In my 3500+ hrs on Vatsim, I've come to accept that the ONLYway to assume that they'll be there when you arrive is during an EVENT.  That's fine, and I fly most of them because I enjoy the experience of talented ATC to guide me home. 

Outside of events I look to see who's on-line, how long they've been on.  I assume if its a major center like JFK/BOS that if CTR/APR has been on say 30-45 minutes they will be there when I arrive.  Much of the time they are, but not always.

I just wish, hope, dream that there was some way ARTCC's would ask their staff to publish when they will be on-line, Start-End.

I use VATTASTIC to make my decisions.  In the boxes for each position (CTR,APPR,TWR) it should be a simple task to post hours in those boxes.  This would be a simple way to keep ATC and pilots informed.

Opinion welcome.

Greg Miller
AAL203

9 Hours to go! The ARTCC, TRACON, and Tower Cabs are all being set up. Last thing we need is the pilots! Look forward to seeing you!

Flew this event Friday and it was superb.  There was one ctr controller who was a bit over cautious on spacing and had me ay 280 knts at FL320.  Other than that everyone was awesome on procedure and effectiveness.  

As you know, these were "crowded skies", and I was appalled at the few pilots who had not a clue as to where they were or why they were there.  Your controllers patience was to be applauded.

Job Well Done!

Greg

x737

Yes there is!

I personally use VRC to control (Virtual Radar Client) VRC

To get the needed sector files you will need to visit the ARTCC's website.

You are probaly looking for ZLA or another west coast ARTCC though. ZLA would be a place to start. LAARTCC

Got the VRC client, runs on Windows only... Bummer!

Speaking of Controllers...

It would be awesome if "Pilots" had an opportunity to see what the controller sees.  Is there anyway to "look over their shoulders" ?

I'm a serious pilot, both as a real one and as a simulation one.

I have been flying via VATSIM US for about 8 months now, EVERY night after work, and find the ATC experience fun, informative, instructive and consider it a TRUE addiction.

The x737 (x-plane) is the A/C of choice and I fly IFR/ILS exclusively.  I purposely seek really lousy WX, so I go to the governments METAR page and find a bunch of lousy weather.  Then I find the appropriate ARTCC and hope to find someone controlling.

Now here is another consideration, lousy weather is no fun if you can't see it, so I try to find daylight.  The US is getting darker, so as an east coaster, I head to the western part of the US  @ plus 4 hrs.

So now the ISSUE.  I find, when I check out the ARTCC's, the following:  "No Controller On-Line"  Granted, I can sometimes find an ARTCC with controllers, but when I get there, they often go off-line too often and too soon.  Some nights I get lucky, others not.

I'm experienced enough that I can land without them, but it's more fun with them.  We guys and girls yack on 122.80 and help each other out, but that's not real world.

And that's the point... is VATSIM real world, and when and how long?

We pilots appreciate the great work of volunteer's doing this and wonder why there are not more of them.

Thanks for listening,

Greg