VATSIM Tutorials | Episode 2: Clearance, Taxi and Take-Off

[@fbwsimpilot]

Great tutorial series, I've just started out on my journey on Vatsim. Completed 3 flights so far with mixed success. The anxiety is easing and your tutorials are really helping alot thank you 👍

[@BritishAvgeek]

That's great to hear! Keep at it, we were all anxious once and over time you'll gain confidence and be a pro!

[@hiortintexasracing]

I have spent a lot ov time in the observer mode. Just listening on others and how they communicate is very helpful.

[@jeanyvesbenoist2085]

Great tutorial indeed, it helps a lot to get more confidence… especially when English is not your mother tongue.

[@turbostig72]

Great tutorial Luke. Easy to follow for anyone looking at jumping onto the vatsim network. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@BritishAvgeek]

Thanks Ian! 👌

[@jerryweirdspeed]

that VSR tool looks really handy. thanks. i'll give it a try. even though i like old school. great style. great tutorial. nice!

[@BritishAvgeek]

Something that certainly helps take some of the workload away 🙂

[@miawoodward8028]

Thanks so much for this series I have now completed my first flight thanks to you.

[@BritishAvgeek]

amazing!

[@jacobmadsen627]

i am currently doing my first flight, thank you so much for all the help

[@megabitegaming9655]

Thank you so much I am a fly uk virtual pilot and have just started vatsim it's hard but awesome

[@BritishAvgeek]

Great to hear, keep it up - great to hear you're getting on VATSIM 🙂

[@rabh6746]

Another great tutorial Luke, very well explained👍

[@BritishAvgeek]

Thanks Rab! 🙂

[@TravisCharles-ok3lt]

Have a safe travels

[@peterellis49]

Another excellent and very valuable video to those contemplating the leap into flying on line. I couldn’t help noticing that during the initial request for clearance, you state information sierra but didn’t confirm the QNH received from the ATIS in the exchange, neither did the controller, you do however mention it’s mandatory to read the correct QNH back. Please don’t get me wrong, you know far more about this whole process than me, just thought I’d mention it for the benefit of your followers, unless of course I missed it somewhere. Thanks for the video buddy, you’re a true professional!

[@BritishAvgeek]

Hi thanks! Great point too - one which I perhaps didn't explain as well as I could have. The ATIS information contains the QNH so if it's ATIS information S, and we say we have information Sierra then the controller knows we should therefore have the correct QNH (which is why it wasn't spoken as a separate item in the clearance)

[@peterellis49]

@@BritishAvgeek thank you for the reply, but the atis QNH must be read back to the controller when passing the information received, if not, then the controller will pass the QNH to the pilot who will then read it back. Keep up the excellent work 👍

[@BritishAvgeek]

@@peterellis49 depends where you are - at work I listen to it all day and a lot will just say "callsign - stand - atis - request clearance to ...." And the controller either gives a QNH back or doesn't but if they do, it must be read back as it's mandatory as we discussed

[@peterellis49]

@@BritishAvgeek nevertheless it’s a superb video and you must be congratulated on the time you give up for the benefit of others, so thank you for all your excellent tutorials. Its a shame you wasn’t able to raise the cash to embark on an ATPL course, I’m sure you’d excel, I tried the hours building route after I got my PPL, but couldn’t keep up with the expense. Best wishes buddy 👌

[@brnz01]

I’m so scared to talk in case I get it wrong 😂

[@BritishAvgeek]

We all get nervous to begin with and the more you fly and learn the more confident you will be 👌

[@Xzw557blown_up]

first comment heyy!!! But seriously, thank you @British Avgeek for making these (updated [I guess???]) tutorials for vatsim. It might just be what I need to start!

[@BritishAvgeek]

Great to hear! 😁

[@yvrsim82]

I fly general Aviation single engines in North America. This was really cool to watch! I loved the low light and poor weather especially. Made the airport lighting look great. Curious- when calling for taxi is there a reason to say fully ready VS just ready?

[@BritishAvgeek]

Hi! Great question - If you're on a Delivery frequency then you'll "report ready" so you'll say to that controller "(callsign) fully ready" and they'll pass you to ground to request pushback

[@MrBillUp]

Great refresher course Luke, or beginner tutorial, wherever you are in your Vatsim journey. Question: Once you have been handed your Squawk Code and put it in the box, what do you do with this code? When would you take the transponder out of standby, and do you use TA or TA/RA? To be honest this subject could have its own separate video lol.

[@BritishAvgeek]

It's a great idea! Clearance - you get your squawk code, put it in straight away after reading it back to the controller When to turn it on? Actually it depends on the airport. It's in the charts usually (or in the ATIS on Vatsim when it says "squawk mode C on the ground" or similar)... If it says to squawk mode C on the ground turn it on... If it doesn't, leave it on Standby until you're at the hold point then put it on TA/RA for takeoff in a basic sense! 🙂

[@MrBillUp]

@@BritishAvgeek Thanks buddy. That should help people out, understanding what to do and when to do it? 👍😊 You know, I have never actually looked at the charts, or vpilot to see when to activate Mode C. I'll start looking out for that.

[@yams900]

Scary 😟 but will have a go !

[@BarterRocket46]

How do you have the stand number in front of the aircraft?

[@BritishAvgeek]

It's GSX Pro

[@andrewjg_]

great tutorial explained it thoroughly

[@BritishAvgeek]

Great to hear, thanks! Hope you're enjoying VATSIM!

[@newpilotsa320-jx7di]

Man can someone help? Ive tired 3 trimes to get ifr clearence but when they answer i just sont understand most of the words , should i maybe remove the radio effect?

[@monsieurwolf1732]

Great Tutorial. Just wondering where to get a 737-8 as i’m looking to fly something other than the Airbus

[@BritishAvgeek]

pmdg.com/msfs/ is the only place you need to go 🙂

[@Gerbbo1]

Thank you for an excellent tutorial, it’s been a really great help. Can I ask who’s Edinburgh Airport scenery are you using, thank you

[@xenonrxsexenon8761]

Hi man, just watched your video and very detailed. Although, I am a perfectionist and would like to know the best way of knowing/remembering what to say and when to say it? I am terrified to even say a word to these Air Traffic Controllers and I really want to do my first flight in the Fenix A320. Any advice?

[@SyFlys]

very helpful thank you

[@CandianAvgeek]

What airport are you departing from

[@BritishAvgeek]

EGPH contrail.shop/egph-v2

[@helenrobinson7771]

how do i read back ifr clearance i have tried it several times and i dont entirely understand. help!

[@BritishAvgeek]

You'll be given it in a set format so you can predict what to say in response before you ask for the clearance. You'll need to read back: - your departure route (the SID) - initial climb altitude - squawk - QNH You might get bits like "after departure fly heading.... " so if you get that then you read that back too and follow that instruction after departure

[@helenrobinson7771]

​@@BritishAvgeek thank you so much for the help i wasn't understanding most of the transmissions and i couldn't quite identify what i was misunderstanding and when i read your reply it all made so much sense :)

[@BritishAvgeek]

@@helenrobinson7771 good to hear, keep it up!

[@helenrobinson7771]

@@BritishAvgeek i did a flight from EGLL to EDDM and it all went smoothly until the tower at EDDM said "you cant follow basic instructions therefore i will no longer give you any clearances that is not how it works"

[@PCwinchester225NW]

Just to clarify you should load the aircraft before request clearance?

[@BritishAvgeek]

@@PCwinchester225NW whenever you're ready. You can get clearance 30mins in advance if you want to, you don't need to get clearance then request pushback immediately (irl they don't do that)... Easier to let boarding commence, get your FMC sorted and when you get to the departures SID bit request clearance then confirm your departure

[@hiortintexasracing]

2:34 I purchased this lovely airport, but how do I activate the VDGS information on the panel infront of the aircraft?

[@BritishAvgeek]

That'll be VDGS from GSX I believe

[@Jreselzzw]

@@BritishAvgeek is there any good tutorials on this

[@BritishAvgeek]

@@Jreselzzw you just need to link your simbrief account into GSX settings

[@Jreselzzw]

@@BritishAvgeek does this mean it will pop up automatically. Thanks for the quick reply

[@BritishAvgeek]

@@Jreselzzw yes with a simbrief plan active and your simbrief username linked into GSX settings it should be automatic

[@urbannottingham]

If a controller says face east is that east of the aircraft or the actual east also is it nose east or tail east?

[@BritishAvgeek]

@@urbannottingham face east means push back to make your nose face east

[@hiortintexasracing]

Great video.

[@TalkingBoen]

Ia there a free Option for Charts

[@salah852]

I have question regarding other aircrafts liveries How do you get real liveries for other aircrafts Like thats british airway taxing in front of you

[@stefan8748]

Do you need to pay for these Charts on Navigraph or are they free? Also really nice Series you made there….really gives a good sense of how to start in VATSIM :)

[@BritishAvgeek]

Great to hear you found it a useful series! 😁 And yes you need to pay for navigraph charts (about £90 per year approx for Navigraph Ultimate) but you can also get charts on sites like chartfox.org

[@nvid1]

you can use airmate

[@ventman2au]

I am ok with taxi and takeoff. I stuff up on the way with decent or speed changes etc. Pulled out a few times now. And crashed a couple of times. Lots of pressure

[@BritishAvgeek]

Hopefully the next few episodes have helped!

[@lucashommet9757]

Hey, how did you get that cool docking system with the orbx addon? Thanks a lot Lucas

[@BritishAvgeek]

Hi! That'll be GSX Pro for MSFS

[@Sh3llDrak3]

What Heathrow do you use?

[@gmdmango2862]

hi, i have a quick question. how do i get descent clearance when im about to reach top of descent. i was doing a flight today from Gatwick to Munich and there was no atc within range of me, so i was on unicom, so i couldnt request a decsent. could you please tell me what to do in this case

[@BritishAvgeek]

Good question, on unicom just initiate your descent whenever you reach top of descent... If during descent some ATC comes online, when you report in to them just tell them what level you are descending through and what STAR and they'll pick up the rest 👍

[@gmdmango2862]

Thanks for the help!

[@alanstringer9819]

Hi. Are you using safeguard docking system fro gsx pro. If so can you tell me which one you are using and how to get it working like on your video. Mine is blank with no electric on. It's so frustrating. I've bought the product and can't get it to work. Thanks Alan

[@BritishAvgeek]

You need to link your simbrief profile to GSX via it's COUATL settings and if you're taxiing in you need to select the stand you are parking at in order to receive marshalling/arrival safedock

[@LukeDavo1]

Can I just ask where you got the 156 heading from for takeoff? Are you given that by the atc?

[@BritishAvgeek]

from the Charts - I use Navigraph but you can find other free ones in chartfox.org (though not as seemless)

[@JacobBasheer]

I'm having trouble hearing the controller talk. For example when he stated the sid, I thought he said GOHAN1C and not GOSAM1C. Is there anyway I can aid this and if I miss hear the sid/star how would I ask them to say it again?

[@gamersma]

you can ask "say again departure please "

[@alexplayz1384]

where did you get that airport?

[@BritishAvgeek]

contrail.shop/egph-v2

[@raybold23]

great video :). But about the VDGS, can you activate it for free or GSX is mandatory for EGPH. because i purchased this airport and its quite a bummer to see the VDGS not working :|

[@BritishAvgeek]

you'll need the GSX to make the VDGS work currently

[@newpilotsa320-jx7di]

Man i just had to disconnect because I requested ifr clearance and ground talked so fast that i couldnt understand too much , i asked him to repeat and he did but he said so many things i could only remember squawk code and about 2 more things, not sure how can yall remember so many things and read back exact , i am sad

[@BritishAvgeek]

take your time learning and note down what they tell you. ensure you put new pilot in the remarks for your flight plan but also do NOT fly anywhere busy - pick a simple small airport otherwise you set yourself up to fail. As tempting as it is to join in with a big exciting event, don't - the controllers do not have time to help new people during these

[@jambothejoyful2966]

I, am i pilot in training... with social anxiety. i need to get over it lol

[@BritishAvgeek]

You'll be fine!

[@jambothejoyful2966]

@@BritishAvgeek thanks for the reassurance, I’m just noticing my spelling errors in my last comment -_-

[@adamgerhardsson3565]

Was going to do my first vatsim flight but banged out one second before i was going to ask for ifr clearence. What should i do haha?

[@BritishAvgeek]

Reconnect and go for it! Grab a pen and paper, write down key bits you need to remember then when you get your clearance back write anything you want down (definitely the squawk!)

[@adamgerhardsson3565]

Gonna do that! thank you so much for answering!

[@mps_gaming1898]

You can also connect as observer at airport, as observer another pilot dont see you but you see them and hear their communication so you can listen and learn. also you can fly as observer and you dont need do communication, so you can follow another pilot and listen how they communicate to ATC, best is be prepared listen to ATC do notes look at charts and think how another taxi and maybe you come taxi same way so you know that. I am nervous every time you more you fly and you get more comfortable about it. avoid at beginning vatsim event its crazy busy, avoid big airports with lot of aircraft start less busy airports. I am old and not so good fast on english I can do it so can you doit go for it :-)

[@domczy_3004]

could someone pls explain me what is ATIS Information Letter and where can i find it?

[@BritishAvgeek]

It's the ATIS for the airport on Vatsim if they have ATC online. There will be an ATIS frequency on the vpilot client - double click it and it will provide you with the information. No ATC? No ATIS

[@dillon5155]

Subscribed. Do you recommend starting out with a smaller aircraft in Vatsim such as the Cessna 208B? Does Vatsim even support ATC for such a small aircraft? How do smaller airports work where planes like the 208B fly out of such as Eastsound, Washington where the airport is not towered?

[@BritishAvgeek]

Thanks! Good question, it depends what flying you want to do. Typically on VATSIM you'll see airliners flying IFR - certainly in Europe and the UK. In the US you might hear a few smaller aircraft buzzing about. If you're at smaller airfields in the US just announce what you're doing on unicom if you feel it necessary depending on where you're flying and what you're doing.

[@A_youtube_channel_]

How do you put your flight plan into the fmc?

[@BritishAvgeek]

Check out episode 1

[@Maikel-xf7fy]

in kinda scared to start my first vatsim flight dang😂🥲

[@BritishAvgeek]

You'll be absolutely fine!

[@NoaBoe]

How the hell can you make out what they're saying?

[@BritishAvgeek]

Practice practice practice

[@Petercrossed]

Good practise is to connect to the airport as an observer. Then listen to pilots and ATC interact. then know your airport, taxi ways ect...Then when you are ready to leave a particular gate, you will have a good idea where they will tell you to go. Sojetimes I don't even fly, just listen to whats going on. Even that is fun.

[@karlos417]

I’m still scared of vatsim just flying a lot of egss to eidw know the route well on msfs and real life as passenger just feel I will mess my communication skills up

[@BritishAvgeek]

Start small, and give it a go 🙂

[@karlos417]

@@BritishAvgeek done a few today enjoyed it very friendly didn’t get all comms right and had a issue with fenix a320 auto pilot disconnecting whilst being vectored in don’t know what caused that but all in all very friendly but it wasn’t that busy

[@BritishAvgeek]

@@karlos417 main thing is you not only gave it a go but found it a good experience! Over time you'll get to grips with more of the phraseology etc and that's fine 🙂 keep at it!

[@Maikel-xf7fy]

got an problem, i cant pushback-_-

[@Maikel-xf7fy]

pb off, engines idle the ai pushback things just wont move

[@sampalmer9628]

It's the speed they talk, my hearing isn't brilliant so bothered that I would miss something important

[@BritishAvgeek]

Understandable, you could add in your remarks "speak slowly please - hard of hearing" or something like that (most controllers should read the remarks)

[@pruznak10]

I´m scared that I´ll mess up something and they are gonna be angry

[@BritishAvgeek]

If you've prepared and are trying they can't get angry

[@MikeSpeekman]

The VATSIM Radio Toolbar on downloading gives a virus warning.

[@BritishAvgeek]

It didn't for me - perhaps it's a false positive depending on the antivirus you're using?

[@infinitewisdom9619]

@@BritishAvgeek For me aswell, its a "severe trojan" warning.

[@BritishAvgeek]

@@infinitewisdom9619 yep it's a false positive from my end but best to seek support from the VSR developer about the installer causing it

[@infinitewisdom9619]

@@BritishAvgeek I will do that. I think there is the not so small probability that the developer of this program has accidentally implemented a chunk of code that hides a trojan in it. Therefore I don't want to use this if I am not sure that it is harmless. Thank you for helping.