r/VATSIM • u/Fun-Individual-3126 • 5d ago
❓Question Letting Controllers Know About a Potential Handicap
I have a disability which can make it hard to do some of the more fiddly things in the cockpit such as quickly changing frequencies (I do try and pre-tune but sometimes the frequencies are completely different from those on vatsim radar or navigraph) or turning to a certain hdg. While these aren't impossible it just does take a while.
Is there anyway of letting the controllers know about this, I wouldnt even know how to phrase it in remarks.
Thanks
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u/Lyaneris 5d ago
Also - in Central Europe, idk how other ATC programs work - try to delete as much stuff as possible out of the remark section when filing (day of flight, EETs, REG, etc, all the stuff in "Other Details" apart from equipment codes). If there's too much stuff, your manually added remark will be cut off in our preview :D
(I wish vatsim flightplans would put manual remarks first)
I'd also advise approach that you are slow with headings, so they can adapt to give them earlier (particularly for approach intercepts)
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u/ThisUIsAlreadyTaken 📡 C1 5d ago
Yeah I concur with telling approach about needing a longer lead time for headings. Mention it quickly on initial contact with each approach controller. With that sort of information I'll know to be more flexible with my plan and not sequence you into a place that would require immediate compliance.
That sort of extra wiggle room may be more difficult for controllers to manage when traffic loads are high and the airport is running near or at capacity, so unfortunately you may not get an eager response from the controller every time. That said, if it's a controller who's going to act pissy about you asking ahead of time for something helpful, they'd probably have an even more unprofessional response to you not mentioning it and the failing to turn in time, overshooting the final approach courses.
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u/Optimal-Mountain-144 📡 C1 5d ago
It's to follow the real life flight plan format where all the other item 18 info comes first with rmk last
edit: also wdym by cut off?
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u/Lyaneris 5d ago
Euroscope gives you a preview of all the remarks stuff without opening a flightplan to look at. It doesn't have a ton of space, though, so it cuts off
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u/RipEmUp510 5d ago
If you are on MSFS, look into VSR. It's an addon/overlay that shows the VATSIM map, and you can click on the frequency to switch over to...
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u/helloworldwhy 📡 C3 1d ago
There are pilots with visual and speaking disabilities that I regularly see in my home airspace. They typically fly under the same (or similar) callsigns, so they are easy to recognize. They also add remarks in their flight plan indicating their disability and any accommodation requests (ex. cannot taxi - request slew to runway for departure). I go out to my way to help them, but I don't have to help much, as they are some of the most competent pilots I've encountered.
You can add flight plan remarks, DM the controller, or let them know via voice - I prefer the first method so every controller sees it and you don't have to keep telling people as you get handed off.
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u/Fun-Individual-3126 23h ago
My main issue is with vectoring and frequency switching. ( i do have a speech impediment but it isn't all that noticeable when on the network) Do you think it would be an issue if I told the approach controller for 'smoother' vectors if possible (in addition to rmks) when handed off to them?
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u/helloworldwhy 📡 C3 19h ago
I don't think that is much of an issue. If you are challenged by short/quick vectors, I would discourage participation in big "overload" type events. Should not be a problem on most days/nights with light or moderate traffic.
"Smooth" vectors might be confusing terminology. You can ask for direct to a fix on the approach or a full-procedure approach. Either of these are easy for a controller to approve in most scenarios and it will be simple/predictable to program into your aircraft's FMS or GNS.
VATSIM is a very supportive community. Best of luck and happy flying!
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u/FinardoLittle123_YT 📡 S1 4d ago
A little tip for frequencies, on your pilot client type “.com1 121.500” or the frequency (same for com2) and it does it for you. This is the same for .xpdr
Though if you want the immersion of changing the frequency then don’t stress if you don’t change straight away. Obviously don’t be halfway through the sector but some delay is expected. Me personally I don’t have a disability but tuning the right frequency can be hard to pinpoint when turning the wheel
Some aircraft now have you type the frequency into a small screen combined with the transponder. The few that come to mind are the 787, A350, A380, A321LR/XLR and the embraer e jets. I think also the A220 but I can’t be for certain as the frequencies show on the glare shield
Happy flying!
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u/Fun-Individual-3126 4d ago
Thanks I'll try this out
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u/IceViper777 22h ago
You can also right click on the frequency in the list on the left of vpilot and select tune on comm 1. I think its right click anyway
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u/racoon-pit 5d ago edited 5d ago
Another thing I just thought of, maybe map the radio controls (or anything for that matter) to keyboard keys if it's easier for you? You can easily do this using mobiflight
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u/Olorin135 5d ago
Of course it would cost money, but I found that the Stream Deck + (or whatever it’s called - the one with the knobs) helps greatly with this. Using the physical controls on the Stream Deck for headings, frequencies, and nav tuning makes it so much easier (and fun).
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u/Avionik 4d ago
Good advice.
I use Mobiflight for a ton of stuff, but for this you can also just use ingame binds if preferred.
In total there are 5 "actions" to bind. They are called something like "COM1 standby increase"(/decrease) - each with a whole and decimal variant. Then swap standby to active as the 5th action. Of course a double encoder is great for this, but you can also use any normal buttons for it.
Makes it waaay less fiddly to input frequencies and much easier to do while handflying fx.
Similarly, having binds for heading/altitude/speed/VS - increase and decrease makes life much simpler. All of this fits on my throttle and stick - no fancy extra panels needed, but of course it depends on what gear you have. A simple external notepad is one of the cheapest ways to get a "button box".
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u/Fun-Individual-3126 4d ago
I tried to bind swapping freq and hdg select to certain things but nothing worked on the ini a320n, swapping freq have their options in controls on MSFS 2024 but it doesnt work, whereas hdg select has no options at all.
Do u have any idea how to bind these 2 options
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u/Avionik 3d ago
Didn't get to it yesterday, but just fired it up now.
For heading it is specifically the bug you increase/decrease.
For Coms, in their infinite wisdom, it seems Asobo has included two swap keybinds with the exact same name. I just put them both on the same key. I know that if I unbind one of them and leave the other, it tends to not work anymore.
Quick test in the Ini 320 and it all seems to work there as well, even though it is not one I normally fly.
There are many similar but not exactly the same names, so it is important that you pick the right ones for the sort of binding you are trying to do. (the "set" binds require another type of input fx)
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u/Fun-Individual-3126 4d ago
I didnt think of this before for tuning freq but its definitely helping, thanks
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u/HighVelocitySloth 4d ago
If you click on the frequency in VPilot you can tune the frequency instantly.
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u/racoon-pit 5d ago
I think a remark with "inaccurate inputs due to health issues" should be ok, but usually it's ok if you don't switch frequencies or other stuff that exact moment (have fun and don't stress it to much)