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Messages - David Macfarlane

Pages: [1] 2
1
The Control Room Floor / Re: Becoming ATC
« on: March 23, 2022, 04:40:47 PM »
I keep taking tests at various parts of the process, usually in order, and some of them are not registering as completed. In trainee orientation for instance, I have gone thru an viewed all, but grades show 0%. There are other parts like flash cards I have gone thru and the same thing. Not showing completion. I completed the commitment statements and that still shows 0%. Not sure what is happening here. Is it because I am using Firefox? I took the entire Communication section, used CHROME for the audio part, and it still says I haven't completed HP5. I have no idea what that is referring to.

2
The Control Room Floor / Re: Becoming ATC
« on: March 22, 2022, 02:48:57 PM »
Don, What I am a bit confused by is the flow of progress. In my Dashboard, I show recently visited section images, yet in the course overview, they appear to be out of sequence. I believe I completed some sections, such as Basics of Air Traffic Control, yet with Optional items left UN-watched, I don't show 100% completion. A simple menu system showing things completed would be helpful, as it appears things are buried in the tree somewhere. I have also done a few of theses tasks and they do not show as either started or completed. I am concerned there may be progress that is not being remembered by the software. Thanks!

3
The Control Room Floor / Re: Becoming ATC
« on: March 20, 2022, 01:15:32 PM »
Don, I have been a C1at both ZLC and ZDV, but have been away for about 4 years, and the pathway to the S1 test appears to be a bit littered with good information, but seems to have a lot of side-steps as you try and proceed. I have also encountered mixed information on the new ways of setting up audio and the scopes in VRC from the past. Change is good, but a simpler path to get to the initial plateau might be useful. Thanks!

4
Simple Insanity / American Airlines To Phase Out Complimentary Cabin Pressurization
« on: March 06, 2014, 03:11:11 PM »
Geez! Couldn't this have waited until April 1?

5
The Control Room Floor / Reality vs. Accomodating VATSIMisms
« on: September 06, 2013, 10:49:24 AM »
Quote from: William A Lewis
However, it must be noted that plain and simple this conversation dictates on common sense (oh no did I just use that term on a VATSIM discussion board ). What time of day is it, What day of the week is it. How busy is the NAS. Are there any events taking place nearby (especially at the destination airport or other airports along their route). What airport are they going to. Is that a large hub and busy airport. Is it a satellite field of a large hub and busy airport. These and more are all factors to consider when answering this question.

For example when working ZID I will give "direct to" clearances all the time. Probably 10 times more than when controlling ZTL. It all just came down to how the airspace was designed and how tightly compact that section airspace is they are flying through. Also that ZID saw a lot more en route traffic where ZTL is heavily populated with arrivals and departures.

Thanks for locating that section. I looked for it before I posted the above, but missed it. Another piece of it is the note at the bottom of the section. I like your interpretation.
[!--quoteo--][div class=\\\'quotetop\\\']QUOTE [/div][div class=\\\'quotemain\\\'][!--quotec--]NOTE−
Nothing in this paragraph must preclude a controller from
issuing a routing clearance that conforms to a letter of
agreement or standard operating procedure within their
own facility or between facilities, is required to maintain
separation or comply with traffic flow management
initiatives.[/quote]

6
The Control Room Floor / Reality vs. Accomodating VATSIMisms
« on: September 05, 2013, 04:26:51 PM »
Curious....  

What prevents us from giving a vector direct next NAVAID/FIX outside our airspace without actual clearance to that which is not in our jurisdiction if the pilot has made a request for a shortcut?

EXAMPLE: "Fly heading xxx". Once the aircraft has reached the limits of your ARTCC airspace, either hand-off to the next ARTCC with an amended flight plan, or the ususal phrase of "XXXX, you are leaving my airspace, XXX CTR not on- line at this time, freqency change approved" (etc.). Chat or call to next controller before handoff might be a good courtesy as well.

7
General Discussion / Vatsim website, others down?
« on: July 30, 2013, 10:51:37 AM »
Ok, so a virtual High Five is nowhere near enough. How's about a virtual High Five Hundred to Richard and the others who suffer on our behalf. Thanks is not enough, but it's what we can offer most sincerely. Please email me info on where I can contribute a little bit more tangibly.

8
General Discussion / Vatsim website, others down?
« on: July 29, 2013, 10:56:12 AM »
While I am not involved in the 'structure' of VATSIM, VATUSA or any of the system's servers and access points, I am very pleased there are many who help make the on-line experience incredibly realistic as well as a great deal of fun for both learning and cameraderie. While I imagine it has been said before, I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the 'unknown' owners and operators for their dedication, and hope there might be some way we can learn about their financial needs and contribute in some way from time to time. In my work, I know it is really hard to predict a failure of hardware and I am sure all these guys and gals are hearbroken when things fail. THANKS FOR NOT THROWING IN THE TOWEL at every whimper and whine.

9
Simple Insanity / Something for laughs!
« on: April 08, 2013, 10:59:42 AM »
Quote from: Dylan Lundberg
So as I was training three students today back-to-back-to-back, The 2nd student sujested that VATUSA pay their I1/I3 rated instructors....Hmmm..not a bad Idea, eh?

We came up with some wages:

I1: $7.25 per Hour
I3: $10.00 per hour.

Looking at my Stats, I have 485 Hours as an I1, and 108 hours as an I3.

The math?

7.25 x 485= $3516.25
10.00 x 108= $1080.00 ............................

Who should I send my Lawyer to for unpaid Employment? a Total of $4596.25 in unpaid dues to me, a Certified, qualified, and dedicated employee! (  )

How much would YOU make with the above wages?

lol....Just a thought! xD


Sadly, 4 days late for April Fool's, but an excellent thought. Call it the "Self-Worth Quotient"

10
The Control Room Floor / Video from ZDV's Rocky Mountain Rumble
« on: April 03, 2013, 10:11:05 AM »
Quote from: Marcus Becker
I know I like watching these videos so I thought I would share them with you too. This is taken from the Denver ARTCCs Rocky Mountain Rumble back in February. Traffic started off light and then American pounded Aspen and it seemed pretty steady from then on. There's a lot going on in the video and you almost have to watch it twice to appreciate it. You can see that Aspen is not only a difficult place to fly but a hard one to work too.

Rocky Mountain Rumble 2013

I found it interesting that so many pilots chose aircraft that are not even allowed to land at KASE in RW (no larger that a CRJ). Witness the number of aircraft that came in including a B777! Luckily, we had really good braking action that night.

11
NOTAMs / New ZLC ATM Selected
« on: October 22, 2012, 11:33:46 AM »
Congratulations Sam. I look forward to working with you. Welcome to the land of "High and Dry" and really cold sometimes too.

Thanks to Tom for making a good choice. Tough job, that.

MANY THANKS to Scott Clarke for his incredibly well done job. Great demaeanor and expertise. Enjoy your well deserved rest and retirement. Somewhere in Florida I am guessing?

12
General Discussion / SERVERS DOWN?
« on: April 13, 2012, 02:23:12 PM »
I noticed recently that the USA-W and USA-N servers are down. Is this due to the problems of hosting I was reading about last week or so?

13
The Classroom (Controller Tips) / Controlling the Arrivals
« on: February 29, 2012, 05:51:13 PM »
This has certainly been an interesting topic! As a somewhat new controller (and very seldom sim pilot) it appears  one of the best ways to take someone off a STAR is to ask them if they want a shortcut. Provided of course, the traffic situation will allow it too. At times I have a pilot tell me he can see the runway as he's on downwind (on a STAR) and implies he's like a visual approach. Hmmm? Fun every time you look around, eh?

14
The Control Room Floor / WHERE ARE THE VIDEOS?
« on: September 09, 2011, 11:07:51 AM »
Interesting insight Rahul.
I will simply hope that they can be put into a public site and linked or removed from the VATUSA materials page. It just adds a bit of frustration when things aren't there. If they were never mentioned, who would know, eh?

15
The Control Room Floor / WHERE ARE THE VIDEOS?
« on: September 08, 2011, 12:21:03 PM »
Thanks Harold. I'll look into it.

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