The writings of ex QVA member Aaron Miller

I will tell you what to do in order to get you flying online using FS2K2, WinXP and VATSIM

Firstly click on the following link to register with Vatsim.
once you have signed up you will receive an email containing your pilot id and password. Please print this email out and keep it in a safe place, it is very useful.

Downloads

There are three programs which need to be downloaded,
Squawkbox
Sbhost
Roger Wilco
Once you have downloaded SB, I suggest you install it to C:\Squawkbox, not to C:\Program files just so its easier to navigate to in the future.
Now download the second file called Sbhost, unzip it and then copy the Sbhost.dll file to your modules folder in FS2K2. this can be found at c:??\fs2002\modules\
If you haven't already done so install Roger Wilco.

FS2K2 Setup

Start up FS2K2 and position your self at a gate.
Select Flights -> Multiplayer then connect. Put in a player name -- anything will do,
I put in QF. Then make sure TCP/IP is selected and then click on Host. Then you change
the Maximum pilots and observers to 16 and enter a name in the session name box. Click OK.
You should now be back in the cockpit of the plane.
Click on Modules ->Sbhost, Run and a window should popup in the cockpit view.
Now click on Start all programs SB for FS2K2 and SB main program.
The SB window should now start up.
Ensure Internet TCP/IP is selected then click OK, then click Start Search.
Enter an IP address of  127.0.0.1 and hit OK or Enter. It should now have highlighted the
session you created in the multiplayer part of FS2K2 and click on Join.
A few seconds later a window will popup with a picture of planes and click on the big
button button labelled Click here to get into the action.
You should now have a box inside the SBhost box with a message "Welcome to SB".

Okay nearly there now, with the mouse over approx where the green welcome text is,
right click then move to ATC Functions then Change Callsign. Now enter your CAT level
and QVA no which in your case will be QFA1147 and hit OK.
For this demo u will fly a 737 so make it QFA3147.
Now again right click the SB window and select ATC Functions -> File Flightplan.
Select your plane, any will do at this stage and at the bottom enter your first and
last name and your home airports 4 letter ICAO code; for Sydney its YSSY.
Now click OK.
Again right click on the SB window and this time click on Connect.
Enter 152.104.96.225 VS_ASIA_S in the internet address of server area.
enter your callsign if not already entered and
then enter your pilot ID and password which u received in the email from VATSIM when you
registered. Check the use Roger Wilco box as well. For Roger Wilco server enter the following
IP address 212.19.195.26 then click OK.

You should now connect and you will see some blue text in the SB window.
You are now connected to the VATSIM network.
Okay when you want to connect next time you will still have to setup the host
multiplayer session, load the SBhost module and then start SB, find the session etc
but you wont have to worry about the changing callsign, filing a flightplan bit before connecting.

Ok now that you are connected give yourself a pat on the back, if you are not then
we have some serious doo doo.

Filing your flightplan

You now have to file a real flightplan.
In this case we will fly a 737 from Sydney to Melbourne, I know you won't get any time for
it as your CAT 1 but its easy and I know the route etc.
Okay load up a QANTAS 737 in FS2K2 and set the fuel so left and right tanks are
full and the center is empty.
Now right click on the SB window then ATC Functions -> File Flightplan.
From the list of aircraft select QANTAS 737 enter YSSY as your departure airport
and YMML as your destination.
Your route will be as follows
DCT SY WOL TANTA TAREX ML DCT select this line with your mouse and hit Ctrl-C to copy the data. Now go to FS2K2 and click once in
the large empty white box and hit Ctrl-V to paste your route.

For the altitude enter FL360 which stands for Flight Level 360 which in laymans
terms is 36,000 ft. Below 20,000ft we say 'feet', above we say 'Flight Level 200'
for 20,000ft etc.
Don't worry too much about the other fields such as POB, departure time, fuel on board
etc, but in the remarks box enter newbie or similar.
Make sure to the left of your plane selected TCAS box is ticked and you will be flying
Instrument Flight Rules as you will be above 10,000 ft so select the IFR circle.
Now click OK and you have filed your flight plan.

While your on the VATPAC site where it says Airport Info select YSSY, then once it's
loaded scroll down to Sydney SIDs and STARs. Select that link and download the file
yssy.zip. Once downloaded open it and print out all the charts.

Contacting ATC

Now right click again on the SB window and click on ATC Directory.
If you are in luck you will see several ATC are available. Click on one of them then
click OK. If you're at YSSY and you have available SYD_APP and ML_E_CTR then click
on SYD_APP. If just ML_E_CTR then click on him, then click OK.
Wait a few seconds and a whole heap of info will be written in the SB window.
If it just says UNICOM then there are no ATC available at this time so just hit OK.
Click on the F button on Sb which will open up the FMC computer window. You may have to resize the sbhost window to see all of it. Clcik on acars then on dept, this will give you the METARs for your departing airport. Information includes the winds, temperature and the local QNH or pressure.

Okay now lets assume that SYD_APP was active when you checked the ATC list, push down
the button on the keyboard you selected when installing RW, (I use the left Ctrl key)
and call SYD_APP saying something like
"SY Approach G'day this is QANTAS 3147 with you at Qantas Domestic, request airways
for Melbourne as filed."
Make sure you always listen before you call and make sure he is not in the middle of
giving instructions. The controller will reply
"G'day QANTAS 3147 are you ready for your clearance."
You reply "Affirm". Make sure you have pen and paper handy and he will give you your
clearance. It will be something like
"QANTAS 3147 cleared as filed to Melbourne, departures on runway 16R DEENA 3
departure, climb maintain 5000 ft, squawk code 4020."
You will get used to what he is going to say, the main bits to write down are the
runway and the SID (DEENA 3 in this case) and the squawk code. Now read back to him
your clearance. He will reply with "Readback correct, call when ready for startup
and pushback". You reply "Wilco" which is like okay no probs will do. Now open up
again your radio comms panel and where it says Transponder or Xponder adjust the 4
knobs to show the squawk code he gave you.

Program the Flight Management Computer

Okay now on the SB window click on the F button and you may have to expand the Hostsb
window to see the FMC (Flight Management Computer) which has just popped up.
Click on the waypoint button on the FMC. Now in the text box for SB type in
/dunes then hit Enter. You will see that dunes has appeared in the bottom of the
FMC window. Now click on the insert waypoint button then select the little button to the
left of Intxn.
You should now be asked to select which DUNES you want to select, since we are in the
southern hemishphere the coords will start with a S so click the arrow button to the left
of the first DUNES.
Now do the same thing for DEENA and DEBOS. If you look at the charts you printed out
earlier from the yssy.zip folder you should find a page titled DEENA 3 Departure.
If you didn't print it out that's okay just have a look at the picture on your screen
in Acrobat.
After DEBOS you will turn right or west and head for the WOL NDB (Wollonggong).
So now enter in the FMC WOL but this time select NDB instead of Intxn.
If the controller gives you a different SID (Standard Instrument Departure) then do as
above but with different waypoints.
After WOL we will go to ML via TANTA and TAREX which are both Intxn's so add these in as well.

Now on your autopilot panel set your altitude to 5000, and your speed to 250. You are not
supposed to go above 250 knots until above 10,000 ft, if there are not too many planes around
you can ask the ATC to cancel speed restrictions, which will allow you to fly faster but on
a Sydney to Melbourne run you're quite light so will climb very quickly and will be above
10,000 ft in no time.
Minimise the Hostsb window so you can see what your doing.

Startup and the flight

Okay you are now ready for startup and pushback
So call the ATC once there is a gap in the radio traffic and call
"QANTAS 3147 ready for startup and pushback."
He will reply
"QANTAS 3147 cleared for startup and pushback call when ready for taxi."
You will reply
"cleared to startup and pushback call when ready for taxi."
Now hit Ctrl-P and release the parkbrake by hitting the . key.
While pushing back set your flaps to 10
Once you have pushed back far enough from the terminal again hit Ctrl-P to stop pushback
and call the controller
"QANTAS 3147 ready for taxi."
He will say
"QANTAS 3147 cleared to taxi to the holding point 16R."
So you will reply back
"Cleared to taxi to holding point 16R"
Now taxi and hold at the holding point for 16R which would be at the northern end of the
field. Once there call ATC with
"QANTAS 3147 at holding point for 16R."
He will then clear you to "Enter and line up on the runway" once safe to do so.
Reply back with "lineup 16R".
Once lined up report "lined up". i usually taxi in spot plane view looking from the back
of the plane.
He will then say
"QANTAS 3147 cleared for takeoff 16R report airborne"
or similar. Accelerate to about 150 knots and then pull back and take off. Once airborne
raise the gears, passing about 500 ft, engage the AP, autothrottle and FD and select Spd
and Alt. Now maximise the Sbhost window then select the FMC. Click on AP and select Master
and Hdg AP buttons. As you increase in speed to 250 knots reduce your flaps so that by 250
you have 0 flaps.
Call the ATC with "QANTAS 3147 airborne passing whatever your alt is for 5000 ft".
He should then reply with "QANTAS 3147 your identified climb maintain FL200" or similar.
Readback the instruction and then change the altitude to 20,000 and as your quite light
increase your climb rate to 3600.
The plane should turn right and start following your route. Click on the E button on SB
and the TCAS window will appear showing in magenta your route. As you pass 10,000ft change
your altimeter to 1013.2 and change your airspeed in the AP to about 330 knots. As you
approach FL200 call the ATC with "QANTAS 3147 is approaching FL200". He will then either
hand you off to ML_E_CTR or will instruct you to continue climb to FL360.

Keep an eye on your airspeed as soon as it starts to drop lower your climb rate to 1800
then to 1200 fpm. Depending on how much fuel and cargo you have on board you may have to
decrease your climb rate to as low as 500fpm (Feet per minute). Keep an eye on your Mach
figure once it reaches .79 click on the Mach button on the autopilot control as you cannot
do 330 knots indicated at FL360.

Once your at FL360 you can sit back for a while, have a cup of coffee and chat to the ATC.
After a while the controller will call you advising your STAR clearance is available
advise when ready to copy. Call back with "standing by".
You can almost guarantee that it will be a NAREL 1 arrival for either 27 or 16,
if not it will be for 34. Readback the STAR.
In preparation for this go back to the VATPAC site and select YMML then download and print
the STARs/SIDs charts.
Enter into the FMC the waypoints for the STAR. Tune into NAV 1 standby freq the ILS freq
for your runway if 27 or 16 and then swap it and tune in the ML VOR freq which is 114.1.
Swap the NAV1 back so 114.1 is active.

Now set the CRS on the autopilot panel to either 263 for runway 27 or 160 for runway 16.
Keep an eye on the DME distance from ML, it will be shown on the VOR gauge.
At some stage ATC will tell you when ready descend maintain 12,000 ft or similar.
This is not an instruction to descend immediately just to let you know your cleared for
the descent.
To work out when to begin your descent is easy. Multiply your altitude by 3 and then take
the first two digits and add 10 to it. So if your at FL360 times it by 3 and you get 108000.
Take the first three digits 108 and add 10. So you get 118. This is the distance from the
runway threshold at which you should start your descent.

Keep watching that VOR DME distance from ML and when it gets to 123 call ATC and advise
you are 5 miles from TOD (Top of Descent).
At 118 select 12,000 ft on the AP panel and confirm -1800 shows in the descent/climb rate bit.

Follow his instructions and land.