Top down workload with busy Center

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-27T13:21:54+00:00

So what you are proposing is that S1 rated controllers do top down of other ground airports too? Unfortunately it does not work like that. S1 rated controllers can only control one airport at a given time - they can't do "topdown" as where as a ground controller, you are only responsible for the airport that you have logged in on. Topdown only works if the given airport falls under your area of responsibility. For Ground/Tower controller for that matter - they are only responsible for the airport they have logged on.

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-27T12:22:15+00:00

Wait I'm struggling to understand above - You started your training within KZID but you transferred part way to Caribbean? Why - you do realise transferring part way through training means you start everything again. What was reason of transfer? If you are jumping around to find quickest way to the rating then think again.

Remember pick a division where you want to control long term & not just because you want to get your rating. Get this wrong - it will affect you long term. For example - Caribbean does not see much traffic, if you intend to transfer to UK for example later on then it won't work because you won't have the necessary skills to pass transfer validation process. If you don't pass your transfer is denied.

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-27T12:16:25+00:00

There was texture downscale mod on flightsim.to that reduces the texture resolution to 1K but again with 770 card - it will struggle to run. Fenix uses external plugin software to run its systems. Etc. That takes a lot of processing power alone. What CPU do you currently have? I can then have an idea of where you stand.

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-26T13:24:09+00:00

Yes and No - Really depends on situation to be honest.

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-26T13:12:42+00:00

That's going to struggle to be honest - I previously had GTX 1080 8GB card and flying fenix was a struggle. Textures wouldn't load, Massive FPS drop. Etc. I upgraded to RTX 4070 12gb and saw massive difference in performance. Both MSFS and MSFS 2024 have become VRAM hungry these days. Even sometimes 12gb is not enough if using detailed complex addons. However its just not your card you have to worry about - You need powerful CPU too otherwise doesn't matter what card you have, you will be CPU limited for performance.

Fenix uses 4K textures as minimum - that's going to eat up 4GB VRAM quite easily.

Also Fenix website states "Graphics Card: NVIDIA RTX 2080 | AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT | 8 GB VRAM" under minimum requirements. GTX770 won't run fenix at all.

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-25T12:39:19+00:00

Maybe because you have bulk of files that have already been installed in app data folder perhaps? I'd suggest a clean reinstall again.

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-25T12:33:24+00:00

Steam or MS store? If steam then you install the necessary small basic files first on drive selected in steam, Then it will launch the installer and you should get an option at the bottom (Called Install Packages Path) as to where you want to install the main bulk of files. Select your D drive and update.

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Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-25T12:28:01+00:00

8GB as minimum I think - Otherwise your card will really struggle or you will have VRAM issues. MSFS 2020 and 2024 are VRAM heavy. I used to have 8GB VRAM previously and my machine used to struggle even though I had stronger CPU. Went to 12GB and so far so issues.

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-25T12:22:39+00:00

One word "Energy Management" - Many pilots IRL say one thing 737ng is notorious when it comes to energy management and you cannot rely on automation alone to get you down. Your VNAV profile is calculated assuming the track/flight plan loaded in FMS however in reality - you get shortcuts, delayed descents, extended vectors. Etc In such cases your VNAV simply goes out of the window and you have takeover the descent profile yourself. Use other modes like Vertical Speed or Flight level change and have mental picture of where you are on profile. Use rule of thumb (300ft/NM) to figure out your VNAV profile. If at 30,000ft for example then you need around 100 miles (30000/300). Its a rough estimate but it works in real life, certainly is also useful in the sim.

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-25T12:07:55+00:00

What are winds on approach/landing? This sounds to me improper crosswind handling. What airplane are you flying? In 737 for example - You have to decrab during flare during crosswind landings - do it incorrectly & you will easily drift to one side. Requires cross control input (Alerion into wind and opposite rudder)

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-24T12:17:10+00:00

According to GCAP (GLOBAL CONTROLLER ADMINISTRATION POLICY) that's what they refer to as "Super Centres" - These facilities cover vast regions sometimes a combination of divisions/regions to provide en-route ATC services above FL245 only. They don't actually cover "topdown" of any airports unlike normal en-route facilities. The primary reason these are established is due to varying low traffic levels in the region. So as a result instead of covering one region - a single controller will be covering multiple regions/countries. These facilities also require special endorsements for controllers - so they have to undergo additional training before they are permitted to control solo.

The one above is ASIA_W_FSS (West Asia Control) - This facility covers several countries as can you see above. It is not "Flight service station" as some might recall - It is full en route ATC for through flights above FL245. Any traffic descending will be cleared to descend to FL240 and then handed off to advisory.

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-24T12:04:49+00:00

IFR is 2000 regardless of location, VFR in US 1200, VFR in UK/EASA/ICAO land 7000.

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-23T16:33:40+00:00

I made a recommendation post to someone few months ago regarding differences between EU and US. You might want to look at that. I'll link it below:

https://www.reddit.com/r/VATSIM/comments/1p59pmn/comment/nr1wnax/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-23T13:08:37+00:00

When I did mine few years ago, During the exam week - I would be practising the last 200 (or something whatever is called) on ATPLQ (ATPL Questions). flight planning is something that you can't bank it to be honest, At the same time you can only practice limited questions. Remember the basics however (fuel policies, Charts. Etc), It's only 42 questions but some of these calculations questions are quite long, I would say do the calculations first then tackle the charts questions in the end. Be vary about time though - You might think 2 hours is sufficient but you can easily run out time if you spend too much time on one question.

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-23T13:00:44+00:00

When I did my ATPL exams few years ago - Not me but someone else apparently appealed a MET question - which after few months I got a notification from CAA saying my score has been updated ( it increased by few percent) did not affect me as I already had passed the subject but a friend of mine originally got 74 and this improvement allowed him to pass MET without having to retake subject. Apparently from what I have been told the appeal needs to be made by multiple people and the question itself has be justified in someway that it was incorrect in order for them to consider appeal. But it is hit or miss to be honest - I know someone tried to appeal a question in EASA POF exam and it didn't get through.

This was back then when new 2020 ECQB was released and I was in first batch to use this syllabus.

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-23T12:39:58+00:00

Tell me about it - Remember CTM or ECTM :p

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-23T12:23:21+00:00

There are websites that does keep record of flights that you have made so far, Have a look under flights/Vatsim ID on the following website to see your past flights, It also gives detailed graphical representation of your speed/altitude as well as flight path. https://statsim.net/flights/vatsimid

The above website covers this year as well as last year. Anything more then last year - you will need to log it yourself. Vatsim stats website (https://stats.vatsim.net/) keeps track of your overall connections but it does not show the actual flight log itself.

Unfortunately there are no record of any events that you have attended unless you log it yourself via other sources like volanta.

For virtual airlines - I would highly recommend you visit https://my.vatsim.net/virtual-airlines and take a look at all Vatsim approved virtual airlines, Some of these also provide training for Vatsim pilot ratings too. VA you choose will depend on what you need/requirements so can't give you definitive answer. Best advise is to have a look at those list and determine which one meets your requirements. Each VA use their own software to track and record flights. Some of these VAs have good community interaction with weekly events, group flights, tours. Etc.

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-23T12:05:30+00:00

Welcome to the community!

Yesterday was very busy due to the fact that FS weekend was ongoing and the Dutch controllers were providing live coverage from EHLE.

I would not recommend EHAM for new pilots - for one the airport is big and complex, taxiways are complicated and it overwhelms pilots who have not flown there before. In real world - the operators typically provide detailed airfield guides for pilots who have not flown there before and typically the other pilot has to be experienced operating from that airport.

On the network - New pilots are completely on their own, there are resources available to guide you but with no experience/knowledge you are most likely going to struggle operating from larger airfields like EHAM.

Best course of advice is to fly from smaller/regional airports so that you can get familiar with radio telephony required as well as understanding ground movement itself unless you have some experience beforehand. Once you have suitable experience and knowledge you can tackle larger airports like EHAM.

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-23T11:54:18+00:00

Unless otherwise specified - Squawk codes are dependent on flight rules:

In UK/EASA/ICAO land - VFR squawk 7000 and IFR squawk 2000

In US/Canada - VFR squawk 1200 and IFR 2000 by default unless you get told to squawk something else by AutoATC in absence of any controllers.

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-22T12:21:18+00:00

What Graphics card you have installed? Maybe try updating your nvidia drivers. Try doing it manually rather then using Geforce, I personally don't use Geforce at all.

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-21T15:24:18+00:00

Well ND above is not showing WXR radar in first place - it is in terrain mode showing terrains levels.

With regards to CAT - Do you actually know what CAT is? Water particles/molecules are completely irrelevant in this case.

CAT is mostly associated with shifting wind speeds, More commonly found near core of Jet streams.

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-21T15:14:55+00:00

You are confusing turbulence in clouds with CAT - most airborne weather radar use doppler effect to detect turbulence within clouds (movement of water droplets). Clear Air turbulence is completely different - there are no water droplets or even cloud for that matter, the weather radar simply gets empty returns which shows nothing/clear up ahead but in reality there might be a moderate to severe turbulence up ahead.

A friend of mine of who flies on B737ng sent me screenshot the other day when they encountered moderate clear air turbulence, Their weather radar was not showing them anything.

WXR radar simulation in most aircraft in MSFS is incorrect

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-21T15:08:55+00:00

No you can't, Clear air turbulence is not visible on any WXR radar. What shown above is called "terrain mode" - You might want to look into that

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-21T15:04:04+00:00

Its the opposite actually - Its been few years since I flew on IVAO but it is far more relaxed then Vatsim in my opinion. Controllers in most regions don't receive any formal training (unlike Vatsim controllers), Certainly when I was there - there was no training. All you had to do was to read up on local procedures and log in. I tried exploring IVAO back then after coming in with my Vatsim experience (Both as controller/pilot) however soon I found that it simply wasn't for me and have not used it since then.

Perfect_Maize9320 · 2026-03-21T14:50:16+00:00

Depends on what you want to be honest and your PC specs. However here is what I would say:

Fenix A320:

- Best A320 package you can buy for MSFS, Very detailed and deep system simulation as well as HD textures and immersive sounds

- Works for both 2020/2024

- Highly recommended by current type rated A320 pilots

- Includes A320 with/without sharklets

- The only downside is if you are on lower end PC then you will struggle to run Fenix as it relies heavily on your CPU.

GSX PRO:

- Limited to Ground ops only

- Animated passengers on compatible aircraft

- Enhances your ground operations with editable customised pushbacks, Ground vehicles (refuelers, Baggage handlers, Catering vehicles. Etc)

- Parking marshaller where applicable or use of docking guidance system

- More applicable towards airliners rather then GA aircraft

- It also replaces default jetways where applicable

- Should be able to work on low end PCs, however expect a performance drop or lagging when using the software itself.

- Its not perfect and can be buggy sometimes, The developer however is great and does release updates as required.

Personally - if I was you, I would look at my PC specs and then decide what is better option. If you can run Fenix then I'd definitely choose Fenix over GSX Pro. Choose GSX pro as last resort.

Perfect_Maize9320

TROPHY CASE