EGLL-EHAM
I'd like to say the controllers were unbelievably patient with me, especially considering the nature and severity of the mistakes I made.
First off, I sat at the gate for about half an hour, listening to ATC before requesting clearance. I flicked over to Tower as well to listen to that and make sure I had the frequency programmed in on the com. Tower helpfully instructed me to go to ground frequency (I had 'New' in my comments). Abashed, I returned
Now, I'd flown this flight several times before offline in advance to make sure I had the AirbusX systems well under my belt. Eventually, I worked up the courage to request clearance. On request, the Flight level was invalid, so I had to change the plan. the departure runway was different to that one I had flown on my practise runs and the SID was different. I couldn't find 7 Foxtrot in FSCommander - I almost panicked, but I was on the ground and could take things slow. Real Slow. I picked the most appropriate SID I had and checked on text if that was ok.
Next, I realised I had started at a gate at the other end of the airport from the departure runway, and Heathrow is pretty big, so after setting up the Airbus's systems and running through checklists, I requested pushback and start, then ready to taxi and started the longest taxi I've ever done in a flight sim.
I was switched over to Tower before my hold point, and that was all fine. Cleared for takeoff - I rolled onto the runway and ran through the last of the pre-takeoff checklist and made sure all the blue checklist lines were extinguished. Flaps set. Throttles to T/O and she started the takeoff roll, passed v1, then I pulled back on the stick and we were off the ground. Positive rate - Gear UP. The undercarriage whined as she retracted into the belly of the plane.
I hit autopilot AP1 at that point, and the computers took full control and started to descend -Eeeek - what's wrong?? I pulled backj on the stick and the aircraft lurched upwards, the shrill of the autopilot disengage caution ringing in my ears.
It was at this point that tower then asked me to squak C mode. C Mode? I thought. WTF IS C mode? and more immediately, how do I stop the plane flying into the ground? I glanced through the aircraft panels before it struck me. Although I had entered the correct altitude for managed mode in the MCP, in my earlier distress over the flight plan change, I had failed to press the button to engage it, or notice the set alt value on the PFD.
I hit the button and punched the AP button again.
She decided to rise this time - phew, so I had a few seconds to try to deal with Mode C issue as Tower patiently repeated for the third time without response from me - He then told me to push the button next to the squak number. I hit it once, got another request and jammed my virtual finger on it repeatedly in quick succession.
"It's not working" I eventually reported, "I press it and nothing happens".
I then noticed that the autopilot appeared ready to fly me in a complete circle to return to the first waypoint. I pulled the Hdg dial and rotated it left to roughly where I needed to go, and returned my attention to 'Mode C'.
The controller calmly explained that I needed to press the button on the IVAO panel. I quicky stopped clicking on the AirbusX transponder panel and started bashing the buttons on the IVAO panel. The controller then explained the it was the button to the left of the numbers and a light would go green. Pow - I got it and the light changed. Tower then cleared me to the next frequency, no doubt glad to see the back of me and wondering if I'd ever make it to my destination, but professionally showing none of the above.
I thanked the controller for his patience and changed freequency, marvelling at how I could now calm down a little as the aircraft had reached 6000ft and was holding steady. I began to wonder when I would be cleared higher, or if it was normal to hold 6000 for some time on the departure from London. Centre then kindly contacted me - as I'd failed to contact them after changing frequency.
I was cleared to Fl200, which I quickly obeyed and confirmed, almost for the first time in the flight remembering to report my callsign with the response transmission.
The flight through the next few waypoints was fairly uneventful. With a little breathing space, I'd managed to get the autopilot back onto following the flight plan, but then I started worrying about my destination, searching the web and opening Simplates for any chart I could get my hands on. I was passed onto the Netherlands, and had a little difficulty understanding the controller there through his lovely warm and rolling dutch accent. He helpfully gave text in addition to voice and I understood I'd been given a star.
Some frantic searching of FSCommander, and I had the STAR added to my flightplan on the moving map - however the simple FMC only uses the FSX flight plan and I didn't have time to play around with that - out popped the heading dial again and the plane dutifully stopped following the FMC and headed towards the next waypoint on the moving map.
I'd been told what airfield to expect, but my brain decided that it had had enough and made a quick exit, leaving me lolling at the controls, dribbling and grinning while the aluminium bird plunged onward through the sky. When I finally regained my faculties and after furiously searching the net, simplatesX and FSCommander, I realised that I could just hover on the destination airport and read off the ifr frequency. I did it and entered it into the aircraft. I checked it and was glad I did as one of the numbers had rolled as I enterd it - a quick fix and we were all set.
ATC cleared me direct to SPL or PLC or something like that but for the life of me I couldn't find it. Eventually, some kindly soul gave me a bearing to follow and I dutifully complied, descending all the while and rapidly running through my checklists.
I changed controller, then appeared to change again, deliberately slowing the aircraft, lowering flaps and worrying if the right ILS Frequency had been entered. The view from the cockpit was a wall of grey - thank goodness the aircraft was CAT III! As the aircraft caught the glideslope, I felt a vague relief overshadowed by the need to land the plane safely and then get it parked.
ATC told me to change freq to tower - I rolled the numbers on my VRInsight MCP and hit my transmit key "Harmony 1997 with you, caught ILS". The plane was rolling left and right to stay on the glideslope - the aircraft too fast, I deployed speedbrakes to slow it, hoping this would ease it onto the right path.
Red messages were beeping on the panel. I was staring out of the window - the airport appeared - crosswind! A pit opened in my stomach - not too much for the autoland I hoped. The airfield loomed out of the gloom and I stole a glance at the red messages - I was on the wrong frequency. Tower had never heard my contact message. I tried rollin the com dial again, but the frequency was to three decimal places and the VRInsight panel was to 2 - I couldn't tune it!! The ground loomed up at me now - no time to worry about the radio, I had to keep from crashing.
I flared and the aircraft shuddered as the wheels struck tarmac, the autobrakes operating and me fighting the crosswind with rudder to keep the aircraft on the runway. We shuddered to a stop and the red messages continues - I thought about what to do and decided turning off next taxiway to clear the runway was safest. I did that and applied brakes, halting the plane and finding the coms panel in the VC. Ah - I'd thought it may have been in the FMC, but that's for nav not com. I dialed the correct frequency and sheepishly stated '1997, with you'.
Tower cried "eventually" and asked me what had happened - I claimed pilot overload on landing and was told that while they weren't busy currently, that next time I must go around. I nodded to myself - If only I'd thought - been able to think.
I was directed to the gate and then missed the turnoff, the controller offered assistance which I gladly took, and was given a bearing to follow. I parked up and mis hit control+? which hung the sim and then crashed it attempting to open a help window. I informed the controller I was parked and the sim had crashed and thanked his also for his patience.
I was glad to be on the ground.
I'll try again, but perhaps on a weekend rather than a worknight until I can take it in my stride. It was an interesting experience and it is amazing how much knowledge fled me under pressure.
That said, I was able to fly the bus from origin to destination, land safely (forgetting the lack of clearance) and make it gate to gate.
My thanks and gratitude to the controllers in both the UK and Netherlands for getting me through such a stressful initiation.
