Vatsim ATC - don't be afraid to react like this :)

Learn and enjoy online Flight Simulation. I am a Vatsim Air Traffic Controller (C1) and Senior Mentor in the North of Germany.

Two of the main pain points for vPilots on Vatsim are:
"What do I have to say?" and "What does the controller expect from me?"

That's why I created this channel: to provide you with some help while showing you my perspective as a Vatsim Controller and Senior Mentor. Feel free to ask any Vatsim related questions in the comments.

[TheFlyingATC]

It's far better to react like this, instead of just doing the readback and do something completly different because you don't know what to do. We will help you if we know!

[me_him_we]

The first time I flew on VATSIM, I had so mich trouble hearing the ATC and penning down as much info as I could.

Luckily, he was very nice and even offered to guide me to the runway using left and right turns.

Thank you WIII controller, 26th December 2023

[briand]

I had my first Vatsim flight two days ago. I picked a location with no controllers online to practice saying the Unicom stuff first. I about had a heart attack when the center controller messaged me to contact him. I called him on the radio, and when he gave me the instructions, my mind went blank, and I forgot how to fly the plane for a moment. I think learning what they mean by their instructions is the hardest part. Plus, my memory capacity went to zero; I repeated his instructions and then tried to write them down and couldn't remember a thing. I did get it together in the end though but the surprise about killed me.

[AlexanderBewley]

The most stressful part in flight school for me. Flying was no sweat but I learned at a decent sized airport and knowing I had to talk to ATC by myself for the first time was an experience that’s for sure.

[EBBRgeek]

i actually started today and i can tell you that there is no worse feeling in the world than having to ask that
And some atc's are also very toxic.

[thetalkativetank]

The worst feeling about it is not that you dont know what they said, its the overwhelming nervousness you get when you have to contact them and when they tell you to do something. In vatsim for new pilots, they will simplify terms that can help you grasp an understanding on what they mean, but you also gotta remember they’re only there to get you to point A to point B and will not hesitate to switch to another aircraft that knows what they’re doing. Best bet is to learn the ATC terms before even connecting so you have a basic understanding on them.

[SteveMcAren]

yeah, the first time I got on the network it was at St. Louis which didn't have much traffic and was nervous to talk to tower but got it done and made sure I was squawking right and didn't understand transition patterns (I still don't) so I just "wing it" and receive no complaints because I use the flight on the sim gives me and just follow along with it.

[fortel]

And remember, it's a simulation, you will not cause a grave incident if you mess something up, the goal of the simulation of to learn without having the pressures associated with the job on your shoulders 😉👍

[FlyIslandGuy]

Vatsim was stressful when I first started doing it..started getting used to it until I had to fly through Miami Centre and the comms were crazy.

Haven't used it in a while but when I hop back on, I know the struggle will be real again. The hardest part for me is still getting down all the information when requesting IFR clearance.

[CHICKENMAN]

I got vatsim recently and sometise its confusing lol. Especialy when reading back long instructions. Finshed my first vatsim flight today tho. Egkk to egcc

[Stu_Murph]

Completed my first flight on Vatsim tonight. This is exactly how I felt lol

[sydneylightrailfan]

An expert at anything was once a beginner.

[GamerBrothers]

the what do you mean part is my favorite lol

[erich]

It's funny how an online virtual flying network can evoke the same emotional response as calling real life air traffic control for the first time! I'm an instrument rated private pilot and I have a pretty decent handle on talking to atc, but my first flight on VATSIM a couple days ago stirred up some feelings.

[solisadrian]

Today was my first vatsim flight and I already have a mistake and it was filing a flightplan 😭

[hrusicz]

A few days ago I flew for the first time in vatsim, the ATC boys were patient I am pleased 👏👍Just the cadence of the words like M2 browning is sometimes impossible to understand if one hears it for the first time.😅 But as they say, practice is the best school, so I'll keep trying 😁

[Elavor]

Ahahah so real even more so when ATC speaks too fast 😂

[Tpr_]

Yesterday I got the controller at SFO approach annoyed after I went aroubd twice because my sim was lagging 😂

[MMS_SpeeDy-]

"excuse me can you repeat?" 😂😂😂

[Cactus_]

I got a question: can I play MSFS on a laptop?