Step-by-step
An IFR flight step-by-step.
Before we begin, make sure you have read through the introduction page and understand the basic concepts of flying with ATC.
While flying, it is also highly recommended you have a notepad open where you can write down notes and ATC instructions.
I use Notepad++ as you can pin it to your screen, but some people use actual pen and paper.
Flight Planning
Select a departure airport.
Select an aircraft.
Select a job, the destination will be your arrival airport.
If you don't know the 4-letter ICAO code for the airports, look them up in the game map.
Choose a callsign.
It can be your flight number, such as DLH 1LT or BAW 227. Military or other special operators may also use a callsign, such as Viper 3, Christoph 1, or Helimed 99
If you are not flying for an airline, you may simply use your tail number/registration (e.g. “N66LS”)
Decide on a flight route and cruise altitude.
You can use the enroute chart to pick a route. Otherwise, "GPS DCT" means you will fly "GPS Direct" to the airport in a straight line.
Most of the time, the cruising altitude will be defined by an aircraft's service ceiling, which you can check in-game in the vehicle database. Of course, for shorter distances, you won't be able to file for a high cruising altitude.
For example, for a flight between Clarence and Norman (about 35 nm), you would pick at most 15 000 ft.
When picking an altitude, always remember to choose an odd/even flight level based on whether you are flying westward or eastward.
Example
Departure: Clarence Intl. Airport
Aircraft: Select an aircraft (B767F)
Arrival: Anhedral Intl. Airport
You can already spawn your plane in-game.
Now would be a good time to pick a callsign, which ATC will use to talk to you.
I am flying using a Polarlicht livery, so I will pick a corresponding callsign:
PLR 4JY (Read: Polar 4-Juliet-Yankee)
This could also be your in-game flight number, but it does not have to be. You can pick any airline/callsigns you want.
Route:
After taking off from Clarence let's say we go to JAMSY, then SABER then DONNA.
That gives us the following route (we can leave out KCIA and EGAI):
KCIA - JAMSY Q106 SABER - DONNA - EGAI
Altitude:
The 767's service ceiling is about 40 000 ft.
The distance between KCIA and EGAI is roughly 90 nm, meaning we can pick a higher altitude.
Arbitrarily we could pick 38 000 ft, but since we are going east we should pick an odd altitude, in this case, 39 000 ft.
Converting it to Flight Level, we get about FL390: this will be our requested flight level.
ATIS: Airport information
Before continuing, we should read the ATIS for our departure airport:
For this, simply go to the #atis-notam-metar channel in our server and look for the ICAO code for the relevant airport.
7. Note down the expected departure runway and any additional information you think is necessary.
Then write down the information identifier. In our example, it is T (Tango). This is important as we will be telling the controller "we got information T".
Airport Chart
We should also get our airport charts ready, they will be handy when we get assigned a certain taxi instruction. You can find airport charts here.
IFR Clearance
It's finally time to call a controller. Since we are flying IFR, first we need an IFR clearance. Remember to have a notepad ready where you can write down what the controller says.
8. Find the clearance delivery frequency for your departure airport.
If there is no delivery (DEL) frequency online, try to find a ground (GND) frequency, then tower (TWR), then approach/departure (APP/DEP), and finally center/control (CTR).
Example
In our case, there is no KCIA_DEL or KCIA_GND online, so we will contact KCIA_TWR instead.
8. Initial Frequency: KCIA_TWR 119.5
9. Request IFR Clearance
Pilot: [Station], [Callsign], request IFR clearance to [Destination], we got information [ATIS identifier].
Controller: <Clearance>
Pilot: <Readback>
Controller: Correct, advise when ready for push and start.
9. We will contact KCIA_TWR (Clarence Tower)
Pilot: "Clarence Tower, Polar 4JY, requesting IFR clearance to Anhedral International, with information T"
Controller: Polar 4JY cleared to Anhedral International Airport as filed, maintain FL390, departure frequency is 133.6, squawk 3456.
Pilot: "Cleared to Anhedral International as filed, maintain FL390, departure 133.6, squawking 3456."
Controller: Correct, advise when ready for push and start.
10. Taxi
Pull up the movement chart (ground/taxi chart) for your current airport. You can find airport charts here. Some airports may not have charts.
If you're ready, call in and let them know.
Pilot: [Callsign], ready for taxi.
Controller: <Taxi instruction>
Pilot: <Readback>
10. Taxi
Pilot: "Polar 4JY, request taxi"
Controller: Polar 4JY, Runway 9, taxi via L, B, Z.
Pilot: "Runway 9, taxi via L, B, Z. Polar 4JY"
10. Taxi, take-off and departure
Pull up the movement chart (ground/taxi chart) for your current airport. You can find airport charts here. Some airports may not have charts.
If you're ready, call in and let them know.
Pilot: [Callsign], ready for taxi.
Controller: [Taxi instruction]
Pilot: <Readback>
10. Taxi, take-off and departure
Pilot: "Polar 4JY, request taxi"
Controller: Polar 4JY, Runway 9, taxi via L, B, Z.
Pilot: "Runway 9, taxi via L, B, Z, Polar 4JY"