Before I enter the shark tank of ATC, I would like to start off slowly. As time progresses, I would like to wean off of Unicom, and add more frequencies (for lack of a better term) until I am comfortable with a full ATC flight. Is this possible? And if so, how? Are there any airports that have ground only so I can get comfortable with that first?
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This is one option you could try. Check out there Basic Pilot Training Program.
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I donât think that there are airports that only have ground. I only know of airports that have tower only such as TNCM. If you want ground only you can practice taxing around with a friend as ATC. I would be happy to help. If you need help with commands there are topics in the Tutorial section. Hope this helps. đ
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Iâm already in the mentorship program. I just passed class 3 today, so I am on the cusp of live ATC. Reading through the forums, there seems to be a ton of information to absorb at once. This explains my step by step interest.
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Pick through the tutorial videos and guides that you need. I know IFMP goes through a lot of that too. Could also do a Flight of 2 with an experienced person. Only the lead pilot has to communicate with ATC. All you need to do is follow instructions and your lead pilot.
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There are quite a few tutorials to check out on Youtube. There are ones that only focus on how to use unicom and the how to use atc at different stages of the flight. I suggest you go and check those out. Then if youâre still unsure about certain commands, there is an entire forum here to help you out!
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Well, I have to say there is really not much to learn when comparing to what pilots have to learn about ATC IRL so donât scare yourself so soon.
I would suggest you to learn how to control as ATC, which means understanding what the ATC want you to do. This can help you get more comfortable with ATC as you know what you are doing and can understand what ATC want you to do.
And please do check help pages if you were told to do so
I personally discourage people do âtrainingâ by flying in the training server as you will most likely learn the wrong thing.
You can spawn in and observe ATC operations on ground and tower frequency in the expert server, just observe how people respond to an instruction and you will know what to do next time facing a similar situation
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I have spawned in a few times just to listen in on ATC. Iâve even changed my callsign to OBSERVE or LISTEN, but I keep getting prompted to contact ground, even though itâs another frequency I want to listen in on. Not sure how else to tell ATC (other than ground) I just want to listen in. Ignoring puts me in a category of âthey donât listen to me.â
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If your on TS I would go ahead and just try different stuff. I mean it wonât hurt to try if you think this is what you do.
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Was this on TS? If youâre on expert you should be able to sit at your gate for hours without doing anything. Especially at a busy airport, ATC is a lot more concerned with all the planes on the ground moving around as well as inbounds, than trying to get a stationary aircraft to tune into ground.
One thing is though, you might get swiped off or given a frequency change by accident as we want to get rid of as many planes as possible when they are no longer up to us to control.
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If youâre ever on training Iâll never let you tune into tower when youâre at the gate or taxing (duh).
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Yesterday I was at KLAX on expert I let a guy sit at the gate tuned to tower. He didnât say anything so I just let him be. I had like 20 aircraft to take care of i was not about to waste time with him. As long as he doesnât clog up frequency or start pushing back, im fine with it.
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Tell me when your open again, I find that to be very confusing, even when itâs not busy. Also, I canât ghost people for not listening so thereâs that.
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Yep if someone tunes into tower and you donât want him to youâll just have to live with it :)
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Was either TS and/or casual. I donât have the XP for expert yet.
I could just jump in full force - I could do no worse than those who are clueless.
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@DaYooper, are you trying to ask how to do ATC controlling, or being the aircraft with ATC instructions?
Kind choice⌠As a controller it is ultimately your call!! Have a great week.
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i donât believe in spawning and listening in. FLY IT on TS1. At max, you will crash and burn, but no one cares if you crash while learning. Most importantly try to follow all instructions that ATC gives you - itâs quite basic, really - turn heading this, turn heading that, descend to X feet, fly hdg X until established on the localizer etcâŚ
Please read the tutorials below and watch the awesome video Mark Denton has made about ATC communication, and then jump in. Fly into an airport manned by ATC on TS1. You will love it!
I would also advise learning about patterns and sequencing while you are at it - thats the most complicated it gets, really. If you know well what âleft downwind, right downwind, left base, right baseâ etc means - you should be good to try it out.
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Being the aircraft with instructions. I could probably find an airport with tower only, and land at an airport with Unicom - do that a few times until Iâm used to it. Then add tower/departure, etc.
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