Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler - VATSIM center controllers

Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler \| General Aviation Discussion \| VATSIM center controllers
Thomas Katsampes DVA11901 Captain, B767-300 Joined on January 05 2014 Everett Century Club Double Century Club DVA Five-Year Anniversary Online Double Century Club "My name is Roger Murdock. I'm the co-pilot." Saint Paul, MN 292 legs, 462.7 hours 236 legs, 378.2 hours online 289 legs, 456.2 hours ACARS 1 legs, 1.3 hours event	Posted onPost created on December 28 2020 17:12 ET by Thomas Katsampes
	On VATSIM a center controller has responsibility for all positions below him. So if you are LAX_CTR then you have to function as APP, TWR, GND, and CLRC if those positions aren't online, for EVERY AIRPORT in your jurisdiction! In other words as a pilot I can be sitting at the gate in Orange County (SNA) and receive taxiing instructions and takeoff clearance from Los Angeles Center! The real world doesn't operate this way. I think I know why VATSIM operates this way (all volunteer staffing) but I'd like to hear some thoughts from others about this. Seems sort of loopy to me, no pun intended.
Daniel Wilbanks DVA8920 Assistant Chief Pilot, B737-800 OLP, VFROLP E-MAIL Joined on August 12 2010 50 State Club Globetrotter US Capital Club Million Mile Club US Mountaineer Club B737 100 Club Flying Colonel Everett 1500 Club Online Eight Century DVA Ten-Year Anniversary "Never fly the 'A' model of anything." Doraville, GA 1,789 legs, 4,619.9 hours 839 legs, 2,161.5 hours online 1,699 legs, 4,414.1 hours ACARS 57 legs, 140.0 hours event	Posted onPost created on December 28 2020 17:53 ET by Daniel Wilbanks
	It’s an attempt to simulate as much realism as possible. It is true that ZLA wouldn’t cover positions below it under normal circumstances in the real world, but somebody would. I personally think having no controller online is less realistic than having the “wrong” one online working my flight. That said, from the ATC side, it also creates an unusual position for CTR trainees. They have to learn to handle much more than their real world counterparts would likely be handling at once, but they handle significantly less traffic. So it sort of balances out, if you get past the bookwork, and most VATSIM ATC facilities have cheatsheets that lower the amount you have to memorize. I’d never survive without mine. Another thing to consider: this only applies to controlled airports while they are open. Most VATSIM controllers I come across, including myself, simulate local tower closures. That converts a class D to class E making it uncontrolled. Even in the real world, CTR (or an overlying TRACON) handles at least IFR clearances out of those airports. VATSIM may not be straying as far from realism on this as it seems on the surface.
Christian Samuels DVA12568 Assistant Chief Pilot, CRJ-200 Joined on March 20 2015 50 State Club DVA Two-Year Anniversary Everett 250 Club Online Quintuple Century Club Six Century Club Atlanta, GA 649 legs, 1,714.0 hours 586 legs, 1,602.2 hours online 595 legs, 1,621.1 hours ACARS 19 legs, 89.1 hours event	Posted onPost created on December 28 2020 19:41 ET by Christian Samuels
	Daniel Wilbanks wrote: It’s an attempt to simulate as much realism as possible. It is true that ZLA wouldn’t cover positions below it under normal circumstances in the real world, but somebody would. I personally think having no controller online is less realistic than having the “wrong” one online working my flight. That said, from the ATC side, it also creates an unusual position for CTR trainees. They have to learn to handle much more than their real world counterparts would likely be handling at once, but they handle significantly less traffic. So it sort of balances out, if you get past the bookwork, and most VATSIM ATC facilities have cheatsheets that lower the amount you have to memorize. I’d never survive without mine. Another thing to consider: this only applies to controlled airports while they are open. Most VATSIM controllers I come across, including myself, simulate local tower closures. That converts a class D to class E making it uncontrolled. Even in the real world, CTR (or an overlying TRACON) handles at least IFR clearances out of those airports. VATSIM may not be straying as far from realism on this as it seems on the surface. +1. As CTR controllers, we try our best to simulate real-world procedures. If the tower is open in real life, I personally keep it open because someone would give service to it in RL. If the tower is closed and it's Class G (Uncontrolled), then the only thing I would do is give IFR clearances to those on the ground and tell them to contact me in the air. What kind of questions did you have about it Thomas? In my opinion, it seems pretty simple to understand
Chris Frasure DVA3672 Assistant Chief Pilot, A320 OLP DISPATCHER E-MAIL Joined on October 29 2006 DVA Ten-Year Anniversary B737 100 Club 50 State Club Toulouse 500 Club Two Million Mile Club Online Millennium Club Bi-Millennium Club "OH-IO" Columbus, OH USA 2,053 legs, 5,326.2 hours 1,070 legs, 2,373.8 hours online 1,788 legs, 4,574.8 hours ACARS 3 legs, 4.4 hours event 1 legs dispatched, 15.1 hours	Posted onPost created on December 28 2020 20:57 ET by Chris Frasure
	Personally I don't know how the CTR men and women do it. Way too much to keep track of in an area with clearance, taxi, approach and departure. Telling you that you are with them as you pass through their space is pretty easy. The ZTL controllers do it best. Some of our own are their finest. Josh Burr and Justin Lawrence come to mind. CF
Josh Burr DVA10082 Captain, B777-200 OLP, VFROLP Joined on August 17 2011 50 State Club Tin Dispatcher US Capital Club DVA Five-Year Anniversary Everett Millennium Club Two Million Mile Club Online Millennium Club Flying Colonel B737 100 Club "Set your compass to 'E' and get out of my airspace!" Monroe, LA 1,690 legs, 5,838.9 hours 1,280 legs, 4,247.5 hours online 1,667 legs, 5,778.2 hours ACARS 89 legs, 209.7 hours event 366 legs dispatched, 255.4 hours	Posted onPost created on December 30 2020 21:38 ET by Josh Burr
	Chris Frasure wrote: Personally I don't know how the CTR men and women do it. Way too much to keep track of in an area with clearance, taxi, approach and departure. Telling you that you are with them as you pass through their space is pretty easy. The ZTL controllers do it best. Some of our own are their finest. Josh Burr and Justin Lawrence come to mind. CF DISCLAIMER: Four monitors and eight years experience not required. It helps; but not required...

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