OPED Too Much Realism?

[robbie1472]

>By Sandeep Heer
>I have been a part of the flightsim community for nearly 15 >years. Ever since I played NiteFlite2 on the ZX Spectrum I have >been totally hooked on flightsimming!
>However, I have become more and more concerned about how >flightsimming seems to be changing in the 21st century. It >seems that you can no longer just get out there and enjoy >flying. Everything has to be perfectly realistic with several >hours planning for each flight. Let me explain.
>
>Today, I decided to have a flight online using VATSIM and >SquawkBox. I planned to fly from Amsterdam to Frankfurt. I >filled in my flight plan and stuck in a couple of VOR/DME's I >would be passing along the way. I then contacted the control >tower and passed them my flight plan. I was then told by tower >that I would need to fly using real airways. I told tower that >I did not have any - only FSNavigator. I asked if I could fly >using my flight plan, but was told I could not. I had to fly >through the proper airways or I would not get clearance. Tower >then gave me the URL for a Dutch site which contained airways >for Holland.
>
>Now, I don't have a problem with people wanting to keep things >realistic but I think this is getting a little silly. Already, >the average sim pilot has to spend a great deal of time >preparing for a flight. For example, I have to load FS, go to >the correct airport, fill in my FSNav with my planned route, >set up SquawkBox, etc. It therefore takes me around 45 minutes >just to get started. I therefore want to get going without >having to delay myself any further. I usually only have a >couple of hours for each flightsimming session and don't want >to waste it searching web sites for the correct airways, >approach charts, etc. for my flight.
>
>Don't get me wrong. I don't have any problems with anyone who >wants to use real airways, approach charts, SIDS, STARS, etc. >and follow them accurately and realistically. In fact, I dont >mind if tower gives me the necessary vectors for SIDS, STARS, >airways, etc. but it should not be compulsory for pilots to >have all of this information available or be deprived in some >way of enjoying their hobby. Can all online traffic controllers >please bear that in mind.
>
>I don't want to sound too harsh or unfair as I have enjoyed >flying online and have found most controllers to be very >friendly and helpful. It's just that on the odd occasion I seem >to come across people who take things a little too seriously >and I don't wish to see that become more widespread.
>
>Agree? Disagree? Feel free to email me.
>
>Sandeep Heer
>sandeep.heer@btopenworld.com

Sandeep,
I agree whole hartedly. I've had the same experience several times on both VATSIM and IVAO. I have way too little time for flying as it is, I don't need some @@$ holding me up because he has some power trip going on. I think some of them forget RULE#1 [sic]"expedite the aircrafts flight".
Rule#2 "keep em separated"

Basically thats it!

With less than 200 planes in the skies around the world they need to adapt to the simulation. Heck, I listened to real ATC at 4-5 different airports and not one of them gave a single takeoff clearance much less a flight plan clearance.(class c and d) Too many of the online ATC's take up Center positions and forget where their boundaries are. Class B airspace doesn't really exist in the simulated world and neither does class A. Traffic doesn't demand it. There are a couple of really good ATC's out there who realise the truth of the simulation and make allowances for the gamers and the amature simmer, to them I tip my hat and say thanks for making the game more enjoyable.
The otherneed to get a real life and come back to sim when they can seperate the two.

Bob

[Ric1985]

VATSIM prides itself as being as real as it gets. I am a controller with the Boston ARTCC a virtual pilot with a few VA's and a student pilot with about 10 hours left for my private pilots license. I too have simmed since Flight Simulator was done by Flight Logic. I too was somewhat overwhelmed by the "requirements" when I came to SATCO then VATSIM. I started as a pilot and was "taught" by the folks doing ATC on then SATCO. I became "hooked" and began to learn the controller trade! It was very difficult and took hours of study and passing of many tests.We actually use the FAA 7110.65 which regulates what "real controllers" do. We're not the real thing by any stretch of the imagination but we try to provide to those who wish to participate
In the BOS ARTCC we have a real TRACON controller, numerous pilots both GA and commercial. Our web site www.bostonartcc.net has nearly a hundred downloadable SB flight plans. With all the work that has gone into the ATC side of the house one might understand how we defend the long hours we spend. As in real life there are reasons why aircraft stay on certain routes STAR's or SID's, an orderly flow of traffic! If you could see what one errant pilot can do to those folks who have spent time planning a flight you'd understand. There are other places to fly like IVAO or MS Gaming zone which do not provide "as real as it gets".
Everything I have learned has "helped me" in the real pursuit of a pilot's license. The CFI's who have flown with me openly wonder how I have leaned what I have. No "expert" I have entered something that will continually test me for as long as I fly. But the point is that due to careful tutelage from a host of virtual and real controllers and pilots it has given me a good start in something I love to do, "Fly".
Ric Teves

[Catfish]

I agree with Ric on this one.

If people want to fly wherever they want, they shouldn't do it on-line. Pilot magazines are full of stories of private pilot's upset with traffic controllers around busy international airports and airways - getting redirected or not being allowed to fly certain routes/altitudes the way they would like, to save them time and fuel costs. That is part of the "real" world as well.

In my opinion the tougher and "more real" the controllers make on-line ATC the better for us all. I personally find it a challenge to fly proper approaches and departures. You can't really say that you are familiar with an Airport till you have learnt to do these properly.

I'll have to fly to Boston one day, it sounds like you guys know what you are on about. The other point is what the hell is a controller there for if it isn't to practice proper approach and departure procedures. I would be bored out of my skull if I was a controller and I had to watch 20 or so aircraft doing their own thing all day.

I'm with the controllers on this one. (By the way I am a sim pilot, not a controller, in case you were wondering).

[paladinlord]

Well,i think that what we all wish to have in a flightsim is atc.I mean what is a flightsim without any basic at least atc?
But,if you would like to fly as real as POSSIBLE then you will have to obey some rules.With fs2000 we didnt have atc,so i went flying in Ivao or Vatsim.Sometimes it was really exciting to feel as if i was in the middle of a real airtraffic.But other times i just wanted to do my thing.In these occasions i wouldnt fly online.Now with fs2002,which i dont have yet:-( i will be able to do whatever i want with some basic atc.And if i want to feel the real thing i will go and fly online and obey the rules,and thats what helps to be reallistic in the end.
And i will agree that most of the controllers are doing a good job.It is not an easy task,even for virtuall flying.So,I think that the key here is that if you fly online to Vatsim or Ivao you do it for the realism and for that you must obey the rules.Or else,there are places like msn zone that you can fly freely.Thats all...