I think the violation system is unfair. I feel it’s too many steps to contest a violation. Controllers have the ability to kick you off the expert server for months at a time takes a good bit of the fun out. For the cost of the subscription the violation system seams awful harsh.
Punishment is the only way to change people. Sad, but true.
Hey there!
As an IFATC member, I though I’d chime in with a perspective from the controller side of things.
It’s worth noting that it actually takes quite a lot to get semi-permanently kicked off the Expert Server. Violations are not handed out lightly and in my opinion, should not be treated as punishments, but rather as a learning experience.
You’d need to rack up six Level 2 or 3 violations within a pretty short space of time to be downgraded to Grade 2 for several months. As long as you are following ATC instructions, this should be pretty difficult to do.
We often deal with pilots who might not be following instructions properly, but unless their actions are significantly disruptive or dangerous (e.g. entering a runway without clearance with traffic on short final for that same runway, ignoring sequencing and subsequently interfering with another aircraft, etc.), we give a warning before issuing a report. In most cases we will give a warning and an opportunity to correct the mistake.
In my opinion this is not the case. You send a message to appeals explaining the situation, and make sure your replay is ready to share. It’s then in the hands of the appeals team. I would argue it’s as simple as it could really be made.
Hello!
I think about it differently. While yes, sometimes, violation-related bans can feel too long, and surely, they feel annoying/frustrating, it is also important to understand that there are some rules which take place on the Expert Server.
I personally find it fair. If you do not follow the ES rules or simply disregard the controllers’ instructions, that usually leads to an increased workload for us, and you may also ruin someone else’s realistic experience by doing so.
I am part of the Appeals Team, so I know very well what it takes to contest a violation. As long as you, meant as a user who got reported, follow the instruction we give you when you contact us, the process will be smooth and quick. Unfortunately, I’ve seen many times that people ignored our initial message (probably due to its length), and tried to share the replay that we have to review mistakenly. It is perfectly fine if you do not understand the steps, but sometimes, some users make it harder than it should. However, whether it’s like this, or you are simply facing some issues, we always try our best to help you, and make the process as quick as possible while reviewing everything carefully. I’ve seen cases of violation appealed within 20 minutes from the message’s creation, and others which took one or two days.
Just as a side note, I actually quite enjoy being part of this Team, whether it’s a long or short process!
That’s not entirely correct. With a Level 2 violation, you can continue to play on the ES. With a Level 3, you will be banned from the ES for 7 days. The only time you will be banned for months is if you receive 6 violations within 365 days. So, we don’t report people, and this violation will ban you for months, unless you exceed the limit.
I disagree. Also, I see this mentioned many times, and I always think, as I also said in one of my recent posts below a different topic, that this should not be an “excuse” (if we want to call it like this): we all pay for a subscription to play Infinite Flight, however, just like in every other aspect of life, there are rules. If you can disregard rules just because you paid a certain amount of money, it would be chaos. Whenever you start a flight on the Expert Server, a pop-up comes out which clearly tells you to follow the rules. If you do not follow them, you can get violations. It’s very simple and easy to understand.
Before joining the Expert Server, it is always suggested that you read the available guides and tutorials to avoid getting reported. Many people who transition from the Training to the Expert Server think they can do whatever they want (I’m not saying this is what you did, I’m just making a general example), ruining everyone else’s experience. The violation system is there for you to learn from your mistakes and to avoid having people doing whatever they want, otherwise, the Expert Server would just be another Casual Server.
Hopefully, I was clear enough Just wanted to share my opinion about this. Thank you!