What is the proper way to "Check In"?

Ground School Community Tutorials
21

Great tutorial :D

Did anyone else think it was for the proper way to check in baggage at the airport xD?

22

Checking in is just fine man. In RL no one asks for an ILS or RV unless you’re specifically practicing ILS approaches. They are told those after checking in.

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23

This sounds like something I should do more often. I’ll try to start making better flight plans.

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24

I love when people just check in. If it is busy, I tend to give those aircraft an assigned altitude, just like real life. Helps to seperate as well if two or more radar controllers with conflicting traffic follow the even/odd FL rule. :)

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25

Ok,but after checking in you should give ILS/Rv?

26

You can if you need too :) I wouldn’t on departure though.

27

Thanks,no ok in departures not at all! In generally always when someone contact me with check in, i ask intentions if they haven’t a FLP,and then give him a RV or ILS…

28

Yea so on departure with a check in I’ll give them an altitude to climb to, and vector them as necessary too avoid conflicts. I won’t tell them to expect anything on departure, just because if they check in they are IFR. They should already be expecting vectors of some kind if needed, the expect vectors is kind of an approach only phrase. On approach if they check in you can acknowledge and then allow them to fly the flight plan giving altitude assignments, if traffic is permitting. Or tell them to expect RV or the ILS/GPS approach.

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29

Correct, if they don’t have a flight plan which I addressed above. Don’t check in and think you’re going to cruise to your destination without instruction if you have no flight plan or a direct route, which I also consider to be no flight plan.

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30

I think the only the approach flight plans, are worse then the direct 😂

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31

I like that there are more tutorials being bumped and created now, but what if we had a weekly featured tutorial that was pinned though? That would be cool.

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32

It’s a toss-up. At least with the former you get some idea they know which runway they might be going to. With the latter it’s always a guessing game at which point they’re going to realize they’re not landing on the Tower and adjust heading. It’s always a fun surprise.

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33

I realize this was tongue in cheek :) , but to circle back to the main point because it is so important.
Neither are acceptable.

As Tyler indicated, an acceptable flight plan is one that “accounts for traffic avoidance on departure by flying runway heading, a clear and defined route to destination, and a safe arrival route that accounts for departures at the destination airport.”

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34

I think that’s the important take away here, Kevin. 9/10 times the ones who get tangled up with ghosting, “poor service”, or delays are the ones that do nothing to help themselves with a proper flight plan, altitude, and the realization that they’re not the only ones in the region.

Furthermore, if you’re pushing back within the first minute of spawning you’re probably already off to a bad start.

  • check destination traffic and flow
  • check destination weather
  • check departure flow
  • build flight plan to account for the above
  • choose appropriate altitude (NEODD/SWEVEN)
  • check controllers available enroute
  • configure appropriate weight
  • scan ramp
  • request pushback

…

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35

What is NEODD and SWEVEN? Is it something altitude related?
Or is it like North and East is Odd numbers, and South West is Even numbers?

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36

Yep, you got it! @Mark_Denton made an awesome tutorial for this.

https://community.infiniteflight.com/t/cruising-altitudes/60607?u=tyler_shelton

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37

Loving all these tutorials and comments. Learning and wanting to so much. I’m trying so hard to be a better pilot\controler!!! Thanks you!!!

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38

@Tyler_Shelton Great job with this tutorial. Let me correct, ANOTHER great one. Keep up the good work!

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39

Thank you for this still wish people would read these instructions mor often

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40

If I may add a few points and to bump the thread.

  • Checking In should not be used because you haven’t heard from ATC every 20/30 seconds. Many times on approach we will give you instructions that do not warrant further instructions until later. Look at the radar and check out the flow of traffic. I like to give “block descents” which minimize the number of commands I need to issue. Often times you will get an initial vector and altitude to get you downwind, then one for base, and one for the clearing. If the airspace is busy, you may be on a pattern for inbound that may send you away from the airport, have faith in your controller. The point I am trying to make is do not go crazy with checking in while the frequency is busy please.

  • If you are going to ask for vectors or flight following, there is no need to check in first. Simply tune in and ask. Checking in and immediately sending a request clogs the already busy frequency.

  • Remember that Flight Following requires a VALID flight plan, airport to airport direct plans are not valid. (See Tyler’s picture above)

  • If you are just taking off from an airport, please do not switch to the approach frequency unless told to by the tower. The approach frequency is working approach for the current and surrounding airports, not the airport 100 miles away. A good example is people taking off from EDDL going to EHAM. Planes taking off and checking in for no reason clogs the frequency when it is busy. Again, please switch when the tower directs you to contact approach (Freq change approved is not an invitation to contact approach).

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