Sometimes it feels like violations are given a bit too quickly, especially in situations where there might have been slight delay, misunderstanding, or heavy traffic. I completely understand that controllers have a lot going on and need to keep things moving safely.
At the same time, from a pilot’s side, it can be frustrating to receive a violation after hours of flying, especially if you’re not fully sure what exactly triggered it.
This isn’t about attacking IFATC they do a great job overall. I just think clearer feedback or slightly more tolerance in certain situations could help everyone improve instead of just feeling penalized.
Has anyone else experienced this? Would be good to hear perspectives from both pilots and controllers.
Yeah I’ve gotten a couple petty violations. Very trigger happy kids. Got a level 2 after asking for takeoff clearance again after a 757 cut in front of me for “misuse of atc coms’“. Of course the guy who cut in front of me didnt get anything. Im a real life pilot so I dont let it get to me, but its just wild how we pay for a service and we have kids handing out vios like its candy
I’ve personally never once received a violation that I felt was unwarranted, and I’ve flown in a lot of busy airspace. I think the vast majority of the time, IFATC is actually a bit too lenient, I pretty rarely see people clearly flying incorrectly get removed from the server. I do like the idea of more detailed feedback, but that obviously can’t be done by the controllers at the time. As is, the best way to learn what happened and what you did wrong is to DM the controller on here and ask (respectfully of course) what you did and how you can improve. Violations are a learning experience, not a punishment.
I believe that most controllers are not very willing to report pilots. First of all, reporting someone will increase your workload, and during peak traffic periods this will lead to inefficiency. Secondly, we all gradually grew from pilots who knew nothing into pilots who can communicate proficiently with ATC, so we are willing to give them opportunities to grow. This is also what is advocated in the controller’s manual.
The conflict between controllers and pilots is actually caused by the IF officials’ lack of effective guidance for new pilots. You should not expect a beginner to read the entire IF manual before starting to fly. If the officials could design some tutorial missions (similar to Extreme Landings) to help pilots learn how to communicate with ATC, such conflicts would be much less frequent.
Personally, I will immediately report in the following situations, because they show a lack of basic respect for controllers and other pilots:
Intentionally flying through other aircraft
Taking off, taxiing, pushing back, or landing without authorization
Fighter jets exceeding speed limits (this is easy to violate if you haven’t read the manual; the officials should clearly remind pilots when entering the game)
Not switching to the appropriate frequency while descending, climbing, or flying below cruise altitude in controlled airspace (after three reminders)
Switching frequencies without authorization and causing serious consequences (for example, losing minimum radar separation)
Not complying with ATC instructions (altitude, heading)
I totally agree with you. Most violations I’ve seen or received seem fair, but sometimes controllers can make mistakes. Some IFATC controllers can be a bit lenient at times, and detailed feedback would definitely help, though controllers can’t always provide that in real time. DMing them respectfully is probably the best way to learn and improve. Violations are really more about learning than punishment
Currently, what we lack most is proper guidance for pilots after they commit violations. If officials could automatically send some learning materials after a pilot is reported—such as links to relevant knowledge and information about the appeal process—it would be very helpful.
The amount of appeals I have put over the last 6 months is more than I have put from the day I started playing.
Sometimes the violation doesn’t even make sense - I got one for “taxing through grass” because I was stationary at one of the high speed exits during peak load. In all fairness I was trying to find the option of request taxi to gate because a new beta update came out.
You can always appeal the violation, if a controller has a repeated history of misusing violations, they will be punished for doing so. In the end of the day we are all human and make mistakes, and after all we are just people online trying to do the best job we can. If anything by appealing your violation, you are helping us become a better team of controllers.
I fully agree with you here. I personally had couple of instances where I felt truly bad about giving a violation out, but I had to. I then reached out to this pilot and try to explain the cause of this to ensure it wouldn’t happen again. However, unfortunately, most of the pilots look at us as if we are the evil, where in reality - we just want EXPERT server to live up to its name.
Controlling as IFATC’s requires people to pass the exams. And that is good. But for an IFATC to be a good controller in IF, she or he requires a certain level of maturity which - and I mean this respectfully - our younger people here simply don’t have yet. I’ve stated this many times: an IFATC is there to serve the pilots, and to facilitate good game play. With a serving attitude violations are only given as an exception, when it is really necessary.
I was a controller for quite some years here in IF and I used to hate giving out violations.
I’m commenting here because something has to be done about too many ATCs are too quick to give out violations, and too many without warnings. Also… at times aircraft’s sometime may disappear while taxiing. With different versions, Alpha, Beta and the RTM sometimes there may be glitches. Sometimes planes disappear while taxiing and two aircrafts end up in the same spot and get a violation for something that not in the pilot’s control. Just happened to me with no warning.
There are also internet issues at times. Everyone doesn’t have high speed internet. It may go out at times. Pilots should not get violations for when the connection is interrupted.
Also… again, a main reason something has to be done is the ATCs are too trigger happy to give violations WITHOUT WARNINGS. There are warnings to give to pilots but not being used by the ATCs. I’ve been flying on I.F. for about 15 years and I’m seeing it get worse with violations being issued without warnings. I just got a violation for something out of my control without a warning. This is the 3rd time this happened, I don’t even appeal anymore. Now I’m a grade 4 for a year. I kinda take a lil pride in being a grade 5.
With this happening, it makes it unpleasant to fly on I.F. and put me in a space of not flying no more cause now all I’m worrying about is getting violations for things that are out of my control, when all I do is pay attention and always obey the ATCs instructions, always. Especially me being an Alpha tester, beta tester, Airport editor, I’m not trying to mess that up or the great relationship I’ve built over the years with the staff. The are great ATCs, no question but lately there are too many that have been dropping the ball. It’s not fun to fly anymore, my opinion. I found this topic and I just had to say something.
This is very true for me too, I’m pretty sure every IFATC controller feels bad giving violations. Not only since the pilots may not have any idea what they are doing, but also since these pilots paid money for their subscriptions and with enough violations they can lose access to the expert server losing a good part of the app
I had an instance where i replied to ATC properly but i don’t know what glitch was that, the atc was not able to hear any of that and i got level 2 violation
Hi, yes I do believe this to be a issue with regards to dishing out Violations rather hasterly. Myself new to IF . I watch videos and read up about flying aspects so to become a good pilot. However I did get to lvl 4 until I received a Lvl 1 violation for being told to line up and wait on runway on training Server which by the way was the second time on their. I knew aircraft had just landed so obviously I was awaiting clearance to take off. I waited patiently then bang instantly got the violation for being on runway to long . Now I was nervous before, but believe me when I say I completely respected other users and I always fly as it would in a real world. Now I have no confidence in training Server. For I was doing my absolute best to create a career with no violations . But to get that for no reason frustrated me . I keep training and practice scenarios all the time on casual until the confidence returns. .
