Enroute Activities

[t_alexander21]

This came up in the forums at my VA and thought I'd broad it to you all at SimV...

Anyways, usually, when I'm not busy w/ ATC, I'll usually read mostly Airways or Airliners magazine but sometimes I'll brush up on my Airbus procedures. If it is a really long flight (+4hrs) or if I choose to fly late at night (12-6a.m.) I'll throw in a movie...for my passengers of course....and for really long and boring flights when no VATSIM controllers are on I'll jump around the internet but doing this makes me feel really guilty for some reason.

So what do you guys do to pass the time?

[jrpilot]

I sleep, if at night, or speed it up.  When its a day flight I usually go out and do jobs then come back.

[TwoLow]

If its at night or over water I speed it up...nothing to look at makes it boring.

[SaVas]

I turn on the TV or read a book, do some artwork, etc, and if the aircraft has it I go over the wingview in vc. If its a really long flight like overseas, I will turn on the autopilot sleep for the night, and when I wake up, I will take over again but I NEVER speed up the sim

[JBaymore]

There is a great stand alone utility (esternal to the sim) that I think is called "BeBack" that lets you set a specific distance from a specific waypoint and then sets off an alarm.  Great for those long trans-oceanic flights.

I have heard of another one (don't have it) that is a SELCAL type thing that sets off an alarm when comms are directed to you specifically.

I usually am reading up on something to do with flight sim in a mag or printed paper from the net..... or soldering a wire on a panel for the simpit, ..... or even studying up on the next phase of the flight to make sure I do it right  ;).


best,

.................john

[Rocket_Bird]

I normally fly some medium to long legs, so theres a few things I normally do to pass time.  Its good idea to have a TV situated beside the computer first of all!  Othertimes, I might read a book, or even surf the web (I use FSUtilities on my kneeboard, so I can at least take some time to read the news )

[t_alexander21]

Yeah, to sleep on an overseas flight is okay in my eyes. Even commercial crews rotate on transatlantic flights to get some rest...so I will usually fall asleep in my seat or sleep on the couch next to my computer...just in case

Also, I have used the accelerated time on three or four occasions but feel really guilty doing it

[flyinmaninmn]

I usually watch a movie. I have made several flights from MSP to SAN and they take generally about 3 to 3.5 hours to complete. A movie is a good thing. I can usually watch a movie and then start another before having to set up for landing at my destination.

[wji]

"So what do you guys do to pass the time?"
Monitor the FS9 kneeboard(s) mostly



The crew's favorite is the King's "How to land the airplane." It's usually (recommended it be) completed before the flight.

Disclaimer: This is in jest Only one kneeboard is visible at a time. this is a composite of available FS9 kneeboard features

[TwoLow]

You guys feel guilty for speeding the game up but you'll go watch tv or go to work/sleep and come back and not feel guilty?  :)

I guess I speed it up because I don't have the time you guys might have. I'm lucky if I can grab two hours in the morning to play before work and hate spending those 2 hours in real time...a 10 hour flight broke up over several days is quite boring after you take off and before you land. Kind of hard to get excited about sitting there two hours looking at clouds  ;D

If you go to sleep or whatnot how do you get around ATC switching your towers or frequencies every 10 to 20 minutes during the flight? It kicks out my flightplan if I don't stay on top of that...

[TSC.]

I'll usually go off & do a few odd jobs or maybe watch a programme on tv if it's a long flight (+2 hours).

Although, using FS Passengers I sometimes wish that I could just hand complete control to the 1st officer for a limited amount of time (say 20% of the e.t.e.) - just to give me a break.

I never really feel guilty if I speed up a boring flight - after all, it's the landing that I look forward to.

TSC.

[ozzy72]

Real men fly warbirds! And on the deck so you have plenty of time to admire the trees and buildings, as you fly between them

[Staiduk]

I've been flying the Tu154 a lot recently; with FSPassengers.
So a lot of my time is taken up with charts and a pen and paper going "Where the hell am I!?"

[ozzy72]

On a seat in front of your PC Ben?

[t_alexander21]

If you go to sleep or whatnot how do you get around ATC switching your towers or frequencies every 10 to 20 minutes during the flight? It kicks out my flightplan if I don't stay on top of that...

I just flew Toronto-Barbados last night and was in controlled airspace until CLE_CTR, didn't see any ATC after that so choose to sleep and set an alarm for 7:30 a.m. which would wake me up about an hour before our descent. Also, when you are flying over the Atlantic you are rarely getting instructions from any of the FIR's so it should be pretty easy to take a three or four hour snooze w/ out getting booted...but if you are really that concerned I have heard of pilots requesting permission to "leave" A.K.A sleep on the flight deck during Atlantic crossings, which ATC is usually okay with.

p.s. I am going to fly that return around 6:00 p.m. CST...if anyone cares to join