New pilot hello!

[BluesmanEP]

Hello All, and thanks for such a wonderful service.

I made my first flight on PE yesterday (KSFO to KLAX), and LOVED it. I can't imagine going back to VATSIM now, PE is so much more realistic. I love that there are no text boxes, or lists of controllers and frequencies. It forces me to pay attention to my plane, and my charts, rather than VATspy.

I plan on trying for my V1 and V2 rating later this evening, and I have a couple of procedural questions.

For GA aircraft, I assume call-signs are at pilots discretion? Is it preferred that a pilot use the same call-sign for all GA flights (so they can be remembered), or should a different call-sign be used for every different airplane flown?

For airline flights, call-signs are formatted as ABC123 correct? I fly a bit for the Virtual Airline ZonExecutive under the call-sign ZEA633, do I need to register ZEA as an airline in PE? Does it matter?

I'm very very excited about flying PE, and can't wait to get started. I'm also active on FSE and would be looking to integrate FSE and PE. I also plan on starting RL PPL training in the spring, after returning from a business trip.

Thanks for everything, and see you in the skies!

[Tim Krajcar]

Hi, welcome to PE!

For GA aircraft, I assume call-signs are at pilots discretion? Is it preferred that a pilot use the same call-sign for all GA flights (so they can be remembered), or should a different call-sign be used for every different airplane flown?

Your discretion. I prefer aircraft-specific callsigns, and in fact I usually will search for a real-world callsign of an aircraft that's for sale when I add a new model to the 'virtual hangar'. Completely optional, but kinda fun.

For airline flights, call-signs are formatted as ABC123 correct? I fly a bit for the Virtual Airline ZonExecutive under the call-sign ZEA633, do I need to register ZEA as an airline in PE? Does it matter?

Yes, airline flights should be the three-character ICAO prefix and the flight number. If you are going to use a fictional airline, you don't need to 'register' it, but you should put the full callsign in your flightplan remarks, since the controllers won't be familiar with it (ie "CALLSIGN ZON EXECUTIVE")

[BluesmanEP]

Hi Tim, thanks for your reply.

Like you said, I think I'll find a reg number for each aircraft type and always fly that callsign.

On another note. Can completed flights be edited? Somehow my flight from KSFO to KLAX is listed on PEaware as a C172 even though it was a B752. I think it was because I made a typeo when filing my flightplan and the controller (very helpfully) corrected my mistake and re-filed. I don't think it matters, but it makes the stats look a bit funny.

Thanks again!

[wmburns]

For GA aircraft, I assume call-signs are at pilots discretion? Is it preferred that a pilot use the same call-sign for all GA flights (so they can be remembered), or should a different call-sign be used for every different airplane flown?

Here's a post that may give you some ideas for GA tail numbers to use. To me this adds something to have a tail number that's something more than "just made up". But as others have said, you are free to make up your own as long as it follows the format.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4512

Welcome.

[BluesmanEP]

Thanks for the info. I found a C172 online that I like, it was unused on PE, so now I'm using it

I also figured out why my previous flight was listed as a C172, even though I filed a B752. I connected using the 'click PTT 5 times' method, and didn't realize that the aircraft type etc. was saved from the previous session. I thought it was retrieved from the filed flightplan. Since I had connected just to listen (in a C172) a few times, the Cessna was saved. Funny to be seeing a Skyhawk at 0.82 Mach!

From now on I'll use the plugin menu to connect.

Thanks!