Proof there is a fool born every minute.
And JFK was shot by a second gunman

Steve,
   Thanks for your interest in joining ZLC ARTCC.  The time it takes to accept or reject a transfer requests varies depending on various circumstances.  The first thing that occurs is a persons VATSIM record is reviewed which could include how many times a person has requested a transfer and why and any issues from other ARTCC/FIR.  Staff meeting are sometimes arranged to review a record and make recommendations.  I would also like to mention that your post makes it sound like your request has been languishing without any action being taken.  You only requested a transfer yesterday and it sometimes takes a few days to be approved.  Please be patient and the staff will get with you soon.

I;m not sure if this belongs here, as this is my first post, but I have been thinking lately: If we are trying to emulate real-world flying and ATC procedures, would it be possible to make the UNICOM frequency 122.8 a talking frequency? I would like to see us announce intentions on an actual voice channel rather that having to type everything. Is this a possibility in the near or distant future?

Bandwidth

In VATUSA's Training Resource Center, under VFR Tower, it states

Class B/C Operations

You will treat all VFR departures out of a Class B/C airport the same as you would IFR departures. Clear them for takeoff, then hand them off to departure once airborne.

This is incorrect unless all of my instructors were wrong.  The Tower controller should keep VFR aircraft within the Class B/C surface area (usually 5 mile radius) of the Class B/C airport instead of handing them off as you would IFR.  If the pilot was VFR doing closed traffic, the Tower controller would not hand that pilot off and would maintain control of that aircraft, such as advising the pilot to fly left traffic, report mid-field downwind/base/final or whatever.  Otherwise there is a lot of unnecessary handoffs back and forth between TWR and APP/DEP or CTR.   I know I have had 4 or 5 doing closed pattern work in the ORD Class Bravo airspace before and if I would have handed each one off to APP or CTR and then have gotten them right back, there wouldn't be much of a chance to control anyone else do to the constant handoff/acceptance, etc.

This quote can be found here.

If aircraft is departing Class B/C then the pilot isn't flying the pattern, hand off to app/dep is required.   If pilot remains in the pattern then he is with tower.

Sorry Mike, but this is complete bogus. What is your source? All local media is reporting the attempted terror plot over Detroit from yesterday as their top story, and I have not heard anything about this new "regulation."

TSA.gov - nothing
FAA.gov - nothing

The Associated Press has reported new TSA rules require that all passengers and crew remain seated during the last hours of flight.  The TSA has neither confirmed or denied the new regulations.