VATSIM Starter’s Guide #3 — Your First Flight
Here is a detailed guide to your first flight, including where to fly, what aircraft to load up, what to say, and more! To completely understand, read VATSIM Starter’s Guide #2 — Planning Your First Flight before this post.
Starting a Flight
Once you have read VATSIM Starter’s Guide #2 — Planning Your First Flight, load in your aircraft at the airport you chose. If you know how to do a cold start on your aircraft, I would recommend spawning with the engines off, but if not, it’s totally fine! Also, do NOT spawn on a runway or in the air because another plane might be landing or taking off (and it’s against VATSIM’s rules).
Connecting
The second step to starting your first VATSIM flight is connecting to the server. My example will be based on xSquackbox, the pilot software I use to connect to VATSIM.
Head to “Plugins” at the top of your screen and open it. Find “xSquackbox” and open the menu beside it. Then, press the button that says “Connect.” Write in your name (Either just your first name, first and last or your VATSIM ID) and all of the rest of the boxes. Be sure to keep the port the same! The first time I attempted connecting failed because I forgot! Also, don’t be worried if the weather suddenly changes, it is set to the same for everyone (real-world conditions).
Filing a Flight Plan
It’s not necessary for real life, but in VATSIM you need to file a flight plan even for VFR flights. Just fill in all of the information, and you are on to the next step!
Script
Here’s the more complicated. I have made a few different scripts depending on what you are doing, so just skip to the part that applies to you! Inside the brackets are the variables (fill in what applies to you), and inside the parentheses are possible requests/responses (not always used). Also, please note that I might have made some mistakes so what you say to ATC is your responsibility.
Remember to fly in this order: Aviate, Navigate, Communicate. This means that before you tell ATC that you are squawking 1200, squawk 1200!
VFR Circuit (No ATC)
Taxing: [Airport] Traffic, [Callsign] taxing to runway [Runway Number].
Takeoff: [Airport] Traffic, [Callsign] taking off runway [Runway Number] staying in the pattern for a VFR circuit.
Downwind: [Airport] Traffic, [Callsign] on downwind for a circuit.
Final Approach: [Airport] Traffic, [Callsign] on final approach for a full stop on runway [Runway Number].
Clear of Runway: [Airport] Traffic, [Callsign] clear of runway [Runway Number].
Full VFR Flight (With ATC)
Departure
Requesting Start (and Pushback): [Place] [ATC Online], this is [Callsign], a [Aircraft Make] [Aircraft Type],
requesting (pushback and) start.
Requesting Taxi: [Place] [ATC Online], [Callsign] requesting taxi.
Requesting Takeoff: [Place] [ATC Online], [Callsign] holding short runway [Runway Number] on
[Holding Point], requesting takeoff clearance.
In the Air
Telling Altitude: [Place] [ATC Online], [Callsign] at [Altitude]
Requesting Flight Following: [Place] [ATC Online], [Callsign] requesting flight following.
Arrival
Requesting Landing: [Place] [ATC Online], [Callsign] requesting landing.
Clear of Runway: [Place] [ATC Online], [Callsign] clear of runway [Runway Number].
Full VFR Flight (No ATC)
Departure
Taxing: [Airport] Traffic, [Callsign] taxing to runway [Runway Number]
Takeoff: [Airport] [Traffic], [Callsign] taking off runway [Runway Number], heading to [Arrival Airport]
Arrival
Landing: [Airport] Traffic, [Callsign] landing runway [Runway Number].
Clear of Runway: [Airport] Traffic, [Callsign] clear of runway [Runway Number].
As always, post questions in the comments, and I’ll respond. Please sign up to get notified, and thanks for reading!