General recommendations
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 importantessential 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
highhigh-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,
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 witchwhich givesgive the shortest backtracks.
IFR Departure
When airborne and contacting approach, establish the communication by:
- Call up with callsign
- Report the current altitude
This is to establish both communication and verify data that what we see on the radar is your aircraft. If you don't report your altitude, we have to ask so by saying it on intial call saves time.
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.
IFR Arrival
An arrival clearance will be given before the end of your routing. A STAR and expected approach will be issued. A confirmation of what approach you can expect will be issued by approach on initial contact. If your destination does not have a STAR, expect vectors or direct to the respective points on the approach.
Some pointsdo and don't on arrival:
Descend
Directs and vectoring
- not ask for a direct, we always try to give the best direct we can when there is room for it. If you have not been given a direct that's most likely due traffic ahead.
DoWenotwilldescendgivewithoutitclearance,toayouSTARwhenclearancethere isnotroomafordescendit.Speed control
IfyounoareATCreadyspeed restriction have been given, follow speeds according todescendthebutSTAR.haven'tAlsoreceivedrememberclearance.toReportmaintainreadyspeed 250kt IAS below FL100.
Cleared for
descentapproach?shortly before reaching T/D.- When cleared for approach via a transition
point,point/IAF, you are also cleared to descend according to theprocedureFlying into AFIS Aerodromes
An introduction to procedures for our AFIS facilities is available here
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