VATSIM

[rootbear75]

If you are interested: Read... otherwise, don't be a dick and don't troll...

 

From some people in my aeronautics class, they have led me to this suite of software called VATSIM (well not suite, more like independent programs that talk to each other.. W/E)

Anyways, i took a look around, and it really seems to be legit. They give you options of different pieces of software and you can use (VRC, for example, for your radar and ATC information).

 

TO be an ATC you have to apply to a region, and actually go thru some training... otherwise the server would be full of 18 year olds with nothing better to do.

 

You start out as a Pilot / Observer (as in you can start flying immediately using a compatible flight sim)

 

Anyways, if you guys are curious, check out http://www.vatsim.net/

I will be joining the VATUSA region / division tomorrow once my registration data propagates.

 

If ur on there, ill let you know which virtual airport ill be "working" out of incase you guys decide to join up.

 

Go to the vatsim site for more information. I'll post here once i get it up and running.

[»Purge]

Looks cool, I may check it out for a bit. I'm getting tired of crashing my Google Earth simulated plane into Nepal...

[Samapico]

So... you fly planes around, and...? And the air traffic controllers are also real people?

 

Makes me wonder why MS Flight Sim hasn't gone MMO yet (or has it?), cause that does sound cool

 

How does the simulator looks, graphically? (too lazy to check up screenshots)

[»Xog]

I believe this is relevent to this thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCAUlceMs9I

 

 

My little brother in law is going for his pilot's license or whatever you call it. He's been doing a lot of training and I think he actually has this program lol

[tcsoccerman]

That is sweet.

[rootbear75]

Looks cool, I may check it out for a bit. I'm getting tired of crashing my Google Earth simulated plane into Nepal...

Lol. Yea let me know if you do. I took the ATC controller basic exam. Once I get assigned a virtual facility ill let u know where you can fly into. Just make sure you post your callsign before.

 

So... you fly planes around, and...? And the air traffic controllers are also real people?

 

Makes me wonder why MS Flight Sim hasn't gone MMO yet (or has it?), cause that does sound cool

 

How does the simulator looks, graphically? (too lazy to check up screenshots)

I wouldn't know. There are multiple simulator programs that can connect to it. I wouldn't be surprised if somone has a "patch" that could allow msfs to connect.

 

Otherwise its a sim.... like 2nd life but more serious

[»Xog]

does VATSIM mean Virtual Air Traffic Simulator?

[rootbear75]

pretty much yea

[»Xog]

epic guess.

[Sketter]

Its been years(before zone.com closed its doors to game rooms for supported online retail games) but this sounds exactly what we used to use with MSFS series.

 

I can't remember exactly but it worked as so.

 

You downloaded this program, you then go to zone.com under the MSFS game rooms you find a room with some added info in the subject that allowed u to connect to the game using this program you downloaded.

 

You then become an ATC and you can tab into different airports. The GFX was all radar, since as an ACT that's all you have to work with. You were able to chat within the game by txt OR voice if some1 has setup a rogerwillico(sp?)(that's what we used in the old days)

 

Your radar gave all the simple air speed, altitude direction, etc of a plane as well as airport status like weather runways taxis, etc.

 

It really was a lot of fun. But then as I said, MS decided to discontinue online retail games support, that large community died....then I sadly came back to this game.

 

I even went as far as to get a logitec 3D pro joystick where it gave kickback effects and rumbled and so on.

 

Ah the good old days.

 

Edit: I was really bad at being an ACT, I couldn't type as fast as the pros.

 

Edit 2: Squawk Box and ProController were the programs you used. SquawkBox was the pligin you installed into FS, and ProController was the ATC screen panel. Its all coming back to me now.

Edited March 9, 2010 by Sketter

[rootbear75]

Screenies of Radar Program part of it. I'm looking for an actual VISUAL version right now.

 

[LiDDiS]

Are there virtual WTC towers I can fly into?

[rootbear75]

WTC?

EDIT: they will ban you off the network for that.

 

 

also: I passed my clearance / delivery test, so you may see me soon manning LAX_DEL or the LAX_GND position if you fly on the network. My operating initials are BS for anyone who cares :/

Edited March 15, 2010 by rootbear75

[whalz]

^ban you off the network and add you to the possible terror suspect list (cus im sure they have one)

[Samapico]

I'd organize games of chicken with planes.

[rootbear75]

 

7. Simulations of emergency situations are not forbidden. However, air traffic controllers have the right to deny the simulation of an emergency and pilots must stop the emergency if requested to do so. If the pilot is unable to stop the emergency, the pilot must log off the network. It is strictly forbidden to simulate hijacking-situations.

 

 

Pilots are permitted to declare in-flight emergencies. If, for any reason, air traffic control requests the pilot to terminate the emergency, then the pilot must do so IMMEDIATELY or log off of VATSIM. Pilots are not permitted to simulate, in any manner, an unlawful act while logged onto the VATSIM.net network including, but not limited to, declaring a hijack by statement utilizing either voice or text or by entering a transponder code of 7500.

 

 

reeealllly smart one there :/

Edited March 15, 2010 by rootbear75

[Samapico]

How is this realistic? 'Terminate emergency or GTFO' 'But... MY ENGINES ARE ON FIRE!'

 

Didn't know ATC had the power to "terminate" emergencies.

 

Also, it would be pretty boring if all the flights went well... I mean, put some action in there. Flight sims can simulate emergencies, so why not.

Hijacks would be pretty dumb to simulate though... but what if you lost control of your plane and it still hits a building?

 

 

and... transponder code of 7500? Does that mean "I'M IN TROUBLE I GOT A KNIFE ON MY THROAT" ? If so... don't you think hijackers would know about this and do something when the pilot calls 7500? Like cut his throat, or whatever a terrorist would do to a guy not obeying his orders

[rootbear75]

first off, its supposed to be "real" but its supposed to be fun too. its not a job. its a hobby.

 

Also transponder code 7500 (if it gets squawked it shows on everyone's radar screen. the airplanes color which is usually GREEN on radar screens, will turn RED in order to get attention) and you can usually do it silently too. Just turning a few knobs will do that.

 

 

EDIT: Emergencies like that dont happen UNLESS the pilot does it. Its not random. You can set up the flight sims to automatically make an engine fire, or fail a certain instrument, or a random instrument, some time during the flight. To be clear... ITS A SIMULATION, its not REAL...

 

 

EDIT 2: I also doubt that every controller on the system is trained to handle emergencies. You could have a student controller on there, and if he just started learning, you'd tell the pilots to terminate the emergencies so he gets the hang of it. Once he gets the hang of it, then emergencies usually are fine.

ALSO: you dont want every pilot heading toward the airport to simultaneously declare an emergency would you? That just doesnt happen in real life. Thats why the VATCs have the power to terminate the emergencies.

Edited March 15, 2010 by rootbear75

[LiDDiS]

What if I tried to re-create the heroic acts of Sully Sullenberger in the hudson river?

 

Man, I want to get good at this simulation now so I can troll aviation nerds by doing a barrel roll in a 747.

Edited March 16, 2010 by LiDDiS

[rootbear75]

Dude, ur gonna get banned the first day you try to pull that shit.

They are less tolerant in there than here.

[Samapico]

There should be an open server of that... I wouldn't even care about hackers, it's not like they're gonna bring your plane down... But I'd lol if some fat plane went by at Mach 5

And you'd have people trying to pull ridiculous landings, crashes, and stuff... Aviation control pulling pranks on pilots when there's no visibility...

[rootbear75]

The flight simulators have multiplayer.... so I don't see why you'd have to connect to vatsim to do that. Just host ur own server with someone

[Samapico]

Maybe I will if I get a soldering iron and repair my Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro joystick (yeah I have to give its full name cause it's awesum). I'll also need some crap to tighten the loose stick ( http://home.utah.edu/~dlg7/sidewinder/repair.html )

[rootbear75]

and actually, learned today that transponder code 7500 = hijacking... not necessarily knife to throat.

7600, for example, equals "radio failure"

[»Purge]

Sounds like I would have been bored then...

 

...Actually maybe I'll just see how far I can go without getting banned.