New member - observations and questions

[BeechV35Pilot]

As mentioned in a few pre-membership posts, I finally got my sim and hardware (yoke/pedals) in shape and joined PE today. After tweaking my settings I was confident enough to jump in and try the first VFR training rating, V-01.

One observation - If I understood the process correctly, the webpage mentions that for pilots who have intentions of flying an exam to make an initial call-up to ATC mentioning this request. Expect then to be granted the request and at that point start the exam by making the first call of the flight. When I called to make my request I was granted it but then immediately the controller granted my clearance for closed traffic and cleared me to taxi to the active runway.

This caught me a bit off guard as I was expecting to then begin the complete pilot comm process by calling clearance (was on the ground at Carlsbad) with my request, then calling ground, but instead I got all three clearances/requests (approval for V-01, clearance, and taxi) in one comm. Is this normal?

Secondly, upon completion and passing of this test I taxied back to the t-hangars, shut down the aircraft, and ended the sim. I then went to the website and noticed that, while I was shown in the current pilots list of online pilots, this flight did not appear in my stats. I checked back 15 minutes later and still no stats. Does it take awhile for my flight to be recorded or is it because I am in day one of my fourteen day trial that my stats are not logging?

Have to tweak my yoke, pedals, and realism settings of FSX just a bit more but it was a fun first flight - Now off to V-02.

[Ryan Geckler]

This caught me a bit off guard as I was expecting to then begin the complete pilot comm process by calling clearance (was on the ground at Carlsbad) with my request, then calling ground, but instead I got all three clearances/requests (approval for V-01, clearance, and taxi) in one comm. Is this normal?

The taxi part was my mistake (we'll say that I combined the frequencies ). At class D fields (like CRQ, where you were), you normally do not need to call up clearance for pattern work. Just contact ground, and they'll taxi you out. You'll want to call up clearance if you want flight following or on an IFR flight plan.

[BeechV35Pilot]

The taxi part was my mistake (we'll say that I combined the frequencies ).

Ah, very good. For my second test just now I asked the controller (you?) to allow me call back to start the process and it went much better.

At class D fields (like CRQ, where you were), you normally do not need to call up clearance for pattern work. Just contact ground, and they'll taxi you out. You'll want to call up clearance if you want flight following or on an IFR flight plan.

Indeed you are correct - I am based out of a class C in real life and am so ingrained to call clearance that I completely forgot about that fact at the class D. Thanks for the reminder.

[Ryan Geckler]

The taxi part was my mistake (we'll say that I combined the frequencies ).

Ah, very good. For my second test just now I asked the controller (you?) to allow me call back to start the process and it went much better.

At class D fields (like CRQ, where you were), you normally do not need to call up clearance for pattern work. Just contact ground, and they'll taxi you out. You'll want to call up clearance if you want flight following or on an IFR flight plan.

Indeed you are correct - I am based out of a class C in real life and am so ingrained to call clearance that I completely forgot about that fact at the class D. Thanks for the reminder.

Yup, it was me for the V2 test, but I was off before you landed. Did you pass?

[Keith Smith]

Regarding the stats, the tracking software needs a little while to work out that you arrived, 60-120 secs, something like that. If you disconnect prior to that, it thinks the flight is incomplete and won't log it.

Tim will correct me if I have the times wrong there.

Sorry about the inconvenience. Once you are aware of it, you get used to hanging out a little bit after landing

[Keith Smith]

There was a trend in the past where some pilots were calling for a rating and then expecting ATC to issue a taxi instruction or IFR clearance based on that request. Over time, in some cases, it actually started happening. This also extended to operations in the air, such as the V-3 rating, where ATC magically knew the that the pilot wanted to transition the Bravo, and that upon completing one transition, magically knew that they wanted another transition, etc.

I've taken steps to reduce the occurrences of that, but it's a tricky habit to break especially with more and more people doing the ratings.

[BeechV35Pilot]

Yup, it was me for the V2 test, but I was off before you landed. Did you pass?

I did. For me that second one was more enjoyable than the three touch and gos, since it was an actual adventure flight across some airspace rather than just circling in the pattern. Admittedly I am going to take the next few days and fly some IFR and VFR non-test flights just to get more action in the system. My VFR class B comms need some work before I take that test, since in real life I don't do a lot of class B VFR flights.

Keith, thanks for the explanation on how the stats work - When you talk about waiting for 60 seconds or so before exiting out, when does that count-down start? At landing or after taxiing to parking and coming to a complete stop? For the first flight, I had landed and took another one or two minutes to taxi to parking before stopping and shutting down the sim.

[Keith Smith]

Peter, I must confess, I'm not sure. I'll have to defer to Tim on this one.

Your plan to fly around and enjoy the system before pushing into the edge of your comfort zone is about as sound as it gets. Enjoy! It doesn't all have to be hard work.

Keith