Do you ever wonder how you should Check In with a radar facility or how you, the radar facility, should handle those aircraft? In this tutorial I’ll give you everything you need to seamlessly transition from controller to controller! It is always preferred that you simply request the service you desire but this tutorial shows you how to properly check in.
The Check In feature serves two primary functions on Infinite Flight:
1.) Requesting Flight Following from the first radar controller you contact when you have an acceptable flight plan.
For the purpose of this tutorial, Departure, Approach, and Center are radar facilities.
2.) Advising a radar controller that you are on their frequency after being switched by a previous radar controller.
Pilot
When departing with an acceptable flight plan that you wish to follow, simply check in with the first radar controller who will acknowledge with “roger”. Once acknowledged you may proceed on course. Be advised that you are subject to instruction based on traffic, routing, and controller sequence at any point in your flight.
Using the second application, when being transferred from one radar controller to another radar controller (ex. Departure>Center>Approach) you may simply check in. The radar controller will be able to see previously issued service where he/she can pick up directly where the last controller left off, providing vectors to destination or an instrument arrival.
Note: If never told to “expect” when communicating with a radar controller, make a service request with the next radar controller so they can more expeditiously provide service.
What is an acceptable flight plan?
YES. The following flight plan 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.
NO. A direct route to your destination does not consider any of the above.
Controller
Whether working Departure, Center, or Approach, if a departing aircraft checks in with a valid flight plan you may choose to acknowledge, then only issue an altitude which allows them to follow their filed flight plan or you may advise the aircraft to “expect” radar vectors, vectors for the ILS, or any other service you deem necessary. The controller will have final authority to approve or deny flight following requests based on traffic, sequence, and other factors.
When working Departure, Center, or Approach it will be common to have aircraft transferred to you from another radar controller. When the previous controller was providing a service it will be visible directly on their flight progress strip as shown here:
RV=Radar Vectors
ILS=ILS Approach
GPS=GPS Approach
FF=Flight Following
V=VFR
Based on previous service you may continue immediately with heading and altitude adjustments. The controller that the aircraft has been handed off to may also tell the aircraft to “expect” a different service than previously assigned based on traffic needs.
I hope this helps you better understand the Check In feature and how to use it on Infinite Flight!
NOTE: THE ABOVE TUTORIAL APPLIES TO INFINITE FLIGHT. REAL WORLD APPLICATION DIFFERS.
