Thanks for all the replies guys! This live ATC site seems like it may help me immensely, and at least remedy my lack of exposure. I have Flight Simulator X but I'm not familiar with VATsim? Is it compatible with X?

When I was learning to fly, my instructor always drilled into me:
Who you are, where you are, and what your intentions are.

So...incorporate that into your every day life. Your mom will love it. "John Doe, entering the kitchen, requesting home cooked meal in 40 minutes"

Additionally, like some mentioned above you can listen to live ATC feeds online from LiveATC.net.

It really helps to familiarize yourself with STARS and Departures. Try to memorize the waypoints along the way so you know what ATC is talking about when they let you proceed direct to a certain point. That way, instead of fumbling around with your map or GPS you already know what they are talking about.

Finally, some controllers can be intimidating but just remember it is their job to assist YOU. Do not ever be afraid to say you are unclear about anything. They would much rather have a pilot requesting more detailed instructions than a pilot staying silent and busting airspace/interfering with other traffic. As you get more experience in busy areas, it will become second nature to you and you won't even think about it. I learned at a Towered Airport in Class Bravo airspace, so I was doing all this form day 1. Had I been in your situation, it would be very intimidating to come into that airspace for the first few times.

Keep it up, you'll do just fine. Best of luck!

I did my initial training in the a similar environment. I remember my first cross country when I was going to an uncontrolled field and I was nervous because there WASN'T anyone to talk too! :eek:
I remember a crusty old pilot just telling me to relax and enjoy the flight. Good advice then and now!

USMCFLYR

Before you key the mike, say it outloud to yourself first. You will double the amount of comm training you get per flight and self-edit out any uhms, ahs, and's, & buffonery.

Didn't happen to go to Riddle did you? :D

...I keed...

No sir, just a plane jane flight school for my private. Then bought a seminole and hired an instructor for my other ratings. I've since sold the seminole and now I cruise around in a 2009 Diamond DA40 with A/C (must have in Texas).

Had a buddy go to Purdue and a few to Oklahoma State for Aviation Science degrees...I have a degree in Economics and Real Estate, so if the aviation thing doesn't pan out at least I have a background in something else :cool:

Hi USMCFLYR,

I'm fairly new here to the forums, and I was wondering how to enable PM's? I belong to a few BMW enthusiast forums and they have private messaging abilities but I can't seem to find them here. Thanks!

I would add the "with you" phrase too. :rolleyes:

They will activate after a certain number of posts. I think it depends on the length of the posts and how long you have been a member, but you should be pretty close with 35.

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.:mad: