Helicopter operations

[helicopterjoe]

I just started my 2 week trial today with two quick VFR flights this afternoon, and so far I like the service. But, there are a few things that stood out to me as odd. I've been flying helicopters for the past 14 years or so, A few of those years the los Angeles and San Bernardino area. I have never been asked to place the "November" prefix in front of my tail number when talking to tower. I know what the AIM says about when the November prefix is dropped, but most, if not all Helicopters pilots and ATC's i've known never use or ask for a helicopters make. Simply identifying the aircraft as Helicopter 12345, has been the only way i've heard it done, and the only way I've done it. I'm willing to comply with this practice, If that's the way you do it here, but I'm also curious why the ATC's on this service consider that a requirement. I was very politely reminded by a second controller to use the N prefix in my call sign. When I told him I was not accustomed to using November, he said it was ok, as long as my tail number was valid. This was the second thing I found Odd. Today I was using the tail number 108CS, or N108CS to be more precise, which as far as I can tell, is a valid FAA tail number for a US registered aircraft. I couldn't find any reference or guidelines on tail number use on Pilot Edge. If anyone can shed some light on this for me, I'd appreciate it.

[helicopterjoe]

I would also like to know if the LAX helicopter frequency is in use on PE, as well as the helicopter advisory frequency for the Los Angeles Basin.

[Kevin_atc]

The callsign/tail number being referenced is the N Number including the N registration preceding the numbers. The controller was not referencing what you call yourself on the radios, but what you type into the "callsign" field when you connect to the PilotEdge network. Simply place your mouse right in front of the "108CS" and put an N in front of there and then you're good to go. Your radio callsign phraseology you used is perfectly acceptable.

All frequencies are modeled accurately on the network and mirror the real world thus LAX helicopters is 119.8

[helicopterjoe]

Ah, that clears it up! thank you very much, I just fixed it. Is 123.025 in use in the basin? or do you not have enough helicopter traffic to bother with it?

[ChrisS]

Good to see some more helo traffic on the network. Welcome Joe!

[helicopterjoe]

Thanks, So far I've been the only rotorcraft that I've seen. I take it helicopters aren't too common here, at least on the FSX side of things.

[Ryan B]

I do helos once in a while. I was using the Milviz Bell 407 but it's a virtual address space (OOM) problem.... using other payware scenery can really get me into trouble.

Otherwise the cerasim Bell 412 or 222 is always fun!

[helicopterjoe]

I about to start a flight in the MV B407. Does it not play well with PE? I know it's a heavy draw on frames, is it too much of a drag for online play? So far I've only used the the Cera 212 and it's been working out pretty well.

[ChrisS]

I use X-Plane these days and have been flying the DreamFoil 407 without any issues. We even got shared cockpit working with it recently. Shared Cockpit video

[Peter Grey]

Is 123.025 in use in the basin? or do you not have enough helicopter traffic to bother with it?

Our system allows for air to air communications on any frequency (just like a real world radio). So if 2 people are on 123.025 and talk to each other and they are in appropriate radio range they will hear each other.