FSX Tutorial: Air Traffic Control

Looking at Air Traffic Control within FSX, a quick explanation of it's purpose and how it is used depending on what type of flight you are doing.
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Copyright © 2015 - Doofer911 - All Rights Reserved.
DISCLAIMER: While this video is intended for educational purposes, I must stress that I am not a professional pilot or instructor and I am not certified in any way with regards to Aviation or Education. Every subject I talk about is based on my personal study and understanding. Therefore the information I give may be incorrect or inaccurate and should NOT be used as a reference for real world flying.

[@Cobwobbler]

All these videos you've done are really handy to have a bit more fun with FSX, good work.

[@Doofer911]

***** Thank you very much, sounds like they're having the desired effect. I didn't want to go for a "full on" technical approach that you'd probably get in a real world flight school. I mean FSX is a game after all so the point is to have fun with it!

[@user-vo9tb6ru4x]

@@Doofer911Hi! Guys, does anyone know how to solve this problem? When I click on one of the ATC options, I receive neither a message nor a sound! Then there are 2 options, one is Say Again, I do not remember what that one was. Please reply! Please help me!...

[@bigun89]

A request for this series: how to navigate taxiways and make sense of the signs.

[@Doofer911]

Way ahead of you, a tutorial from about a year ago... kzbin.info/www/bejne/bajFfXpqodOsg68

[@PaulA-zp7hn]

Clear, informative, well explained. Brilliant. Thanks!

[@eliotambrose9280]

Thank you for this informative and helpful video mate. I'm in Edinburgh myself so it's nice to have a Scot's voice and Inverness/Aberdeen airports! I'm just learning all about FSX so find your style and content really useful. Keep up the good work! :)

[@Doofer911]

Hi Eliot, always great to hear from someone "local" haha. I'm glad the video could help :)

[@thenickfoxx]

Anyone else here after discovering airforceproud95's channel? Lmao.

[@hotsauce1543]

Yes

[@albertkelder1952]

Wow, your video's are much better than the lessons in FSX itself!! You're no doubt a very good pilot! That flight in the jet: awesome! Thanks!

[@Doofer911]

I'm actually not a pilot, just a flight sim enthusiast. Working on getting a pilot's license one day

[@nicklomas181]

That was a really smooth landing at 15:00 - I'm new to FSX but not flight sims - great video. I'm hoping to come across a video which explains why the AP seems to stall about 50% of the time

[@Doofer911]

Thank you. I believe it's because the AP is trying to reach a target that the aircraft's performance cannot achieve, which often leads to a stall condition.

[@speedyretreat]

For all those wanting to yak at ATC, but are apprehensive about using online ATC like vatsim, buy or try (I think they have a demo) Multi Crew Experience. Its all I use it for. Its got options to talk to your copilot and things like that, which are helpful on the airliners, but I usually fly General Aviation and only use the ATC option. You can speak to default ATC as long as you got a mic, and it adds quite a bit of layer to FS. You just need to learn the vernacular but check out the videos on it, its awesome and worth the money for that alone!

[@jakew9887]

Great Video. Thanks

[@notallowedhere9229]

@Doffer911 everytime I pull up the atc menu no writing comes up please help, is there a button

[@samuelhulme8347]

Not Allowed Here are you on the correct frequency of the airport? You can google it

[@richardlechinois8236]

YOUR THE BEST INSTRUCTOR THANKS BROS...

[@NewBeginningNewCreation]

Hey there, I have a problem with ATC, and the kneeboard as well. When I try to use either, the text is square, unreadable icons. Have you ever had this issue, or any idea how to fix this problem?

[@ELPaso1990TX]

So with the IFR do you enter the departure frequency 119.05 into Com1?

[@billyjay4672]

Now when you say the pattern is that the same as the loop ?

[@rackum44]

great video.. thanks

[@captainpugwash6889]

Another excellent video! You can download excellent fine mesh FSX scenery for Hawaii, the Alps, Norway and the Balearics online. Fly Away. Enjoy 😉

[@n40798]

Is it possible to make the camera not move around when the plane accelerates or moves around?

[@GertBowker]

What are you using to fly with ? controllers?

[@dougglitch132]

Cheers for the help :)

[@scottskinner577]

Man I hate when im on final approach and before i touch down they tell Me to go around with 5 other planes behind me. Im like hey tell THEM to go around I was first! Lol But hey i try to listen because im getting ready for VATSIM. Great video, as always. I have you to thank for much of my navigation knowledge to date

[@Doofer911]

Yeah, the problem is that ATC always "sequence" aircraft in an efficient order so they cannot break that order by telling planes lining up on final to start going around. Unfortunately if you're next in the queue, you're first to go around

[@plank959]

when you want atc to tell you directions to a airport, do you go to the flight planner and then just put the airport you want to land on and the tower will automatically guide you to it? and do you choode vfr or ifr?

[@Doofer911]

Yep, setup an IFR flight either before you start or during a flight.

[@barveravindra]

Hey bro , In windows 10, fsx dosn't show any text in ATC window ?

[@bens4446]

No carb heat? No magneto check just before takeoff? No flaps? Or were you controlling these things from a joystick/keyboard?

[@hmabboud]

You are awesome, you are the best one on youtube. As I said before and I will keep on saying it. You should be a teacher, a teacher of any sort. One question please, what is class D airspace you have there on the minute 19:02? Also, what is 2992? And what is ATIS? When they say runway 5, which runway fdo you know is 5 and is usually onne side more assigned to departure and the other to landings? Or depending on the direction ai am headom from? And when they declar the taxi way, who do I know where to go to this one they have annouced? I am parked but do not know which way to go! Thanks

[@Doofer911]

So Class D Airspace is an area of sky which has a certain set of rules for flying: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZimi3aEqK2DfLM 29.92in is a measurement of Air Pressure, important for calibrating your Altitude: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5q7pH-egpmbnLc ATIS = Automatic Terminal Information Service, gives information about the airport such as which runway is being used and weather conditions. Runways are usually selected on wind direction. It's best for planes to take off and land flying INTO the wind. Taxiways usually have small yellow signs with letters telling you which taxiway it is. For example, "Taxi Alpha Charlie to Parking" means follow Taxiway A, then join Taxiway C then follow that and park the plane where you can. I'll probably do a quick tutorial on following Taxiways actually.

[@Doofer911]

Also in FSX, if you're not sure where to go on the ground, bring up the ATC menu and select "Progressive Taxi", this will draw some arrows on the ground and show you where to go ;)

[@jacksycz]

2992 looks like the altimeter, based on MSL (mean sea level).

[@user-vo9tb6ru4x]

Hi! Guys, does anyone know how to solve this problem? When I click on one of the ATC options, I receive neither a message nor a sound! Then there are 2 options, one is Say Again, I do not remember what that one was. Please reply! Please help me!...

[@ronsharikahn]

Wonderful video. Thx. Trying to follow along using my Cessna on x-plane, but the radio stack is quite different. How where can I find the download for the cessna version you are using?

[@Doofer911]

This is just the default Cessna 172 that comes in FSX.

[@Anonymous-pt7el]

Plz answer the following pointwise; 1. Initially, why did you chose 'remain in pattern', bcoz you are standing on ground and pattern is chosen when we are flying...isnt it?.. 2. Even after chosing 'remain in pattern', the conversations which are coming up are the ones which come up when 'request for taxi- north departure' etc is chosen...why so?

[@mikelunsford7462]

Why do all these radio videos only show a cesna radio stack..I'm trying to use a radio in a hawker.

[@nareshrammy]

hi doofer911 can you explain what the clock timing they tell when you request for direction and how to understand it and fly the plane??

[@Doofer911]

Sure. Imagine you're stood in the center of a clock face looking at 12 o'clock. If someone says a plane is at 3 o'clock... that plane is directly to your right. 6 is behind you, 9 is directly to your left. Then some other examples....1 would be ahead of you but slightly to the right.... 5 would be behind you but slightly to the right etc.

[@jimjasutis5046]

I'm kind of new at all this, but even though the weather was nice, I decided to try an IFR flight in my little Cessna. I put a flight plan in my gps, and asked for permission to take off. All was going well. The ATC had me do several turns after takeoff and then I got a message similar to the one you got that said, turn to a specific heading and then resume own navigation. The thing is, that heading was nowhere near my own navigation. My flight plan was basically due west, and they had me turn due north. Is this common, or perhaps my gps did not send the proper flight plan to fsx? Thanks.

[@Doofer911]

Hmm that's a strange one, the ATC can be a bit funny in the game. What I've found is that it will turn you onto a heading which will cause you to intercept your flight path but if you don't turn onto it manually, ATC will turn you again. That might be what happened for you.

[@jimjasutis5046]

I think I figured out what happened. I am using the flight1 GTN 750. Apparently it is not actually connected to the FSX flight planner. So, even though I put in a flight plan in the gps, FSX had no idea what I was planning to do. So the in game ATC didn't actually know which way I was headed.

[@Doofer911]

Ah right, yeah that mismatch will most likely be it! The default ATC is a bit simple haha

[@tjcasper777]

This can and does happen in real life even though they know your flightplan. Depending on other traffic you may be routed all over the place before being allowed to resume your own navigation.

[@pranzgamingxd6781]

@@tjcasper777 well yeah you do make a point. but it would've let him know that the traffic is there.

[@whocareswho]

Is your ATC/radio menu modded in any way? The menu items are different from the ones in my FSX. For instance, I never saw options for specifically requesting VFR/IFR the way I see in this vid.

[@Doofer911]

+whocareswho Nope, these are all default options. The choices which are available will change depending on whether you're flying VFR or IFR though.

[@anonymoususer4637]

+Doofer911 Is it possible to talk to ATC through your headset?

[@Doofer911]

Not to the default ATC however there are online services were people act as ATC and you can speak to them.

[@cyprio293]

Watching this.. I cant pull up the atc menu in the steam edition.. it just shows the ATC menu as greyed out in the drop down menu

[@NewBeginningNewCreation]

Yeah my menu is messed up as well. You ever find out how to fix it?

[@treborhg_9381]

When the atc says to use taxiway A, C to runway 6, how do you know whether to turn left or right once you reach one of the taxiways? I try to fly with PT off

[@Doofer911]

Have a chart (map) of the airport handy.

[@WishingChainPlays]

In FSX there is a yellow marker that tells you which way to to the right taxiways and the right way to the runway :)

[@10SUI]

Hi, thanks for the video! ;) How can you have that view on the plain and look to the sides?? thanks

[@Doofer911]

Which view? You can Right Click and select many views from the pop up menu

[@10SUI]

Someone recomended me the www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/trackir5/ to have a better view. Sometimes i can´t have a better view in the cockpit

[@kinglimpang8067]

What is meant by 'Remain in pattern' in 6:12 and 'touch and go' in 7:21? Also, when holding short of the runway, should I set the throttle back to idle? Or just use brake? Or even need to use parking brake?? Also, at 19:02, there is an option Class D airspace transition, what does that mean? Thanks!!

[@Doofer911]

+King Lim Pang So "Remain in Pattern" means that you want to fly a loop around the airport and come back to land on the same runway. Check my video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eX3ChH9nebmtgck which talks about Circuits, which is another name for Patterns. "Touch and Go" means that you want to land the plane, then take off again almost immediately. So you're "touching" the runway then "going" flying again. "Full Stop" means that you want to land and then head back to parking.

[@kinglimpang8067]

+Doofer911 Thanks! But u are just departing when saying 'touch and go' at 7:21. So it is a must for you to decide you will do a touch and go before u start taking off? Or even before taxiing?

[@Doofer911]

+King Lim Pang You can decide to touch and go when you're on the ground or when you're in the air, but generally it's good practise to have a plan in place before you begin to fly.

[@jamesgedny]

In the trailer for FSX, it shows that the player speaking to another player in ATC, how do you do this in-game? Is there like a multiplayer mode where you can chose to either be in ATC or in a plane? (I don't have FSX yet)

[@Doofer911]

Yeah you can talk by voice on multiplayer in the game.

[@jamesgedny]

Doofer911 cheers, thank you. I'm very tempted to buy the game, I have a high interest in flying and am interested in joining the RAF after my collage course. Nice videos btw, you have the best channel I could find on KZbin for this stuff!

[@Doofer911]

Yeah you can definitely use it as a "tool" to learn about flying and learn about certain things. It might be worth holding on for a month or two because X Plane 11 is due for release in the next couple of months and Dovetail Games should be bringing a new flight simulator to the market as well. I'd recommend waiting to see reviews of those two games first and then buy something around Christmas time. Or ask for one as a Christmas present!

[@jamesgedny]

Doofer911 Thanks for the advise. I saw your video about the game being 70% off on steam so brought it then. £5 is hardly nothing. I'll still keep in mind about the other simulators though. Time to watch your tutorial videos.

[@aguynotcalledbob1]

Good luck with everything ! :)

[@randomroughneck1030]

do you need to say your name in specific words like you said echo romeo november or could you also use other words like email rails nation? (im very new at this i play this game fully manual)

[@Doofer911]

Yes you do, the standard in the aviation industry is the NATO phonetic alphabet. You can see which words represent each letter here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_phonetic_alphabet

[@randomroughneck1030]

Doofer911 thanks

[@jesusgraterol4628]

I can't pilot the aircraft while the ATC Panel is opened, is it normal? Can I not use both the ATC and aircraft controls simultaneously?

[@Doofer911]

You should be able to as far as I know. If it's a technical issue, you may need to contact tech support.

[@imeverywhere9633]

Maybe click on the the aircraft (or outside the ATC box) because it might think your trying to control within it

[@jesusgraterol4628]

Yes Indeed, I'll have to contact tech support. Thanks very much for your help.

[@jesusgraterol4628]

Well, it never crossed my mind. Thank you very much for your help

[@redglazedeyez6652]

The atc in fsx doesnt issue holding patterns or anything. How can i get it to do that

[@Doofer911]

You can't, it's a simplified ATC to make the simulation more accessible(easier) for people

[@redglazedeyez6652]

@@Doofer911 hey nice for replying been watching your vids. Really helped. Do you know any standalone atc programs that issue holding patterns?

[@crossbowhunter9118]

Will this help in xplane 11 as well I can't play fsx

[@Doofer911]

This ATC video won't because XP11 uses a different system but most of my other videos will help, such as ILS Landings, VOR Navigation etc.

[@zuluniner6164]

1:14 isn't local control same as Tower Control?

[@tjcasper777]

Local control is often known as Tower. In the U.S. publications, the frequency to talk to them is listed as Tower or CT (Control Tower) and they are referenced on the radio as "Los Angeles Tower..."

[@SharkToothAU]

Expanding on what Tommy said, Ground is solely for taxiing aircraft from parking, and getting them safely to the holding points, Tower, or Local in this case, give clearance on and off runways, as well as circuit and short range traffic

[@iancullen8860]

If you are in the tower, how do you talk to the planes

[@treborhg_9381]

You can only do that in multiplayer. You can be in the tower in single player.

[@OliPlaysGames]

How do i open airtraffic control up?

[@Doofer911]

Press the apostrophe key ( ' )

[@OliPlaysGames]

thx

[@calvin4526]

Yes

[@LukaT]

I don’t see radio pannels in C172 infsx. Why???

[@Doofer911]

I don't know, contact tech support for any tech issues.

[@marineallupnyea]

Yeah but what key do you use?? Everytime I join I can't talk to anyone

[@Doofer911]

Check the FSX Settings page for key bindings. I can't remember off the top of my head.

[@vendetta1306]

Thank you

[@Doofer911]

You're welcome!

[@JoseSanchez-oo8ss]

doofer911 please show me how to talk to tower or Air Traffic Control.

[@Anonymous-pt7el]

Plz include English subtitles in all your videos...not in only 'some videoes'....

[@samuelhulme8347]

How can you do ATC in multiplayer with no voice

[@samuelhulme8347]

Luna McLean me with no mic, lol

[@harritbhatt5999]

How to get into the tower

[@harritbhatt5999]

I'm multiplaye

[@DragonSlayer43781]

hello im new to the sim, do many people talk online or not many, thanks.

[@Doofer911]

Not using the in-game multiplayer, but there's some online ATC services called IVAO and VATSIM where other flight simmers communicate as Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers and mimic real-world procedures.

[@DragonSlayer43781]

@@Doofer911 I've downloaded TeamSpeak recently after I got the Sim Thanks for your help anyways.

[@Alexzaaay_]

Hey im a 19 year old college student and im planning on applying this job when i move to Houston. And my question is will this be hard to do when i first start on it?

[@Doofer911]

Do you mean that you're applying to become an Air Traffic Controller?

[@Alexzaaay_]

Doofer911 Exactly

[@Doofer911]

Yep, I'm going through an ATC application process myself right now. From the tests I've done up to this point, you need to be very fast at interpreting different types of data, very quick at problem solving and planning. You can expect to do many different types of Aptitude tests so the best thing is to research the job, research the ANSP you'll be applying to and their application process and keep yourself busy with general brain teasers and puzzle games in your spare time. Many people believe that the cognitive function that you need to become an Air Traffic Controller is something you just have or just don't. You can expect to be put under pressure during the application process so learning to keep calm is important as well. Lastly, if this is a career path you want to travel, really sit down and think about why you want to do this. Because it's very difficult, in the UK 0.5% - 1% of all applicants get a job offer to start as a Trainee ATCO.... after that there will be many more months of intense studying and more exams so the overall pass rate is even smaller. If you're motivated and you have those reasons for doing that in front of you every day, that will give you the power to push through when things get tough or when you begin to doubt yourself.... because you will during the testing. It's an understandably, very challenging process.

[@Alexzaaay_]

Doofer911 have u taking a flight course and how long did it took

[@Doofer911]

Nope, not done a pilot course.

[@benjibean8431]

What about LIVE Atc?

[@Doofer911]

I've done a couple of videos more recently in an ATC simulator which mimics real life ATC.

[@MUFC_Dylan.]

When I turn on the heading I can still turn the plane with the yoke.?? 🤷‍♂️

[@Doofer911]

Do you mean the Autopilot's Heading Hold?

Doofer911 yes he do

[@greenlightzone]

Euroscope and Vatsim are the best !!!!

[@anitadomingo2258]

Which game is this ? On mobile or pc??

[@Doofer911]

This is on a desktop PC

[@prankish_685]

It is fsx just in case you didnt know

[@Lovi07]

wth is up with the constant crackling sound

[@Doofer911]

+Lovi's corner of awesome That's my headset microphone I'm afraid, as I talk it wobbles and the sound gets picked up by the mic.

[@AboutOliver]

Who else is here learning shit for MSFS2020?

[@PuineaGip]

a quick explanation? its 26 minutes fcking long what are you talkin about XD

[@Doofer911]

Took several hours of study and research to make this video so viewers didn't have to..... you're welcome.

[@PuineaGip]

sure m8

[@SharkToothAU]

Takes years and years and years of training to be an air traffic controller, 26 minutes is nothing in comparison

[@undergroundgamer7383]

Kog' Maw Iu

[@undergroundgamer7383]

Kog' Maw Is