VATSIM

[runibl]

Wee, I have recently joined VATSIM. After reading through all the learning stuff and after convincing my nerves. I did my first flight last night,
KATL - KORD. It was great.
I use hours prepping my flight incl. finding suitible route, finding and printing 100 charts and stuff. And i also borrowed my sisters laptop to run
Servinfo at the same time, and also to be able to find charts quickly. (It really helps having a laptop or second computer at your side.).

My plan was well prepared "CADIT4 RESPE IIU J89 KURTZ VHP OKK OKK1" at FL310, used http://flightaware.com/analysis/route.rvt to find route, used
charts for SID/STAR.

Then came the time to ask for clearance, my nerves were falling apart "what if he doesn't accept the route and changes it". Then the call came,
"Cleared for KORD, fly CADIT4 departure then proceed as planned, Climb to 6000 expect FL310 in 10 min.".

Phew, what a relief. I readback the clearance (was a bit slow because i was writing the route down.) Readback was correct and i was told to contact
ground when ready to taxi. After I had the plane ready and pushed back. I called in "ready for taxi", Call came back "taxi to runway 26L". That was my
second scare, no taxi route. Luckely i had the airport diagram at hand, called back "taxi to runway 26L" and taxiid to runway.
About 5 sec after reaching the hold point for the runway I got told to "squawk normal", luckely i had done my homework, I set transponder to Charlie
mode on the plane an in FSInn. Then I got the long awaited cleared for takeoff call. I lined up on runway, did my final check, throttle forward and
off i went. Got a smooth takeoff.

Since it was my first VATSIM flight, i engaged the autopilot early in LNAV mode and also the autothrottle. I was told to contact center on xxx.xx, and
i did, he told me to climb to 12000ft (or was it 15000ft). But at around 9000ft or so, I got a call "You are leaving my airspace, No centers to
transfer to radar service terminated", now what. I aknowledged the transmition, and tuned in in unicomm.
I figured i'll just follow the flight plan and climb to FL310.

I then used Servinfo on the laptop to check for centers on route....Empty all the way to KORD, nothing not even tower, ground or anything. Oh well,
i'll just continue and hope someone will be there when i get closer.

Then about 200nm from KORD, someone was there. Chicago center and Chicago approach. I'm still a bit away. then about 50nm from airspace, i contacted
center. Told him aprox. location, distance and FL. He told me to ident, so i did. Took a moment, then call came "Radar contact", i aknowledged. 1sec
later urgent call "Descend pilot descend, cross bearz at 11000, alt 30.00". Wow, i had lost track of time, had to hurry, set for 11000, lowered speed
and aknowledged.

About 50nm from kord, contacted Approached. I got cleared for runway 9R, excactly the runway i was hoping for, i set up my ils reciever and input the
approach in the FMC. When i got closer Approach vectored me to loc, and cleared me for landing (very shifting wind conditions and plane was shaking),
made a nice landing and turned off the runway. Got told to taxi to ramp (Reminds me of RC4 more and more).

After parking and shutdown, App. asked if i was voice enabled. I said i hadnt tested it yet. Then he asked if we should test it there and then, i
complied, and we tested.
His voice came through fine, but mine needs some tuning. Or maybe i need a better mic.

Well all in all, the flight went very well, very exciting. And i'm hooked