PilotEdge Forums

Obviously IRL this is done with a safety pilot, but is this possible to accomplish in PE assuming the network is not super busy? If so, how would one go about it (e.g. contacting approach controller on designated plate?)

The procedure is not any different than the real world. So, if your question is, "how do you request approaches when you're VFR?" It's about as simple as advising the controllers that you'd like to practice [insert approach name] here, and then you'll maintain VFR (because the very next question is likely to be whether you want to pick up an IFR clearance or not).

In the real world, if you don't hold an instrument rating, or if you're not current, then you can't pick up an IFR clearance, hence, practicing approaches while operating under VFR is 100% a thing. In the sim, you don't have the same restriction, so feel free to call for pop-up IFR (it's actually simpler in some ways than doing it under VFR). However, if you explicitly want to do it under VFR for your own reasons, or because you're trying to simulate how'd you'd do it real world given those restrictions I listed above, then have at it.

Here's a video about what you asked about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b-JJgzQqN0&t=791s

Jim