Originally Posted by
mmaviator
thanks for reminding me of one of my nightmares. I like to add "A/C callsign....Ground/Tower/Dep/App." and wait for a call back. I.E. "Skyhawk 123 Palwaukee Tower" response: "Skyhawk Go ahead"
Say everything once and stop jamming up the frequency.
Seriously.
"Tower, N12345"
"N12345, whadayawant?"
Also, don't be surprised if the VATSIM folks aren't familiar with VFR procedures as they're 90%+ handling IFR jets I think.
Yes...visual approaches, even, are (or were, when I was doing this) a relatively foreign concept. "You want to what?" "That's right, I have Four Stacks in sight, clear me for the visual..."
Also, (and Tony correct me if I am wrong, but I had good luck with this) especially in busy airspace, don't be afraid to say "unfamilliar" or something similar. I found admitting I was a rookie, gave the controller a heads up to talk a bit slower and anticipate I might botch something up something like using the prefix "Student Pilot".
Also good advice.
And don't be afraid to ask for progressive taxi. It may p*ss off ground. But an incursion will p*ss off a whole lot more people.... or worse.
If ground gets ****ed because you ask for progressive taxi at an unfamiliar airport, ground needs to go out for a smoke (or whatever) break.