PE newbie question on WHEN to login to network

[wpatrick]

Quick clarification for a newbie who's done about three PE flights so far. As a RW private pilot, I usually dial up flight following shortly after takeoff with the appropriate approach, and they hand me off to various places as I get to my final destination, pass me off to tower if I'm landing at a controlled field, yada yada yada.

In PE, should I join the network prior to taking off from the non-controlled field or is it okay to join enroute (just like I would be dialing in flight following enroute). I thought I remembered seeing in one of the forum posts to never join the PE network from the air, so I want to make sure I'm "acting appropriately" when on the network.

Thanks everyone!

I have to say, one week in and this is becoming addictive. If I could only learn x-plane a little better so I'm not fumbling around with my joystick/keyboard/mouse. That'll come with time and practice I guess.

Wade

[Kyle.Sanders]

WELCOME TO THE NETWORK!

Well, may I ask what the benefit would be to join in the air after departing an uncontrolled field?
CTAF is still simulated on the network. Tune in and make your announcements as you would RW.
Also, you could have your entire flight logged on http://peaware.pilotedge.net if you ensure a "flight plane" was submitted.

[wpatrick]

No benefit at all Kyle, but I did this once last night after having realized that I had departed and not yet joined the PE network. I joined while in the air, made my ATC call and squawked an Ident, but was hoping that I hadn't really messed with the ATC crew or others by joining in the air. There didn't "Seem" to be an issue, but ATC might have just been being patient with the new pilot on the network. LOL!

[Keith Smith]

To your specific question, you can connect in the air if you'll be connecting in Class E or Class G airspace. By and large, it doesn't mess up ATC if you connect to the network in mid air, with the exception of connecting in close proximity to another airborne aircraft. While ATC isn't responsible for separating IFR from VFR in Class E/G airspace, we will provide traffic alerts for nearby planes and if you pop up super-close, it doesn't give us much of a chance to do so and does slightly reduce the realism. That's about the only caveat.

Welcome to the network!