due to the price tag and previous experience with its similar fidelity Airbus counterpart.

Can anyone shed any light?

System specs

CPU- Ams Ryzen 7 5700X

GPU ZOTAC GeForce RTX 5070

32gb DDR4 RAM

1tb SSD

Gigabyte B550m DS3H R2 motherboard

Hi all,

I’m looking to start ATC training on VATSIM as I’m interested in pursueing ATC as a career in the future and will soon have a lot more free time after finishing school.

I’ve played flight sim for quite a while, so I’m already fairly familiar with aviation basics. I’m based in the UK, but I don’t mind what division I end up controlling as they all seem interesting.

I’ve looked into the UK division, but I understand the waiting times there are very long which isn’t ideal as id like to dedicate some time in the long break I’ve got after finishing school in a couple of months and I wouldn’t want to waste this opportunity so I’ve been exploring other divisions where I could realistically begin training sooner. The Middle East region seems good since the timezone alignment with the UK seems workable and Id be interested in controlling there but I’m not sure what the current situation is like in terms of training queues and availability. Would this be a viable option in terms of training times or are there other divisions that tend to have shorter wait times and would I struggle if I don’t speak the local language?

I’m not looking to transfer after training, just somewhere I can fully dedicate time and progress through properly.

Any advice or recommendations are appreciated, thanks :)

Anybody fly out of SLC last night and hear two pilots meow on the CTR frequency (not even guard). The controller immediately read the 2 callsigns and said "UPS... and XYZ... expect a call from a supervisor shortly." I was laughing my a** off. It's like passing a cop running radar and he pulls out right behind you 😭. One of the aircraft proceeded to apologize shortly after. GOTEM.

Canada, Balkans, Eastern Europe & Scandinavia

Scotland, Ireland, Brussels, Amsterdam

On the easier side, the controllers are very friendly and have the patience of a saint. Low traffic volume, generally very chill and a great place to start for newcomers. When I just started out in VATSIM, I flew mostly in these areas.

US

Normal difficulty, need to know the STARS and adhere to their restrictions when descending unlike Europe, Australia and Asia where you are constantly told exactly when to descend

Boston Logan, Washington Dulles, New York JFK, Miami Intl, San Francisco Intl , Los Angeles Intl are my favorite airports to fly to. Love the controllers running these Centers and Approach! Their ATCs man...

"It was perfect... perfect... everything... down to the last minute details..." Also this was where I learnt to say "SSSSEeee yyyyAAaaaaa!"

Italy, Spain, Portugal

Normal diffculty, I just want to say that these 3 are severely underated and the controllers are one of the best imo. I've never been dissapointed once flying into Milan, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid and Lisbon. Top tier ATC coverage and highly recommend.

Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taipei

Normal difficulty, Rarely comes online but when they do they provide really good ATC.

Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines

Normal difficulty - Good ATC coverage

London Heathrow & Paris Charles de Gaulle

Hard, getting clearance in Heathrow can be hard because of high traffic but flying IN to Heathrow is a blast! Same for Paris.

Germany (Langen)

Very Hard, NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED. Controllers get easily angry and irritated!

Germany (Bremen)

Normal difficulty

Australia - Very Hard

Maybe it's just my luck but throughout last year I had many flights to Sydney and Melbourne where center/approach rage quits because of another simmer, sometimes a younger simmer not following instructions or ignoring controllers. I've avoided Australia since then and mostly fly in Europe, US & Canada now whenever I get on VATSIM

Recently I heard ATC give someone an altitude restriction, the pilot clearly read it back wrong, and ATC didn’t respond. Say something? How?

Hello everybody

My question is, can I log off like in the middle of gander radio airspace and log back in a couple of hours later a little bit before shanwick radio and contact them?

I was flying the other night and honestly, I’m still annoyed by what I heard on the frequency.

There was a new pilot who made a tiny mistake taxiing—I think he just missed a turn. He started apologizing immediately, but the ATC just went off on him. It was brutal. The poor guy must have said "sorry" a hundred times, but the controller wouldn't even acknowledge it. He just kept dragging him, asking "Why did you do that??" over and over again like he was interrogating a criminal.

The worst part? It wasn't even busy. There was no event going on and hardly any traffic, so there was zero reason for the stress.

Eventually, the pilot just got fed up (or embarrassed) and disconnected. Even as he was logging off, he apologized one last time, and the controller still wouldn't let it go, just complaining to the open air about why the pilot messed up.

I’ve seen this happen way too often lately. We were all new once. If someone is clearly trying and apologizing, why push them until they literally quit the game? It’s just gatekeeping at this point, and it sucks to watch. I am not calling out specifally ATC controllers there are also alot of pilots that have the same attitude. Luckily there are just a small handful of them and most are very nice persons.

EDIT: Forgot to mention that ATC also said to him: Maybe VATSIM isn`t for you buddy.

Scenario: Controller gave me a restriction to cross XYZ at 12,000’ and 250 kts. Before reaching XYZ I was given direct to a different fix, which was a bit of shortcut and meant I would no longer be passing over XYZ. Entering this into the FMS “told” the plane that there was no longer any hurry to get down to 12,000’ and it reduced the rate of descent significantly. Same with the speed restriction. Not sure this is what the controller intended…had I not adjusted the rate of descent manually, I would’ve been left very high on the downwind. Oversight on the controller’s part or is there some rule here I’m not aware of?