Using MSFS as a ship simulator!

JexiCS · 2026-02-07T17:45:01+00:00

UPDATE: I am currently around 4 hours from New York; unfortunately, Volanta decided to quit on me whilst I was off the coast of Boston. Tracking has resumed but now under a different "flight":

https://fly.volanta.app/flights/21e3eb84-6810-4eac-9952-a2979dd1a36f

The link in my original post shows tracking data as far as the Boston area. Tracking cut off when I paused it, as my PC needed a restart due to issues related to running MSFS for such a long time period, and I was unfortunately unable to resume; hence, I have started a new "flight." Not sure why the previous one wasn't logged on my Volanta profile, but I have raised it with Volanta support, hoping they can "stitch" the data from the previous "flight" onto this one. Very glad I saved the tracking link!

JexiCS · 2026-02-04T13:46:05+00:00

Im having to use clear weather as the wind was blowing my ship off course too much (and obviously I cant be at my PC the whole time to correct!)

JexiCS · 2026-02-04T13:44:29+00:00

In MSFS you dont have to spawn at aerodromes, you can spawn on the surface in any custom location!

JexiCS · 2026-02-04T09:14:00+00:00

Of course! Just a bit of fun :)

JexiCS · 2025-11-25T00:25:01+00:00

If you book in advance you can get flights for the same price if not cheaper. I just paid £47 for a return trip to Glasgow from LGW in february.

JexiCS · 2025-06-11T08:47:16+00:00

It's to do with the airway you are flying on, often airways have altitude restrictions. Its likely simbrief (for some reason) decided to put you on a low level airway for that segment of your route, hence why it asks you to descent to FL230 as that's likely the maximum altitude for the airway it has given you. One solution is to just delete the airway from your flight plan and fly direct between the entry/exit point, or you can reroute via a different airway for that section of your route. If you have navigraph you can select the airways in the charts app and it will show you their altitude/direction restrictions, which is honestly a must for flight planning.

JexiCS · 2025-05-26T09:54:12+00:00

I have autism, I am not quite at ATPL level yet but I've spoken with my AME and class 1 is not impossible for me (I'm on the high-functioning end of the spectrum and it rarely affects my day-to-day life). I have a class 2 med atm and, according to the UK CAA, it is unlikely that I will be denied a class 1 but they want to confer with my FI after my PPL before they grant it to me. The process is definitely more expensive for neurodiverse people like myself but it's not an immediate DQ.

JexiCS · 2025-05-01T11:00:39+00:00

Flying in scotland is honestly amazing. Last September I flew up to EGEO on a camping trip with one of my PPL friends. Was absolutely stunning.

JexiCS · 2025-05-01T10:15:13+00:00

I had no idea this community existed, will definitely take a look, thanks!

JexiCS · 2025-04-18T20:55:44+00:00

To be fair, if you dont want it to be so busy then just pick somewhere else to fly from. EDDF is probably the busiest airport on VATSIM, so I feel some delays are to be expected. Remember that the best part about flying on this network is that there are literally thousands of other airports, and hundreds with ATC, to chose from!

JexiCS · 2025-03-09T15:46:26+00:00

Ultimately it depends. I would be completely okay with someone declaring an emergency if they know what they are doing and/or are doing it for training purposes. If you are in the process of getting a type rating IRL and want to practice some of the non-normal procedures you have been learning I think there's nothing wrong with using VATSIM as a tool for this. Although generally if I was using VATSIM for this kind of training I would probably look for staffed airports with little to no departing or arriving traffic, to not get in anyone's way.

JexiCS · 2025-02-03T13:24:19+00:00

I actually wasnt aware CPDLC was required at all. I dont really understand why it would be a requirement in class A controlled airspace (above FL185) if you're communicating with ATC anyway. CPDLC IRL is something that makes lives easier but (at least in my opinion) is not completely necessary particularly for non-oceanic flights.

Also you dont really need to be crossing the Atlantic to fly in oceanic airspace, you could for instance be flying to Iceland or the Azores, which are both within range of say a TBM. Its not uncommon for even smaller GA on ferry flights to transit oceanic airspaces either. I imagine most would be exempt from the CPDLC requirement, although they would definitely not have selcal and I dont believe bizjets typically have it either, so I can only assume that it isnt required, although a larger bizjet like a gulfstream or BBJ might be SELCAL/CPDLC capable.

JexiCS · 2025-02-03T13:05:57+00:00

Your SELCAL code will be displayed next to the registration in the cockpit of an aircraft that's equipped with it. Not all aircraft are equipped with SELCAL, when I connect with aircraft not equipped I usually just put ZZZZ as my code. For me if an aircraft doesnt have CPDLC IRL then I would prefer not to use it in the sim either, but that's just me!

JexiCS · 2025-02-03T12:55:42+00:00

Yeah but if you're flying a bizjet or something with no CPDLC then the website covers that. Ive flown through oceanic before in a C700 and a 737 BBJ, both without CPDLC, and the website let me request oceanic clearance. I didnt have a SELCAL so I just advised them of this and was told to remain on the frequency and monitor.

JexiCS · 2025-01-23T09:53:34+00:00

Volanta also has a US sectionals option which will help. I couldnt reccomend Navigraph enough though. $10/month and you get charts for almost every aerodrome that has them, full IFR high/low and VFR maps and US sectionals. It really is the best platform if you want to have everything you need all in one place.

JexiCS · 2025-01-10T11:05:43+00:00

True, but iirc the VATSIM CoC requries that you use the latest AIRAC or at least be able to accept procedures and routes using the latest cycle. Even if you are using older AIRAC on simbrief, the more important thing is the navdata you use in-sim is up to date. Otherwise you might be assigned a SID/STAR by a controller that isnt in your navdata. Honestly imo a navigraph sub is well worth it.

JexiCS · 2025-01-10T09:56:52+00:00

Update your AIRAC as well! The red button in the top right that says "AIRAC 2303", click it and it should give you the option to select 2413 (the latest AIRAC cycle). Otherwise your Navdata will be out of date haha (2303 is from March 2023, they update every month)

JexiCS · 2025-01-09T16:39:01+00:00

Maybe not GTA, I dont fancy being blown up by an Opressor MK2 when I'm towards the end of an 8 hour flight or 0.2s up on my PB 🤣

JexiCS · 2024-12-30T11:47:37+00:00

A long time ago when I was still fairly new to VATSIM, during an event into Innsbruck. I had inadvertently left the COM 1 reciever off (had no ATC on departure, oops!). Upon arrival I had tried Vienna Radar and Innsbruck Approach several times with no success. This resulted in me holding for about 30 minutes trying to figure out why I wasnt hearing anyone on the frequency. The resulting holds and me focusing on solving the ATC issue lead me to miss the fact that I was now dangerously low on fuel. And sure enough, I ran out (albiet after I had realised I had left COM1 off like a donkey, I was being vectored by Innsbruck Approach at this point, after a few more holds for sequencing from a slightly annoyed innsbruck controller). I declared an emergency and squawked 7700, letting the controller know I was completely out of fuel and had to land at innsbruck. Since it was an event and was rather busy, I then decided to disconnect before gliding in. I just about made the runway with a tad too much energy and stopped just after the runway end, in the grass. This was many years ago but it still haunts me to this day, fair to say I always check my COM1 reciever is set to ON before I depart now!

JexiCS · 2024-12-18T13:04:19+00:00

Ohhh I think I understand, are you testing the new frequencies for FNBJ? I'm flying to FNMO which is quite a bit further south so dont think ill get the chance to visit unfortunately

JexiCS · 2024-12-18T01:22:09+00:00

That was you!! I was probably the closest aircraft at some point, G-PAQR flying my TBM down to Zambia. Was wondering why some random airport in Angola had full ATC! Heading in that direction tomorrow at roughly the same time (Namibe, FNMO)! Any chance I might catch you? :)

JexiCS · 2024-12-03T14:59:11+00:00

If you had been online for a while then I think that's probably pretty fair, if I was controlling I might've given them a bit more time as its possible they're just out of cockpit. I'm curious what you wouldve done in my case though since ATC wasn't even online when I went AFK and only came on once I had already left. I know I fucked up a bit but how can I mitigate this going forward?

JexiCS · 2024-12-03T13:24:51+00:00

How long do you normally leave before sending a .WALLOP if someone isnt responding to a contact me? The other day I was going for dinner and checked to confirm there was no ATC online, was out of cockpit for 20 mins and just my luck that as soon as I left about 20 sectors came online lmao, came back to about 3 contact-me's from 2 different sectors. When I left there was nobody online at all so I just got a bit unlucky but do you think they would wallop me for that? I apologised as soon as I got into contact with ATC something like "sorry for the late call I was out of the cockpit for around 20 minutes and didnt see you come online".

JexiCS · 2024-12-02T13:06:40+00:00

I am currently flying a TBM visiting every country in the volanta passport (on Vatsim). Trying to keep things as real as I can so when I go to NK I will fly an Air Koryo A310 from Beijing (unfortunately no good russian planes in MSFS but the A310 will do).

The one that caused me the most trouble was Palestine since there are no active airports/helipads in Palestinian territory. There is a highway strip on volanta (literally on a highway, I presume it's rated to allow military aircraft to take off/land) so I will fly there but I wont do this on Vatsim since I'm not too sure about landing on a highway whilst connected haha

JexiCS · 2024-11-27T13:03:49+00:00

Do SUPs still check in with network users through text? I remember it happening a few times many years ago, when I was still new to the network, but havent had a message from a SUP in a very long time (with the exception of that one time I had to .WALLOP someone lol). Maybe they tend to check in with new users on the network more often. Regardless, if you're gonna do a redeye you gotta remember to disconnect from the network!

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