General recommendations

When flying within Polaris FIR, some small things can make the experience great for everyone. Here is some great advice from the controllers in Polaris FIR:

Read the frequency

This may sound strange and a bit harsh, but it is very important for our controllers in busy events. If you do not read the room (or in this case frequency), you will most likely cause more stress for both controllers and your fellow pilots. Therefore make sure to:

Listen to the frequency before checking in. Audio for VATSIM can be a bit slow on frequency change during high load
If you are requesting clearance when it is busy, please do not try to force into the frequency for a clearance. Once we get some aircraft departed, the frequency will quickly be calmer, so please be patient.

Be prepared

We can not say this enough - we all win by doing this. It is not unusual for us to issue an instruction that is far ahead in time, such as giving direct routing to a waypoint on the approach while still on a cruise. So make sure to prepare your charts and brief yourself before departure and landing.

Pushback

Usually, all pushback shall be executed straight back unless otherwise had been instructed. If it's requested to perform a push facing towards a direction on the taxiway, the controller will inform you of the pushback clearance. If unsure, please do not hesitate to ask the controller before requesting the pushback.

Note: If you are restricted in any sort to perform the pushback as instructed, notify the controller as soon it's practically possible

Taxi

Taxi clearances to the runway are often given without a specific holding point. If it's the case, taxi to the most reasonable holding point. In most cases, this will be at the end of the runways or the locations witch gives the shortest backtracks.

If you receive the instruction "HOLD SHORT", we expect you to stop before entering/crossing the specified taxiway.

IFR Departure

When airborne and contacting approach, establish the communication by:

Call up with callsign
Report the current altitude

If traffic permits, you can expect a direct to a waypoint along your route, also beyond the end of the SID. In short domestic flights, even a direct to the IAF (Initial Approach Fix) or waypoint on the expected star is not unusual. If you have a short flight time, we recommend to pre-plan and pre-program the expected arrival and approach before departing from the departure field.

Note: Also make sure to report your altitude also when you are in contact with top/down ATC (ATC covers both the aerodrome and approach sector).

IFR Arrival

An arrival clearance will be given before the end of your routing. A STAR and expected approach will be issued. If your destination does not have a STAR, expect vectors or direct to the respective points on the approach.

Some points to take note of:

Expect also directs to waypoints along the STAR or on the approach procedures.
Do not descend without clearance, a STAR clearance is not a descend clearance
If you are ready to descend but haven't received clearance. Report ready for descent shortly before reaching T/D.
When cleared for approach via a transition point, you are also cleared to descend according to the procedure

Flying into AFIS Aerodromes

An introduction to procedures for our AFIS facilities is available here

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