SuperATC

IFR - Ensure Flight Plan is Loaded

If upon starting the SuperATC programme, the system reports...
    "No flight plan has been loaded"
please do the following:

If FS2002 or FS2004 (FS9), with the simulator in view...

  1. Click on the ALT key
  2. Click on Flights, or press the F key
  3. Click on Select a Flight, or press the F key
  4. Select your previously saved flight.

If FSX, with the simulator in view...

  1. Click on the ALT key
  2. Click on Flights, or press the F key
  3. Click on Load, or press the L key
  4. Select your previously saved flight.
The system will report...
    "It appears as though we have changed the flight plan."
and the system will reload.

You're ready to go!


IFR - Specify Destination Airport

Since we are flying IFR, typically Michelle will already know what the destination airport will be, however, it doesn't hurt to confirm this fact. In this example, let's say you've filed an IFR flight plan that will have you departing Chilliwack (CYCW) British Columbia, Canada and landing at the non-towered airport Nanaimo (CYCD) on Vancouver Island. You will say to Michelle,
    "Make the Destination airport Charlie, Yankee, Charlie, Delta"
She will respond with something like…
    "Roger. Charlie, Yankee, Charlie, Delta"
    "Distance 75 miles."
    "Airport altitude 91 feet."

IFR - Departing from a Non-Towered Airport

In this example, we’ll be departing from the non-towered airport at Chilliwack, BC (CYCW) in a Cessna Skyhawk aircraft with the Tail Number N176CM. Our destination is Nanaimo, BC, about 75 miles due west. We have created a flight plan in the Microsoft simulator and the details of the route, etc., are present and displayed in the GPS.

Getting the METAR Weather Report

If you were at a towered airport, you would say…

    “Switch to ATIS”
to get the local weather conditions. However, the small airport at Chilliwack does not have ATIS facilities. Alternatively, (if you’re flying under real-time conditions) you might say…
    “Get the weather for Charlie Yankee Charlie Whiskey”
However, there’s no automated weather support either. So, you can use the closest Towered airport, Abbotsford, BC (CYXX) and say…
    “Get the weather for Charlie Yankee X-Ray X-Ray”
Listen to the METAR weather report, get the current barometric pressure, set the Altimeter accordingly, and determine the runway you will be using for departure based upon the prevailing winds in the area.

Request IFR Clearance

Since there isn’t a Tower at Chilliwack, you’ll be requesting IFR Clearance from Victoria Approach. How do you know that it'll be Victoria Approach? You discover this by opening the ATC window by pressing the tilde key, or by simply saying,

    "Toggle ATC"
and SuperATC will open it for you. Now that you know that you'll be requesting IFR Clearance from Victoria Approach, you say...
    “Victoria Approach”
    “Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike”
    “IFR Clearance to Charlie Yankee Charlie Delta”
    "Ready to copy"
Victoria Approach will respond with something like this,
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike"
    "Cleared to Charlie Yankee Charlie Delta airport as filed"
    "Climb and maintain 4,000"
    "Departure frequency is 132.7"
    "Squawk 7746"
    "Clearance void *+ from now"
You will read back the confirmation by almost echoing the instructions...
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike"
    "Cleared to Charlie Yankee Charlie Delta"
    "Climb and maintain 4,000"
    "Departure frequency is 132.7", or "Departure on 132.7"
    "Squawk 7746"
    "Clearance void 30 minutes from now"
ATC will respond with...
    "Read back correct"
IMPORTANT NOTE: The Microsoft system does not provide you much time to confirm to the instructions, before it starts nagging you for a response. Therefore, the SuperATC system will temporarily reduce the simulator rate to 1/4 speed in order to give you more time to respond. Even so, until you familiarise yourself with responding in a timely manner, the Microsoft ATC system will still keep nagging, despite the slower rate. Unfortunately, there's not much that can be done in this regard. Once you have completed the confirmation, the simulator's rate gets set back to normal.

Taxiing for Takeoff at a Non-Towered Airport

Now that you have filed your flight plan and you have received clearance from ATC, you can proceed to inform the local traffic that you will be taxiing to the appropriate runway, based upon the weather report you obtained earlier.

You would say (for example),

    "Charlie Yankee Charlie Whiskey Traffic", or "Chilliwack Traffic"
Next specify your Full Tail Number. Let's say your Tail Number is N176CM, you'd say:
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike"
Now you'll tell the traffic you're taxiing to runway 7 for example. You'd say:
    "Taxiing to runway 7"
You then terminate the communication by repeating the airport's ICAO or name:
    "Charlie Yankee Charlie Whiskey", or simply, "Chilliwack"

When you specify a runway, the IYP application "remembers" that you've done so. This is required in case you change your mind and decide to taxi to another Runway. You'd repeat the same announcement as above, however the menu selections within the Microsoft ATC Window are now different.

NOTE: If you re-load the aircraft, causing the Microsoft ATC Window menu items to be reset to the point where no runway has been selected, then the SuperATC programme will be "out-of-sync" with the simulator. In this case say,

    "Reset runway assignment"
to reset the SuperATC system to a point where no runway has been specified.

Departing from a Non-Towered Airport

Once you've taxied to the departing runway (e.g. runway 7), you'll make another announcement to the local traffic in the area of your planned departure parameters. Therefore, you'd say:

    "Charlie Yankee Charlie Whiskey Traffic", or "Chilliwack Traffic"
Next specify your Full Tail Number. Let's say your Tail Number is N176CM, you'd say:
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike"
Now you'll tell the local traffic you're taking off from runway 7. You'd say:
    "Taking off runway 7", or,
    "Departing runway 7"
followed by the pattern you'll be using, for example:
    "departing the pattern to the west", or
    "departure to the west"
You'll then typically specify your intended altitude. For example you'd say:
    "Climbing to 4,000"
You then terminate the communication by repeating the airport's ICAO or name:
    "Charlie Yankee Charlie Whiskey", or simply, "Chilliwack"
Off you go!

(refer now to IFR - En Route ATC)


IFR - Departing from a Towered Airport

In this example, we'll be departing from Abbotsford International airport (CYXX).

Getting the ATIS Information at a Towered Airport

First you contact ATIS to get the weather conditions by saying to your co-pilot:

    "Switch to ATIS"
This will change the radio frequency to that of the ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information System). Listen to the ATIS report, get the current barometric pressure, and set the Altimeter accordingly. Then listen for the active runway(s) and wait for the phrase from ATIS that will be something like this:
    "Advise controller on initial contact you have India"
The word "India" is a handle for the latest ATIS update. The next update will likely use the word "Juliet", then "Kilo", and so on. Jot down all needed information, then say:
    "Switch to Ground."
This will change the radio frequency to Ground Operations at (in this example) Abbotsford (CYXX).

Request IFR Clearance

In this example, we'll be departing from Abbotsford International airport (CYXX).

You request IFR clearance by saying (for example)...

    "Abbotsford Ground"
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike"
    "IFR Clearance to Charlie Yankee Charlie Delta"
    "Ready to copy"
Abbotsford Tower will respond with something like this,
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike"
    "Cleared to Charlie Yankee Charlie Delta airport as filed"
    "Fly runway heading climb and maintain 4,000"
    "Departure frequency is 132.7"
    "Squawk 7746"
You will read back the confirmation by almost echoing the instructions...
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike"
    "Cleared to Charlie Yankee Charlie Delta"
    "Fly runway heading climb and maintain 4,000"
    "Departure frequency is 132.7", or "Departure's on 132.7"
    "Squawk 7746"
ATC will respond with...
    "Read back correct"
Taxiing for Takeoff at a Towered Airport

You will contact Abbotsford Ground Operations and say (in this case):

    "Abbotsford Ground"
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike"
    "With India request taxi IFR", or "Request taxi to the active", etc.
Abbotsford Tower will respond with something like this,
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike"
    "Taxi to, and hold short of Runway 25 via taxiway Alpha, Delta, Runway 7"
    "Contact Tower on 121.0 when ready"
You will confirm these instructions by saying...
    "Taxi to, and hold short of Runway 25 via taxiway Alpha, Delta, Runway 7"
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike"
Requesting Take Off Clearance

You contact Tower by simply saying to your co-pilot:

    "Switch to Tower"
Now you need to request Take Off Clearance by saying:
    "Abbotsford Tower"
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike", or "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike"
and one of the following (e.g., Runway 7):
    "At runway 7, ready for takeoff", or
    "At runway 7, ready for departure", or
    "At runway 7, ready to go"
If there's a lot of traffic, or perhaps an aircraft on final, Microsoft ATC may say something like this:
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
    "Hold short of runway 7. Caution Cessna Caravan on final."
You need to acknowledge this by saying:
    "Hold short of runway 7", followed by...
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
Perhaps an aircraft just took off, so Microsoft ATC may say something like this:
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
    "Taxi into position and hold."
You need to acknowledge this by saying:
    "Taxi into position and hold", or simply, "Position and hold", followed by...
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
When the runway is clear, the Microsoft ATC will respond with something like this:
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
    "Cleared for takeoff Runway 7."
You need to acknowledge this by saying:
    "Cleared for takeoff Runway 7"
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"

You're airborne!



IFR - En Route ATC

Now that you're airborne, and since you're flying IFR rules, you'll need to contact air traffic control (ATC) shortly after takeoff. Throughout your IFR flight you'll be in radio contact with a controller at either Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), or an Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC).

ATC is designed to permit controllers to issue traffic information to pilots based upon radar contact information, so as to ensure that other aircraft in your flight path will not intersect with yours. By communicating with ATC, you have complete knowledge of the air traffic you are flying through. ATC controllers may use phraseology like, "traffic alert", or "low altitude alert", followed by a description of the alert and a recommendation for how to avoid it.

When flying IFR, the controllers will provide radar vectors throughout the entire flight.

Contacting ATC After Departing from a Non-Towered Airport

In this example, let's say that you're flying the runway heading as you depart from Chilliwack (CYCW) British Columbia, Canada en route to the non-towered airport at Nanaimo (CYCD) on Vancouver Island. Once you climb above approximately 300 feet, the ATC menu will change and display the following:

    1 - Contact Victoria Approach
At this point you can say...
    "Victoria Approach"
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike is with you."
or simply...
    "Victoria Approach"
    "6 Charlie Mike is with you"
ATC will respond with something like this...
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike"
    "Victoria Approach - Roger"
    "Altimeter 29.96"
ATC En Route Vectoring and Alerts

ATC will say something like...

    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
    "Turn left heading 265"
    "Resume own navigation"
    "Climb and maintain 4,000"
You acknowledge these instructions by saying (for example)...
    "Turn left heading 265"
    "Proceed on course"
    "Climb and maintain 4,000"
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
Shortly thereafter, ATC may say something like this...
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
    "Contact Vancouver Center on 125.95"
NOTE: Here you actually instruct your CoPilot to change the frequency and respond to ATC.

So, you say...

    "Going to 125.95"
Your CoPilot will change to the assigned frequency and say to ATC...
    "Going to 125.95"
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
Now you contact Vancouver by saying (for example)...
    "Vancouver Center"
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike is with you."
or simply say...
    "Vancouver Center"
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike is with you"
ATC will respond with something like this...
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike"
    "Vancouver Center - Roger"
    "Altimeter 29.97"
During the flight, ATC may advise you to increase your altitude in order to clear mountain terrain. They might say (for example)...
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
    "Climb and maintain 5,300"
You respond by echoing...
    "Climb and maintain 5,300"
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
Thereafter, ATC may advise you to decrease your altitude and say (for example)...
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
    "Descend and maintain 4,000"
You respond by echoing...
    "Descend and maintain 4,000"
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
(...refer now to landing IFR)


IFR - Landing at a Non-Towered Airport

In this example, you'll be landing at the non-towered airport at Nanaimo (CYCD) on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

As you approach the airport, ATC will say something like this...

    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
    "You're 42 miles east."
    "Turn right heading 305."
    "Descend and maintain 2,300"
    "Expect vectors visual runway 16 approach"
You acknowledge the instructions by saying,
    "Turn right heading 305."
    "Descend and maintain 2,300"
    "Expect vectors runway 16 approach"
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
NOTE: You MUST specify the correct runway number above.

After vectoring you towards the airport, ATC will finally say something like this...

    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
    "Airport is 11 miles at your 10 o'clock"
    "Turn left heading 180."
    "Report runway in sight"
You acknowledge the instructions by saying,
    "Turn left heading 180."
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
Do Not Have the Runway in Sight

If you cannot see the runway, you would say...

    "Victoria Approach"
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
    "Do not have the runway in sight"
ATC will respond with something like this...
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
    "Airport is at your 12 o'clock - 8 miles"
    "Turn right heading 180."
    "Report runway in sight"
Have the Runway in Sight

Once you have the runway in sight, you'll say...

    "Victoria Approach"
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
    "Have the runway in sight"
ATC will respond with something like this...
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
    "You are 9 miles north"
    "Descend and maintain 2,100"
    "Cleared visual runway 16 approach"
    "Switch to advisory on 122.1"
You acknowledge the instructions by saying,
    "Descend and maintain 2,100"
    "Cleared visual runway 16"
    "Advisory on 122.1"
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
Contacting Local Traffic at a Non-Towered Airport

As you approach the airport, you can say, for example,

    "Charlie Yankee Charlie Delta traffic", or "Nanaimo traffic"
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike"
    "9 miles north of Charlie Yankee Charlie Delta"
    "For Landing runway 16."
    "Full stop"
    "Charlie Yankee Charlie Delta", or "Nanaimo"
followed by...
    "Charlie Yankee Charlie Delta traffic", or "Nanaimo traffic"
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike"
    "On final for runway 16"
    "Charlie Yankee Charlie Delta", or "Nanaimo"
Missed Approach at a Non-Towered Airport

If you missed your approach, you will contact Victoria Approach by saying,

    "Victoria Approach"
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
    "Missed Approach at Charlie Yankee Charlie Delta"
ATC will respond with something like this...
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
    "You are 2 miles northwest"
    "Turn right heading 325"
    "Climb and maintain 2,100"
    "Expect vectors visual runway 16 approach"
You acknowledge the instructions by saying,
    "Turn right heading 325"
    "Climb and maintain 2,100"
    "Expect vectors runway 16 approach"
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
After Landing at a Non-Towered Airport

Once you land and clear the runway, you say…

    "Charlie Yankee Charlie Delta traffic", or "Nanaimo traffic"
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike"
    "Clear of the runway"
That's It!


IFR - Landing at a Towered Airport

In this example, you'll be landing at the towered airport at Abbotsford (CYXX), British Columbia, Canada.

As you approach the airport, ATC will say something like this...

    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
    "You're 42 miles southwest"
    "Turn right heading 115"
    "Expect vectors ILS runway 7 approach"
You acknowledge the instructions by saying,
    "Turn right heading 115"
    "Expect vectors ILS runway 7 approach"
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
NOTE: You MUST specify the correct runway number above.

As you approach the airport, you'll likely hear something like...

    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
    "Descend and maintain 2,500"
You can respond by saying...
    "Descend and maintain 2,500"
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
As you approach the airport, ATC will say something like this...
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
    "You are 15 miles west"
    "Turn left heading 115."
    "Descend and maintain 2,500"
    "Cleared ILS Runway 7 approach"
    "Maintain 2,500 until established on the Localizer"
    "Contact Abbotsford Tower on 119.4"
You acknowledge the instructions by saying,
    "Turn right heading 115"
    "Descend and maintain 2,500"
    "Cleared ILS Runway 7 approach"
    "Maintain 2,500 until established on the Localizer"
    "Tower on 119.4"
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
NOTE: You MUST specify the correct runway number above.

Next you contact Abbotsford Tower by saying,

    "Abbotsford Tower"
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike"
    "18 miles west of Charlie Yankee X-Ray X-Ray"
    "To Land"
Abbotsford Tower will respond by saying something like,
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike"
    "Abbotsford Tower"
    "Fly straight in Runway 7"
    "Altimeter 29.98"
You acknowledge the instruction by saying,
    "Fly straight in Runway 7"
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
When you get to about 6 miles from the airport, the Abbotsford Tower will say...
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
    "Abbotsford Tower"
    "Cleared to land Runway 7"
You acknowledge the instruction by saying,
    "Cleared to land Runway 7"
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
After Landing at a Towered Airport

Once you've touched down and slowed the aircraft, the Microsoft ATC system will say something like:

    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike, exit runway when able", or
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike, turn next taxiway"
As you exit the runway, the Microsoft ATC system will tell you to contact Ground Operations by saying something like,
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike, contact Ground on 121.8."
You will acknowledge the instruction by actually instructing your CoPilot to tune…
    "Going to 121.8"
Your CoPilot will change to that assigned frequency and say to the Tower controller…
    "Going to 121.8… Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
The ATC window will likely have the following options:
    1. Request Taxi to Gates
    2. Request Taxi to Parking
    3. Request Taxi to Fueling
    4. [Taxi for Takeoff Options . . .]

NOTE: Request Taxi to Fueling is only present in FSX.

At this point you'd say:

    "Vancouver Ground"
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike"

    "Request Taxi to Gate", or
    "Request Taxi to General Aviation Parking", or
    "Request Taxi to Fueling"
or, if you're planning on leaving right away, perhaps you'd say,
    "Switch to ATIS"
This will change the radio frequency to that of the ATIS. Listen to the ATIS report, get the current barometric pressure, and set the Altimeter accordingly. Then listen for the active runway(s) and wait for the phrase from ATIS that will be something like this:
    "Advise controller on initial contact you have India"
The word "India" is a handle for the latest ATIS update. The next update will likely use the word "Juliet", then "Kilo", and so on. Jot down all needed information, then say:
    "Switch to Ground"
followed by,
    "Vancouver Ground"
    "Cessna November 176 Charlie Mike"
    "With India, request taxi, departure to the east"
Let's assume we requested taxiing to General Aviation Parking. The Microsoft ATC system will say something like:
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
    "Taxi to General Aviation Parking using taxiway Hotel, Alpha"
Once again, you practically echo the instruction, by saying,
    "Taxi to General Aviation Parking using taxiways Hotel, Alpha"
    "Cessna 6 Charlie Mike"
If needed, you can then say…
    "Turn Progressive Taxi On"
and if you want to turn it off, say…
    "Turn Progressive Taxi Off"
That's it!
















































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