OBJECTIVES:
- How to decide what runway-in-use?
- Where do I find the correct frequency?
- How do pilots know I'm online?
- To explain the limitations
- To understand the relations between the positions
Which ATC position to open on VATSIM?
ATC will preferably take the highest available position in line with his rank and the existing FRA's.
Note: FRA stands for Facility Rating Assignment, which means the limitation for manning a certain ATC position in accordance with certain requirements. If you don't meet these requirements, you cannot take that position.
This rule is made because in VATSIM, if the lower position is not occupied, the higher position will control the lower one as well.
e.g. if only TWR is active, he will provide not only his own TWR control services, but all the services of DEL and GND as well.
Similarly, the Area Controller (in VATSIM CTR) will provide all airfield services in his region, if these airfields are not manned. That includes APP, TWR, GND and DEL for all airports in his area!
In practise, quite often, it will be hardly possible to do this all by one person. Therefore, the Area controller may leave the responsibility to start-up, push back and taxi to the discretion of the pilots. The phraseology used will be like: "Start-up and push back at own discretion". "Taxi at own discretion to holding point xx runway yy, qnh **** " ....... etc. It is obvious that the pilots should have a sharp look out themselves to avoid any conflicting traffic situation and apply all the rules as it should be.
In addition, play it fair and don't start racing to be number one at the holding.
The pilot will always look whether there is ATC available. If there is no ATC at all at the airfield or area you are planned to fly, than you are on your own. Still there could be other traffic around you. Therefore in VATSIM we have UNICOM.
For more details, see the Chapter about "UNICOM"