by 767simmer » Fri Jan 18, 2008 3:52 pm
Yes, FS9 ATC is very simple but you can use it towards your advantage to build good habits; for example:
1) When taxing, always monitor tower on the NAV2 and keep notice of any airplane landing. Ground once cleared me to back taxi to the active rwy but I held short because I heard tower cleared an airplane to land on the same rwy.
2) Always maintain your "Spatial Awareness". When flying fast jets, FS9 ATC will sometimes vector you to intercept an ILS localizer too far from the airport (>30nm) and by the time you get the localizer signal, you had already intercepted it. This is where the GPS/FMS comes in handy. If there is no GPS in real life, then you use NAV2 and/or ADF (NDB or LOM) for awareness.
3) Always use SID/STARs and IAP's for obstacles clearance and MSA (Minimum Save Altitudes, usually 25nm within the NavAid listed). During Radar Vectors to approach, verified the altitudes you are cleared to are not below the MSA for the area your in, if they are, fly the published MSA and let ATC tell you time and time again to expedite your decent. This is especially true for areas outside USA and/or around mountains. FS9 world is very accurate to the real world, so real world SID/STARs and IAP plates will keep away from mountains/obstacles. One example is ILS 13L approach for JFK where ATC clears you down to 1500feet to intercept the localizer and you end up flying real close to the Empire State Building when established on the localizer; the real life IAP altitude is 1800feet.
In real life, these are all good habits of airmanship and if you are ever in a situation as these, you will question ATC and ask for verification. You can't question FS9 ATC, but you can ignore clearances you feel are not safe.
Have a safe flight.