10 Basics For Controlled Airspace Sessions
The following settings and guidelines are setout to enhance your experience and ensure ATC has the necessary information to provide optimal services. Your compliance will indicate a desire to participate as an active member of the session and will go a long way to extending your experience with us!
1: CHANGE YOUR ATC NAME / CALL SIGN
SET AIRLINE "NONE" FLIGHT NUMBER - "0"
CALL SIGN: "VH-SKY" (SIERRA KILO YANKEE) - YOUR IDENTIFIED
In set up whilst choosing plane for session click details and set "call sign" to NONE -"flight number" BLANK- "tail number " YOUR CHOICE" (Such as VH-VXZ as an example ) this will be what ATC will see your plane as in its session, you will also see this tail number on your cockpit instrument panel - TICK show tail number - leave other box unticked . This is the most important rule for smooth sessions that prevent confusion for you and ATC .
2: SELECT YOUR AIRPORT
CHOOSE RUNWAY / STARTING POSITION
When you pick the airport you wish to spawn at make sure you select a GATE not active runway. This allows you to slip into a session with out throwing ACT into disarray. When you select your aircraft type -by default the "airport near host" will be ticked (this by default puts you on active runway)- choose "airport of my choice" this will allow you to pick airport along with gate option.
3. READ BACKS
The next most important rule is always read back instructions or acknowledge last transmission followed by your call sign
4. LISTEN TO RADIO BEFORE TRANSMIT
Once you have spawned in session, radio check on 118.75 -be patient as ATC may be handling other aircraft on a different freq that you cant hear. ATC monitors both FREQs but can only transmit on 1
5. FLIGHT PLAN
When ready contact Ground for clearance along with what your intentions are for the session. (remain in pattern means you wish to depart and return to same airport also known as a closed circuit) Or nominate what airport you wish to fly to or scenic.
6.MAXIMUM SPEED
Maximum Indicated airspeed under 10,000ft in controlled airspace is 250knots.
This is known as the Bravo airspace.
7. MAXIMUM TAXI SPEED
Maximum Taxi speed is 35 knots
8. MINIMUM DECISION HEIGHT
Minimum Decision Height is 200 ft
9. SHARED COCKPIT RADIOS
Shared cockpits can cause coms issues make sure you don't use your caps lock button to talk on flight deck as your coms are open all the time and you don't need to push anything to talk to copilot ( you still need to push caps lock to transmit to tower or other aircraft)
10. ATC HAS FINAL SAY!
ATC SCRIPT(YSSY) - VFR SCRIPT (Darwin)