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| Come aboard America West Flight 826 using SquawkBox |
| By Brad Wheaton, LAS Hub Commander |
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| In answering e-mails from VAWA pilots about our PHX Fly-In, it occured to me that not everybody has discovered virtual aviation's most popular freeware program: SquawkBox. This program is basically a chat box that is displayed in Flight Sim, allowing you to talk to real people who use ProController to control aircraft. Not only does SB allow ATC, but it also enables you to use multiplayer and see all of the other aircraft that you are flying with. With the release of the new SB 2.2.2, users of FS2K can now experience multiplayer, and it even comes with a Common Shapes Library so that you can see the exact type of plane and livery that you are sharing the skies with. If your controller is experienced and has a voice rating, you can talk to him using Roger Wilco, another free program. If all of this seems complicated, I invite you to sit in the jumpseat with me aboard America West flight 826 bound for Boston... |
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| It is about 1400 local time in Phoenix when I load up Flight Simulator 2000. Today's flight will take us from Phoenix to Boston Logan, about 4.5 hours flight time. After all preflight checks and positioning myself at the gate, it's time to connect to SquawkBox. I'm already online, so I must host a multiplayer session over TCP/IP protocol. Then, I downsize FS and load SB 2.2.2. I select TCP/IP connection and enter my IP address, completing the setup for multiplayer. If this seems complicated, you will get the hang of it with the SB manual. If you would prefer to fly without multiplayer, you can skip that last step. Then, the SB box appears on my FS screen. Included is the program, an optional Flight Planner with autopilot, and TCAS to avoid collisions. |
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| First, above all I have to file a flight plan so controllers can know where to send me. I fill out a dialog box with all the information about my flight, altitude, aircraft type, speed, flight time, cargo, etc. After filing a flight plan, it's time to connect to SATCO. When logging in, I use my SATCO Pilot ID (which I share with my Controller ID). Under callsign, I use AWE826, AWE for America West and 826 for my flight number. Upon connecting, I look up the active Air Traffic Controllers, and I double click on ABQ_CTR (Albuquerque Center). If it was a busy day, there would be PHX APP, PHX TWR, etc. online. |
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| I can't go anywhere without first clearing my flight plan with ATC: |
| AWE826: Albuquerque Center, Cactus 826 on the ground at KPHX request IFR clearance. |
| ABQ_CTR: Cactus 826, cleared as filed to KBOS, c/m 6,000 St. Johns 2 SID, expect FL370 in ten, squawk 2301 |
| AWE826: Cleared to KBOS as filed, c/m 6,000, St. Johns 2, FL370 in ten and 2301 in the box. |
| ABQ_CTR: Readback correct, cleared for pushback and startup. Report Ready to taxi. |
| AWE826: Cleared push and start, Cactus 826. |
| In my clearance, I am told to climb to 6,000 after departure for the St. Johns two SID. This Standard Instrument Departure has me fly 9 miles on runway heading, the right to 360, then right to 060, then right to 080 finally going 054 outbound to the SJN VOR (If you don't have charts, ATC Will guide you). |
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| After pushback and engine starts, I'm ready to taxi: |
| AWE826: Cactus 826 ready for taxi. |
| ABQ_CTR: Cactus 826 taxi to runway 26R and hold short. |
| AWE826: 26R. |
| I'm in luck, the runway is near to me. While taxiing, I set flaps and prepare for departure. It's not a very busy day so I wont have to wait in line (basically the only time there is that much traffic is during fly-ins, which makes them so fun). |
| AWE826: Cactus 826 holding short |
| ABQ_CTR: Cactus 826 winds 270 at 5 cleared takeoff. |
| AWE826: Cleared for Takeoff. |
| After taking off, I fly the SID and get the go ahead to climb to FL370 (37,000 feet). Along the way to Boston, I will pass through many Centers, called ARTCC's (Air Route Traffic Control Centers). They control all aircraft above 18,000 ft that are just "passing by". Along the way, I will pass through Albuquerque Center, Kansas City Center, Chicago Center (passing right over ORD), Cleveland Center, New York Center, and finally Boston Center. Because my flight is so long, I can only go to 4X speed pending ATC approval. |
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| Along the way, things are pretty quiet. I listen in on the other pilots who are landing below me. Sometimes I meet other aircraft and chat on private frequencies. Other times, I use voice. Looking at the online users over the web, I can tell that Boston is busy tonight. On weekends, the "hot spots" for traffic are densely concentrated in Chicago, Boston, New York, Cleveland, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. When these places are busy, the will have the most controllers, such as Center, Approach, Tower, Departure, Ground, and Flight Service. This makes it even more fun. However, if you fly under non-peak times (mornings, late nights), you may not even have ATC near you that is online. The peak times are usually nightly 6-11 PM ET, and get busier on Friday, Sat., and Sun. nights. |
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| Coming in over New York, I am given clearance to descend. I know that right now the New York Controllers are coordinating with the Boston controller about me. Boston is busy, and the controllers have voice ratings. I am able to talk using voice with them as I approach. Voice is more difficult because everything is not written down somewhere for you to remember. Just for safety, I write ATC instructions and read them back to ATC so I do not foul up. I am slotted behind an American MD-80 for landing, with a Pacific West VA plane behind me. As I get closer, ATC assigns me different headings to get me within 30 degrees to intercept the ILS. |
| BOS_V_APP: (The V stands for Voice) Cactus 826 cleared for the ILS runway 4R. |
| AWE826: Cleared for the ILS 4R Cactus 826. |
| As the needle begins to center, I turn to 040 to intercept the ILS. Once established, I contact tower. |
| AWE826: Boston Tower, Cactus 826 on final runway 4R. |
| BOS_TWR: Cactus 826, winds 060 at 2 cleared to land rwy 4R. |
| AWE826: Cleared to land, Cactus 826. |
| As I touch town on the runway, I reverse and slow down, turning off the runway as soon and possible, stopping to contact ground. |
| AWE826: Ground, Cactus 826 clear of the active. |
| BOS_GND: Cactus 826, taxi to the terminal. |
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| After finding my gate and shutting down, I thank the controller and say "good night" to them. I sign off from SquawkBox and write down the details of my flight. It's getting late, but not too late for a return flight if I wish. I can also go to SATCO's website for a list of all upcoming fly-ins, in which traffic gets heavy. Without SquawkBox and ProController, my flight would have been just another lonely flight, without ATC or other pilots. |
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| For more information, including info on how you can become a SB pilot or an ATC, visit http://www.oocities.org/vawalashub/satco.html. It's free, and it's fun. Let's help make Virtual America West Airlines well-known and respected by all the other airlines flying the virtual skies! |
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| Satco's web site: http://www.satco.org. |
| Squawkbox web site: http://www.avsim.com/mike/sb_pc/ |
| Get your pilot ID's here: http://www.ivpa.com. |
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| See who's online here: http://207.76.75.106/cgi-bin/mgen.cgi?file=all.mhtml |
| See who's using voice here: http://www2.southwind.net/~airlord/kansasartcc/serverframes.htm |
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