The world of the Simulated or Virtual Flight is a little bit different from the ordinary computer games. To play with them you need to have a certain and specific knowledge that you don't need to play with the ordinary games for computer.
It has been a number of years since Microsoft started to work on a program of virtual flight. After all those years and several versions of that program, it has reached an incredible level of perfection. Other companies have tried to complete the program offering different accessories (new aircrafts, cities, airports...). Today's means facilitate the creation of virtual spaces in a way that was not possible at all a few years ago. For instance, they use pictures made from satellites to create the new scenarios.
Usually the program works on net. There are several nets to connect in order to play. The most important are I.V.A.O. and V.A.T.S.I.M. They concentrate the biggest number of players and, hence, of traffic. Playing on those nets, the aircrafts can see each other and, through voice programs, the player can talk to those playing as pilots as well as to those playing as air traffic controllers.
The fiction is so near the reality that, for example, the one playing as air traffic controller can play as controller of ground (GND), tower (TWR), approach (APP), departures (DEP), or control (CTR). If you want to play in any of those categories, you should go through a test on theory and practice. To play as pilot, it is better, though no absolutely needed, to enroll in one of the virtual airlines. The company will evaluate the player to establish his knowledge about flying and assign to him the flights he has to make. At the beginning, they will be domestic flights. But, after a while, as the pilot goes through several tests, the player will be allowed to pilot regional, national and intercontinental flights.
In any of those flights the pilot player should prepare, as in any real flight, a flight plan (FP) with the origin, destination, standard instrumental departure, standard instrumental arrival, flying altitude, airway, VOR's, NDB's, intersections and speed. Once ready, the player should send the flight plan to a controller to get his authorization, through voice will ask for the necesarry permission, the controller will allow the player to approach the runaway (TAXI), will wait at the entrance of the runway (Holding Point), will receive the final authorization to enter and take off (TAKEOFF). After that the player will get in contact with a new controller who will receive instructions about the radio-frequency to use from then on. The player will continue that way till he approaches the destination. At that moment, the player will have to contact the locator (VOR LOC), approach the airport (ILS) and land. In a very simple way, that is a fly.
The player can fly using the instruments (IFR) or using his vision (VFR). If you play inside your own country, you will use your own language. If you go outside, almost always you will have to use the English language.
At first moment it looks complicated but practicing you will get to truly enjoy the time you will spend playing. In Spain there is an association called “Simuvuelo” that offers courses on practice and theory (TEAMSPEAK) for starters. The courses are located in the “Cuarto Vientos Virtual” airport and last for a month. One of those courses offer enough preparation to fly without farther difficulties in the net.
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