I'm Hyperventilating

[signmanbob]

It's true...I'm hyperventilating, my heart is pumping out of my chest and I'm scared sh**less.
I just did the "first flight" in PilotEdge live from L52 to KSBP. I believe it went well. I did a pretty good landing anyway. Don't think I embarrassed myself. But almost as important, I communicated with the tower.
I am sitting here in the GA parking spot, with the engine still running, trying to stop shaking. What an experience! I could hardly get the words out. They were sticking in my throat.
I have been flying in Microsoft Flight Simulator since 2007 and have never ever ever done a flight online in any format. So doing this flight on PilotEdge is really special and very scary.
On top of that, I am much better flying with P3D, than I am with X-Plane, but I wanted to do this flight in X-Plane using the vFlyteAir Piper Cherokee Classic.
I am really excited and I believe this will be the start of many more flights on PilotEdge. What I can't believe is I actually did it.

[jtbarton]

Nice to hear. Congrats. Now, that being said,it seems as if you still have a little mic fright. And that's ok but the worst mistake you can make at this point in time is to think that just beacouse you did that means you are able to fly a A320 from la to Vegas. Try some more of the non- towered to towered and than take a look at the PE training program. But overall, great job, you just completed one of the hardest things to do on pilotedge.

[Kyle.Sanders]

I would like to second the pilot training program along with doing the free workshops:
Both can be found in the "pilot center" section of the PilotEdge website!

WELCOME TO PilotEdge!!!

[signmanbob]

Thank you all.
"Little mic fright" is the understatement. I'm petrified! The words seem to clump up in my mouth, and I have to practically spit them out.
But it was really a rush for me. I had a lot of fun just with that little flight. I sat in my parked Piper for a long time afterward, just taking it in and listening to ATC talk to others.
I intend on doing a lot of VFR flying in GA aircraft for a while while I take some of the training that's available. I've also purchased the "Real World VFR" program to help pound it into my head.
You're right. I've always been flying large airliners in P3D and X-Plane without interaction with any real ATC, so I won't be flying those here for a while.
A question that I have...I can take off VFR and just ask for flight following, can't I? Just to have some ATC in route even though I'm flying VFR?
I have a good friend of mine that has been a VFR pilot for over 30 years, and I believe he was telling me once that he would just ask for flight following so he wouldn't have to worry so much about the airspace restrictions, since he was already in contact with ATC.

Bob

[Kyle.Sanders]

A question that I have...I can take off VFR and just ask for flight following, can't I? Just to have some ATC in route even though I'm flying VFR?
I have a good friend of mine that has been a VFR pilot for over 30 years, and I believe he was telling me once that he would just ask for flight following so he wouldn't have to worry so much about the airspace restrictions, since he was already in contact with ATC.

Bob

Yes, you can ask for flight following on the ground at the airport you are flying out of (most have the ability to set up flight following "radar services/advisories" on the ground) if the field is controlled by a tower. You can also ask for it in the air while enroute.

While it is true that ATC will coordinate all class D and C airspace for you, you need to understand that they expect you to stay out of class B airspace unless you specifically ask to transition it and you hear he magic words of "cleared into/through the ____ bravo airspace". Same goes for Restricted airspace. MOAs and Warning areas are not required to have approval to go through but a good idea to ask of the status for them prior to entering.

These type of things are all covered in detail in these free workshops and training program.

[signmanbob]

Yes, you can ask for flight following on the ground at the airport you are flying out of (most have the ability to set up flight following "radar services/advisories" on the ground) if the field is controlled by a tower. You can also ask for it in the air while enroute.

While it is true that ATC will coordinate all class D and C airspace for you, you need to understand that they expect you to stay out of class B airspace unless you specifically ask to transition it and you hear he magic words of "cleared into/through the ____ bravo airspace". Same goes for Restricted airspace. MOAs and Warning areas are not required to have approval to go through but a good idea to ask of the status for them prior to entering.

These type of things are all covered in detail in these free workshops and training program.

Thank you Kyle. I will certainly be studying the material available here on PilotEdge and on the "Real World VFR" program that I purchased. I will try to do shorter simple flights that are not in too complicated areas until I have a better idea of what I'm suppose to do.
Other than the "First Flight", which I will do several times, is there any more good suggestions anywhere, for beginner flights on PilotEdge?

Bob

[stealthbob]

Other than the "First Flight", which I will do several times, is there any more good suggestions anywhere, for beginner flights on PilotEdge?

Bob

If you want to see what it looks like from the other side of the ATC experience:

https://www.twitch.tv/marcusmmc

Live now!

[signmanbob]

If you want to see what it looks like from the other side of the ATC experience:

https://www.twitch.tv/marcusmmc

Live now!

Wow! That's really cool. I'm working now, so I can't watch it too much, but I hope I can catch it again later.
It's really neat to hear the ATC's off-air comments on what is being said. That would really help to hone my communication skills.
Just the short time that I was listening, he commented on a pilot saying "...with you". I guess that is not needed.

Bob

[BFG]

Congratulations and welcome. I had a similar experience first flight. Now my view is that there's flying on PE, and then there's everything else. The training program is excellent, and the workshops are worth every second. Keith and his team have done a massive amount of work in creating support materials here, and they are all worth it. Take advantage of them.

[signmanbob]

Congratulations and welcome. I had a similar experience first flight. Now my view is that there's flying on PE, and then there's everything else. The training program is excellent, and the workshops are worth every second. Keith and his team have done a massive amount of work in creating support materials here, and they are all worth it. Take advantage of them.

Thank you! I will certainly be taking advantage of all the resources that I can. I appreciate all of the help that I can get.

Bob