Good morning, IFC! I hope everyone is having a great day today.
This Feature request really only applies to active IFATC members but everyone’s vote is welcome as well!
With this Feature Request I’d like to dive a little deeper into the dynamic of Training Sessions both on the IFATC Discord and in the app.
Usually, most IFATC members like to control the amazing skies of infinite flight whenever they have free time, meaning if school/work is in session, they won’t be able to be active at that moment. Similarly, some IFATC members might have a certain time they’ll have to sign-off by. Say, you have a business meeting at 4 in the local library, it’s 3:15 now, and you want to be active on IFATC until 3:45. Regarding controlling airports, that is feasible, due to the 30 minute minimum on controlling on the expert server, along with the very helpful timer on the top-right corner.
But, regarding training sessions, it is very hard to time it right. There are a few reasons for this.
The first reason is that some training sessions go longer than others. There is no real way to know in advanced exactly how long and at exactly what time the Training Session will commence.
The next reason is that there is no real structure for the training sessions in regard to knowing exaclty what you will need to do and when you will need to do it. For example, maybe you’ll be told to spontaneously set up for a go around. While there isn’t anything wrong with it, aside from maybe the length of the training time being increased, I just feel like it should be planned beforehand.
I’ve created a sample Training Session “schedule” as a visual marker to what I’m requesting:
[Example For a Tower Session]
Good afternoon everyone! Thank you for signing up to help out and join my training session today! Below you can find your assignments for the session, along with helpful information.
AIRPORT - KBOI
RUNWAYS IN USE - 28L,28R (Takeoff and landings)
AIRCRAFT ACCEPTED - ANYTHING SMALLER THEN B737 or A321, NO GA AIRCRAFT PLEASE
STARTING TIME - 1500Z, ENDING TIME, 1525Z-1530Z (PLEASE BE AT YOUR GATES/IN THE AIR SLIGHTLY BEFOREHAND)
Assignments and instructions:
@Dan123 - Spawn at Parking space 1, Create Pushback Conflict with @Eli2334, taxi to the closest active runway, when taxiing, create give-way conflict with @John1234, then depart. Fly 4 patterns, and please be on standby for instructions regarding a go-around on @Eli2334 during your last pattern. Immediately proceeding the Go-Around, you may depart the airspace if you wish.
@Eli2334 - Spawn at Parking Space 2, Create Pushback Conflict with @Dan123, Taxi to the active runway, Depart and do 4 patterns, please be on standby for Runway Change Request on your second pattern. Additionally, please be on standby to Full-Stop, creating a situation requiring a go around for @Dan123.
@John1234 - Spawn at Parking Space 35, Taxi to the Closest Active Runway, when Taxiing, help to create the give way conflict with @Dan123. Then Depart, fly 4 patterns.
@Tod2897, Spawn at ID59, Depart from runway 16, Call Inbound for TAG, fly 4 patterns, then Taxi to Parking.
@Hector2137, Spawn at 77U, Depart from Runway 9, Then request transition. When Overhead at KBOI, call inbound for TAG, then fly 4 patterns. Full stop, then taxi to parking.
Note: This is the Trainees first session, along with a controller evaluation. Please fly professionally and follow all controller commands, even if they may be incorrect. After the session ends, please give your honest feedback on the session, sometimes referred to as constructive criticism. I really appreciate you all for signing up, your attendance does not go unnoticed!
And this would all be made possible by guidelines that Tyler (or another ATC Official) would make. These guidelines would be available for Trainers, Testers, and IFATC pilots who’ll be joining the session in the #readonly category of the Discord Server.
This is more of a foundation for the idea, and anyone’s feedback is definitely welcome! What does the IFC along with IFATC think?