Recently I found back to Microsofts
FlightSim
2020. A
youtuber
and
twitch
streamer I discovered through the algorithm, a german pilot, sparked my interest again.
So I thought to myself, let's mount my FlyHoneycomb Gear again and make a short trip inside Austria. Easier said than done. Microsoft Flightsim greeted me with a 100 GB update. No flying this evening.
While it was updating I was continuing to watch videos from riiiva and found out he was flying on
vatsim
(https://www.vatsim.net/), a network that connects
FlightSim
enthusiasts so they can fly together. Sure MSFS has an online multiplayer but Vatsim is different.
It not only connects all current flight simulators (MSFS2020, X-Plane, FSX, ...) it also has people on it that provide ATC (Air Traffic Control) Services. This means you have to radio just like in the real world (well not as strict as the real world, but really, really close).
Since I got my radio certificate a few years back, while I was still doing my private pilot licence, I thought to myself: hey, I should know the phrases I need to say, why not try it?
The next day MSFS was finally finished updating and I reconfigured my flight gear as the configuration was messed up after the update. After a short trip from LOAV to LOWW (Bad Vöslau to Vienna), I decided it was time to try out Vatsim myself.
Almost three hours later I finished my first flight on Vatsim in Vienna. It was a great experience and definitely not the last time I was flying on there. But boy was it exhausting. Although flying is mostly done by autopilot, you still have to tune in the frequencies for the radio communication yourself and also have to talk yourself. So besides overwatching the plane, there is now also the added overhead for transmitting your intentions. But the fun is worth it.
I've heard great things about the
Microsoft
Flight simulator. Like that its very well engineered and presents the world in such a high resolution and thoughtful way.
Do you believe this too?
By the way how clear does your eyesight have to be in
Austria
for a private pilot's license?
It is a really well crafted product. The weather AI is done by a Graz company (2nd largest City in Austria an only an hour away from my place).
To do the PPL you need almost the same medical certificate as a “normal” pilot (if I remember my examination correctly). I remember that I could have passed the full pilot one without an issue (although I’m overweight and not really fit :) )
On eyesight I remember it being not a problem as long as you’ve got glasses or lenses that correct it up to a certain part (maybe 5 or 6 diopters).
Jep, Arnold is from a small village nearby. I don't have problems with my eyes so I can fly naked eyed, but digitally nobody would control it anyway. Haven't been in a small aeroplane since I parted with the club where I had planned to get my licence.
Do you believe this too?
By the way how clear does your eyesight have to be in
To do the PPL you need almost the same medical certificate as a “normal” pilot (if I remember my examination correctly). I remember that I could have passed the full pilot one without an issue (although I’m overweight and not really fit :) )
On eyesight I remember it being not a problem as long as you’ve got glasses or lenses that correct it up to a certain part (maybe 5 or 6 diopters).
Do you have to wear corrective lens for your license or do you fly naked eyed?
I don't have problems with my eyes so I can fly naked eyed, but digitally nobody would control it anyway. Haven't been in a small aeroplane since I parted with the club where I had planned to get my licence.