ATC tutorial: Difference between revisions

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{{Main article|Air Traffic Control}}
{{Main article|Air traffic control}}


[[Air traffic control|Air Traffic Control]] is an agreed procedure and process which keeps the [[aircraft]] separated to ensure that they don't crash into each other or are affected by turbulence when passing through the same air space.
[[Air traffic control|Air Traffic Control]] is an agreed procedure and process which keeps the [[aircraft]] separated to ensure that they don't crash into each other or are affected by turbulence when passing through the same air space. This article, probably more directly useful for pilots, will teach you that procedure and will hopefully help you to enjoy controlled areas and airports on the FlightGear multiplayer servers.
 
This article, written for controllers and pilots alike, will teach you that procedure and will hopefully help you to enjoy controlled areas and airports on the FlightGear multiplayer servers.
 
== How do I know if an airport is controlled? ==
Check the Pilot List in FlightGear or the [[MPMap|Multiplayer map]]. Usually, controllers:
* have a callsign ''XXXX_DE'', ''XXXX_GN'', ''XXXX_TW'' or ''XXXX_AP'' (where ''XXXX'' is the ICAO code of the airport they are manning); each callsign has a specific meaning (see "Controller roles" below);
* use the ''[[OpenRadar]]'', ''ATC-TOWER'', ''[[ATC-aircraft|ATC]]'' (or similarly named) aircraft.


== Controller roles ==
== Controller roles ==
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==== Getting the departure clearance ====
==== Getting the departure clearance ====
We start on the airport apron at terminal T1, stand 220.
We start on the airport apron at terminal T1, stand 221.


The first thing we need to do is to check the current air pressure and which runway is being used; as a general rule, planes should be heading into the wind for takeoff and landing. To accomplish this, we need to listen to the ''ATIS'' (Automatic Terminal Information Service), a prerecorded message describing weather information, the runways in use and other important information for pilots; it's transmitted continuously on a dedicated radio channel. The frequency to use is written in the Airport information chart and can also be found by clicking on ''AI -> ATC Services in Range -> LEBL'': in our case, it's 121.970 MHz.
The first thing we need to do is to check the current air pressure and which runway is being used; as a general rule, planes should be heading into the wind for takeoff and landing. To accomplish this, we need to listen to the ''ATIS'' (Automatic Terminal Information Service), a prerecorded message describing weather information, the runways in use and other important information for pilots; it's transmitted continuously on a dedicated radio channel. The frequency to use is written in the Airport information chart and can also be found by clicking on ''AI -> ATC Services in Range -> LEBL'': in our case, it's 121.970 MHz.
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Before pushing back (being pushed away from the stand with a tug) and starting up, we need to get appropriate clearances from the Ground controller. This ensures we won't block taxiways unnecessarily.
Before pushing back (being pushed away from the stand with a tug) and starting up, we need to get appropriate clearances from the Ground controller. This ensures we won't block taxiways unnecessarily.


* '''BAW1542:''' El Prat Ground, Speedbird one five four two at stand two two zero, request pushback.
* '''BAW1542:''' El Prat Ground, Speedbird one five four two at stand two two one, request pushback.
* '''El Prat Ground:''' Speedbird one five four two, El Prat Ground, pushback approved, facing south.
* '''El Prat Ground:''' Speedbird one five four two, El Prat Ground, pushback approved, facing south.
* '''BAW1542:''' Pushback approved, facing south, Speedbird one five four two.
* '''BAW1542:''' Pushback approved, facing south, Speedbird one five four two.
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* '''BAW1542:''' Speedbird one five four two, we're holding short Echo two.
* '''BAW1542:''' Speedbird one five four two, we're holding short Echo two.
* '''El Prat Ground:''' Speedbird one five four two, cleared to cross runway zero two, taxi to holding point Golf one via Echo one and Kilo.
* '''El Prat Ground:''' Speedbird one five four two, cleared to cross runway zero two, taxi to holding point Golf one via Echo one and Kilo.
* '''BAW1542:''' Taxi to holding point Golf one via Echo one and Kilo, Speedbird one five four two.
* '''BAW1542:''' Cleared to cross runway zero two and taxi to holding point Golf one via Echo one and Kilo, Speedbird one five four two.


We then cross the runway without delay and turn left on K. Near K2 you can notice a ''CAT II/III holding point'' (marked by an empty yellow rectangle with vertical lines, equipped with ''fixed'' lights) - that's where we would stop if visibility was reduced or if another aircraft was landing using ILS; since that's not the case and we were cleared to G1, just proceed.
We then cross the runway without delay and turn left on K. Near K2 you can notice a ''CAT II/III holding point'' (marked by an empty yellow rectangle with vertical lines, equipped with ''fixed'' lights) - that's where we would stop if visibility was reduced or if another aircraft was landing using ILS; since that's not the case and we were cleared to G1, just proceed.
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We stop at G1 while the ground controller instructs us to contact the tower:
We stop at G1 while the ground controller instructs us to contact the tower:
* '''El Prat Ground:''' Speedbird one five four two, contact Tower on one one eight decimal three two zero, goodbye!
* '''El Prat Ground:''' Speedbird one five four two, contact El Prat Tower on one one eight decimal three two zero, goodbye!
* '''BAW1542:''' Contact Tower on one one eight decimal three two zero, Speedbird one five four two, bye!
* '''BAW1542:''' Contact El Prat Tower on one one eight decimal three two zero, Speedbird one five four two, bye!


==== Lining up and taking off ====
==== Lining up and taking off ====
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==== Approaching the destination airport ====
==== Approaching the destination airport ====
We start descending on our own so as to reach FL150 approximately 100 NM from the destination airport. When we're about 80 NM from EDDF we check the ATIS for the destination airport, just like we did at LEBL - in this case the frequency is 118.02. We tune in the COM1 radio to that frequency and listen:
We start descending on our own so as to reach FL150 approximately 100 NM from the destination airport. When we're about 80 NM from EDDF we check the ATIS for the destination airport, just like we did at LEBL - in this case the frequency is 118.02. We tune in the COM1 radio to that frequency and listen:
* '''EDDF ATIS:''' ''This is Frankfurt information Echo. Landing runway zero seven right. Departure runway zero seven center. Transition level five zero. Wind zero two zero degrees, four knots. Visibility one zero km or more, few four thousand eight hundred feet. Temperature one niner<ref>"Niner" is used instead of "nine" to avoid confusion between the similarly sounding "nine" and "five".</ref>, dewpoint zero seven. QNH one zero one eight. No significant change. On initial contact advise controller you have information Echo.''  
* '''EDDF ATIS:''' ''This is Frankfurt information Echo. Landing runway zero seven right. Departure runway zero seven center. Transition level five zero. Wind zero two zero degrees, four knots. Visibility one zero km or more, few four thousand eight hundred feet. Temperature one niner<ref>"Niner" is used instead of "nine" to avoid confusion between the similarly sounding "nine" and "nein", the German word for "no".</ref>, dewpoint zero seven. QNH one zero one eight. No significant change. On initial contact advise controller you have information Echo.''  


We then contact the approach controller (in this case Langen Radar, 118.45 MHz):
We then contact the approach controller (in this case Langen Radar, 118.45 MHz):
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We taxi to the stand and shut down, also switching the transponder off &ndash; there's no need to ask a clearance for that. Our flight is now finished.
We taxi to the stand and shut down, also switching the transponder off &ndash; there's no need to ask a clearance for that. Our flight is now finished.
==== This tutorial in video format ====
The departure and arrival presented in this tutorial have also been recorded. Some interactions were simplified, the result should however be more close to what you usually experience on the multiplayer network. Closed captions are available.
{{#ev:youtube|dA-UXATCHuI|400}}
{{#ev:youtube|E3yfeWjlyic|400}}


=== A sample VFR flight ===
=== A sample VFR flight ===
[http://forum.flightgear.org/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=12953 de profundis] has written a great VFR tutorial that takes you for a semple flight from KRNO (Reno Tahoe) to KBIH (Eastern Sierra Regional) and covers VFR flight planning, phraseology and tips in great detail. You can get his ''Cross Country Tutorial'' from the [http://forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=72&t=19600 dedicated forum thread].
[http://forum.flightgear.org/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=12953 de profundis] has written a VFR tutorial that takes you for a sample flight from KRNO (Reno Tahoe) to KBIH (Eastern Sierra Regional) and covers VFR flight planning, phraseology and tips in great detail. You can get his ''Cross Country Tutorial'' from the [http://forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=72&t=19600 dedicated forum thread].


== Tips ==
== Tips ==
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