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ATC SAMPLE COMMUNICATION

This document is an example of the communication that can be expected
between you and Air Traffic Control through all stages of flight.
Vatsim can be an intimidating place to fly for newcomers. You have to know how
to navigate and operate your aircraft as well as interact with Air Traffic Control
(ATC) and other aircraft while using the proper terminology. It is important to
remember that everyone starts out as a newcomer and that everyone makes the
occasional mistake, so dont be put off from online flying if you happen to make
the odd error. Generally Vatsim controllers are very understanding and helpful
and should provide a new flyer with the help and advice theyll need to
successfully complete their first few flights on the network as long as they arent
too busy controlling other aircraft. For this reason it might be a good idea to start
flying online at a smaller controlled airport that does not have lots of other traffic.
If you are new to online flying you should also state that you are a newcomer to
online flying in the comments section of your fight plan, this will alert ATC and
other pilots that you are new and may require a little extra attention. Another
thing to keep in mind is that you will rarely encounter an airport that is fully
staffed. It is common to see an airport that only has the center, tower, and
approach/departure or ground controller online and once in a while a single
controller will staff more than one position. There are a few programs available,
such as VATSpy that will show you where online controllers are active and where
other pilots are currently flying.
The following sample communication is for a flight between LambertSt. Louis
International Airport (KSTL) and Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX).
Communications should be similar for any other IFR type flight on the Vatsim
network.



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Clearance:
You: Saint Louis Clearance delivery, Phoenix 1234
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ready to copy IFR clearance to
New York on flight plan as filed.
ATC: Phoenix twelve thirty four
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(1234), cleared to Los Angeles airport via the
JAHNY TWO departure. Climb heading three zero two (302) degrees to 1120 feet,
then direct PYUNG, cross PYUNG at or above 2500, then on depicted route to
JAHNY. Expect flight level three two zero (320) ten minutes after departure.
Departure frequency one two eight decimal
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one (128.1), squawk four four two
zero (4420).
You: Phoenix 1234 is cleared to Los Angeles airport as filed via JAHNY TWO
departure. Climb heading 302 degrees to 1120 feet, then direct PYUNG, cross
PYUNG at 2500 or above, then on depicted route to JAHNY. Departure frequency
128.1, squawk 4420.
ATC: Phoenix 1234, read back correct. Contact ground at 121.65 (a) when ready
to (a) push and start
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/ (b) when ready to taxi.

Ground:
After receiving your clearance you will have to contact the ground controller to
obtain your taxi instructions.
You: Saint Louis ground, Phoenix 1234, ready for push and start.

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The cal l si gn Phoeni x i s used as i t i s the name of our vi rtual ai rline, i f you deci de to use Phoeni x as your cal l
si gn pl ease use your PVA Pi l ot number. Al so, your cal l si gn does not have to be your PVA ID. If you woul d prefer
you can use the real worl d cal l si gn of the fl i ght you are maki ng. If usi ng the real worl d cal l si gn your pi l ot ID
number wi l l be the fl i ght number; such as, Del ta 23 for Del ta Ai rl i nes fl ight number 23.
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Number are read phoneti cal l y i n most al l cases. In thi s exampl e document, from thi s poi nt forward, the number
wi l l no l onger be wri tten phoneti cal l y; however, you shoul d treat them as such for the purpose of practi ce.
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The deci mal poi nt i s read as "deci mal " not "poi nt" or "peri od".
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Vatsi m i s movi ng toward push and start at pi l ot di screti on. The exampl e here i s to show you what to do i f
Cl earance tel l s you to cal l ground for push and start.


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ATC: Phoenix 1234, St Louis ground, pushback and start at pilot discretion, advise
when ready to taxi.
You: Push and start at pilot discretion, will call when ready to taxi, Phoenix 1234.
You: Saint Louis ground, Phoenix 1234 ready to taxi.
ATC: Phoenix 1234, taxi to runway 30 left via taxiway Delta, Hotel, hold short of
runway, altimeter is 2992.
You: Taxi to runway 30 left via Delta, Hotel, will hold short of runway Phoenix
1234.
ATC: Phoenix 1234, contact tower on 118.5.
You: Contact tower on 118.5, Phoenix 1234.

Tower:
Once you reach the runway threshold your ground controller will hand you off to
the tower for your take off clearance.
You: Saint Louis tower, Phoenix 1234 holding short runway 30 left.
ATC: Phoenix 1234 line up and wait runway 30 left.
You: Line up and wait, Phoenix 1234.
ATC: Phoenix 1234 winds 285 at 14, cleared for takeoff runway 30 left. Or you
may be told; Phoenix 1234 winds 285 at 14, cleared for takeoff fly runway
heading, runway 30 left.
You: Cleared for takeoff runway 30 left Phoenix 1234; or, cleared for takeoff fly
runway heading Phoenix 1234.
ATC: Phoenix 1234, contact St Louis departure on 128.1.


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You: Contact departure on 128.1, Phoenix 1234.

Departure:
After takeoff you will be handed over to the departure controller who will then
guide you safely through your departure airports controlled airspace.
You: Saint Louis departure, Phoenix 1234 passing through 2500 for 6000; or, if
told to fly runway heading Phoenix 1234 passing through 2500 for 6000 on
runway heading.
ATC: Phoenix 1234, St Louis departure, radar contact, maintain flight level 280.
You: Maintain 280, Phoenix 1234.
ATC: Phoenix 1234, turn left heading 260, fly direct JAHNY.
You: Turn left heading 260, direct to JAHNY, Phoenix 1234.
ATC: Phoenix 1234, contact Kansas center on 133.15.
You: Contact Kansas center on 133.15, Phoenix 1234.


Center:
After being guided by the departure controller you will be handed off to the
center controller who will monitor your flight until your descent and approach
into your destination. The majority of your flight will be under the control of a
flight center and you may have to contact several different centers during your
flight. Communication with a flight center is fairly limited and straight forward
until your time of descent.


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You: Kansas center, Phoenix 1234 with you through 17000, climbing FL280.
ATC: Phoenix 1234, Kansas center maintain FL340, resume own navigation.
You: Maintain FL340, resume own navigation, Phoenix 1234.
(Upon approaching your destination)
ATC: Phoenix 1234 descend and maintain 8000
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, contact Socal approach on 124.3.
You: Descend and maintain 8000, contact Socal approach on 124.3.

Approach:
The center controller will switch you over to the approach controller as you near
your destination. The approach controller will guide you into your destinations
airspace and line you up for your approach.
You: Socal approach, Phoenix 1234 with you descending through 9000 for 8000
with information Charlie
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.
ATC: Phoenix 1234, Socal approach, turn left heading 240, descend and maintain
2500. Expect vectors for visual approach runway 25 Right.
You: Turn left heading 240, descend and maintain 2500, expect vectors for visual
approach runway 25 right, Phoenix 1234.
ATC: Phoenix 1234, turn right heading 249, report runway in sight.
You: Right heading 249, report runway in sight.
You: Phoenix 1234 has the runway in sight.

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If you are tol d "Descend to 8000 at pi l ot's di screti on", the control l er i s tel l i ng you to start and control your
descent when you are ready to.
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Before contacti ng approach make sure you have the l atest weather and the i denti fi cati on that goes wi th the
weather report. If you do not have i t l et them know that you need i t.


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ATC: Phoenix 1234 altimeter 2998, winds 240 at 16, cleared visual approach
runway 25 right, contact tower on 120.95.
You: Cleared visual approach runway 25 right contact tower on 120.95, Phoenix
1234.

Tower:
Once the approach controller has you lined up for your approach and landing he
will then hand you over to the tower for your landing clearance.
You: Los Angeles tower, Phoenix 1234 with you on the visual approach for runway
25 right.
ATC: Copy, Phoenix 1234 winds 245 at 14, cleared to land runway 25 right.
You: Winds 245 at 14, cleared to land 25 right, Phoenix 1234.
ATC: Phoenix 1234 turn right on taxiway Bravo 6.
ATC: Phoenix 1234 contact ground on 121.75.
You: Contact ground on 121.75, Phoenix 1234.
Ground:
After landing and turning off the runway you will stop and hold on the taxiway
while contacting the ground controller and obtaining your taxi instructions to
your gate. This will be the last person you contact during your flight, once you
reach your gate all you have to do is set the brakes, shut everything down and
end your flight.
You: Los Angeles ground, Phoenix 1234 holding on Bravo 6, ready to taxi to gate
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.

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If you have al ready chosen a gate you may request i t at thi s ti me.


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ATC: Phoenix 1234, taxi to gate 53 Bravo via taxiway Bravo 6, Charlie 8.
You: Taxi to gate 53 Bravo via Bravo 6, Charlie 8, Phoenix 1234.
You: Ground, Phoenix 1234, shutting down and signing off, thank you for the
guidance.














All information contained in this document is for simulation use only and at no time should any information
contained in this document be used for aviation purposes. All information contained in this document is the
property of Phoenix Virtual Airways (PVA). It is NOT to be used for any purpose without prior written permission
from the founders of PVA.
http://www.phoenixva.org