WestWind Airlines

Bill ( Mr Cleveland tower man).  I believe you phrased that very well! Thanks.

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Randy Donnelly
AHM KSLC
WWA2024

If GE CF6-80C2B8F engines were attached to a typical automobile, at takeoff power the car would accelerate from zero to 60 mph (96.5 kph) in less than .5 seconds.

wolfrunner:

Fair enough.  I just do not like to text message while flying.   

I understand (I think) why VATSIM has kept text messaging around. Originally, that was all there was. There was no voice capability at all. Then voice came along and we all loved it. I assumed that at some point VATSIM would make the transition to voice and cut out text but they have not and it has been years. That failure was one of the reasons I quit controlling on VATSIM. It just was not realistic with all the texting going on. Then MS introduced ATC to FS. Now I look at all those uncovered ATC spots on VATSIM and I think to myself. I need to have a piece of software to take up the slack when VATSIM doesn't have a controller on line. Anyway, I digress. VATSIM has gone from being one of the most realistic options out there to having some real competition from software packages. 

I agree with wolfrunner that if VATSIM is supposed to simulate the real world, then text doesn't cut it. It may be easy but RW pilots don't get to text the controller. When the radio doesn't work well, has a lot of static or the pilot has an accent, you just have to figure it out. It is one of the frustrating things about flying in the RW. The radios never seem to work right.

Regardless, I concur with Bill. There are no WW rules against using text on VATSIM.

Just thought I would add my .02 to the discussion. I haven't ....ed anybody off yet today and the day is almost over.

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WWA1702 Senior Command Captain +3
RWP SEL Instrument Rating (almost)
WW Test Pilot
Monster Driver

Bill, I noticed recently in your post (I took another glance at this) where you know pilots who choose to fly using text when the mic is available.  I assume that a pilot would want to do this if using voice would disturb another family member like a little one.  Is this what you mean?  I can not think why a pilot would want the Vatsim experience to be less realistic using text if the voice option was available.  Why would these pilots fly with a headset lying on the table? 

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Scott Williams
WWA 1404
Senior Command Captain KBOS
Commercial ASMEL Instrument
CFI #1876545

My mic is always available and the headset is on hovever, I would receive voice and respond in text when I had my infant laying on my lap drinking a bottle or sleeping on the chair next to me.  I agree Voice it the best way to do it but sometimes not the right fit for the situation.  I love using the voice feature and actually talking to another person but i would rather let my infant sleep without disturbing him by using text if necessary. 

Flying in Europe at 11:00pm is basically like having no ATC anyway there are hardly even any controllers online at that time but a few pilots tend to make their way into my 100 mile radar radius so we just use UNICOM to stay clear of each other and communicate.

 BTW I have never come across a controller who told me to please respond in voice and not to text. 

 Flying P002 in SOuth america I actually learened some spanish aeronautical terms and started to pick it up.  But they do speak english all you have to do is ask.  And sometimes they would rather text if they cannot understand you.

My 2 cents

 

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Phil Cohen WWA1573
Sr. Command Captain
EVP - Charter Operations
VP - Hub Ops - Europe & Pacific

wolfrunner:

Bill, I noticed recently in your post (I took another glance at this) where you know pilots who choose to fly using text when the mic is available.  I assume that a pilot would want to do this if using voice would disturb another family member like a little one.  Is this what you mean?  I can not think why a pilot would want the Vatsim experience to be less realistic using text if the voice option was available.  Why would these pilots fly with a headset lying on the table? 

 

As Phil said above, when it would disturb a family member, or maybe even a college kid who's "studying (allegedly)" and does'nt want the teacher/librarian hearing them! LOL

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Yes that makes sense........I will see you soon on VATSIM.  I think I am going into DCA tonight (Monday)

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Scott Williams
WWA 1404
Senior Command Captain KBOS
Commercial ASMEL Instrument
CFI #1876545

My advice here would be to use TEXT for awhile until you get the hang of the ACT voice commands  Sometimes they speak very fast and sometimes they are unreadable, I listened for 6 months to them and used text  You don't have to enter your call sign as it is done automatically on Vatsim just type your responce and it is easy like the flight clearance. Tet what they text you and you have it there in print to refer to or write it down so you can remember it  alot going on at times.

VFR still should file a flight plan according to ATC even though you don't want flight following  Nice to have someone know where you are going and they will still need to give you clearance into their air space and make sure you are at the correct altitude for your direction  its always 500 ft more than IFR   ACT are there to help not give you a hard time.

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Take Off's are Optional Landing are Mandatory

I would just jump in and start using voice from the beginning. OJT. Your not going to learn any sooner. I'm sure all controllers will be very patient with you and more than willing to help you learn proper voice communications. After all we are all learning as we go!  Listen in for awhile then pick a not so conjested but well manned ATC area and go for it. Of course JMO. That is unless the wee ones would be disturbed..Then I reckon text would be in order.

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Randy Donnelly
AHM KSLC
WWA2024

If GE CF6-80C2B8F engines were attached to a typical automobile, at takeoff power the car would accelerate from zero to 60 mph (96.5 kph) in less than .5 seconds.

I started by just listening at a few busy airports.  Then I moved to my home airport and logged in when there wasn't much traffic. A bored controller asked me if I wanted to fly a pattern or take a hop to a neighboring field. I was lucky but my approach was to listen first where it's busy to get a feel for the phraseology, and then actually go fly somewhere where it is less busy. There are plenty of (supervised) student controllers out there often running a tower or local approach, eager to helpfully give their first clearance or vector. As far as voice, I agree once you have an ear for the communication, just use it,  your comfort level will continue to improve with experience.

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Bentley S.
CAT II
KSFO
WWA2183

Mike Gibbs:

wolfrunner:

Fair enough.  I just do not like to text message while flying.   

I agree with wolfrunner that if VATSIM is supposed to simulate the real world, then text doesn't cut it. It may be easy but RW pilots don't get to text the controller. When the radio doesn't work well, has a lot of static or the pilot has an accent, you just have to figure it out. It is one of the frustrating things about flying in the RW. The radios never seem to work right.

Not true. Over the atlantic they're using text messages to communicate between pilots and controllers to make position reports more practical, this technology is used on the 777, and im sure on the A380 and A340.

 see it here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyforfun/16331361/in/set-395721/ 

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maxmk7:

Mike Gibbs:

wolfrunner:

Fair enough.  I just do not like to text message while flying.   

I agree with wolfrunner that if VATSIM is supposed to simulate the real world, then text doesn't cut it. It may be easy but RW pilots don't get to text the controller. When the radio doesn't work well, has a lot of static or the pilot has an accent, you just have to figure it out. It is one of the frustrating things about flying in the RW. The radios never seem to work right.

Not true. Over the atlantic they're using text messages to communicate between pilots and controllers to make position reports more practical, this technology is used on the 777, and im sure on the A380 and A340.

 see it here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyforfun/16331361/in/set-395721/ 

I think using text to simulate ATC over the Atlantic would be fine. Use it like it is used in real life.

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WWA1702 Senior Command Captain +3
RWP SEL Instrument Rating (almost)
WW Test Pilot
Monster Driver