Old fashioned communication during our flight last evening from Vatry to Marc-en-Baroeul. Old Fashioned problems too to get a steady connection to one of the IVAP servers. That's why we left Vatry one hour later than was planned, what reduced my fuel level to a halve. Enough though left to make this leg. Unfortunately Mumble was down, so we had to communicate by means of the IVAP chatbox, which makes manual flying almost impossible. Typing and flying are two things that don't really match. I think that's why they invented the autopilot... and the copilot, the latter had a day off BTW
I do a lot VFR flying and in most countries it's obvious if and when to contact ATC if online. In France it's a totally different matter. Whether they don't like those small, tiny planes of ours and prefer the ones that fly IFR, or they're just afraid of these four who show up every week on their screen. Fact is that after we make contact with ATC, they just send us back to Unicom.
a little example of the conversation between the four of us, to illustrate:
..........
PHPBG>I switch to ATC now
EHM2589>rgr
EHM2589>LFEE or LFFF
PHPBG>LFFF
EHM2589>rgr
PHPBG>D you don't have to make contact with ATC
EHM2589>ok
EHM2589>only 122.8
PHPBG>I tax to rw28 and yes only unicom
EHM2589>rgr
EHM1829>Hi folks I cant see you, so there is a prob
EHM2589>probably we will start right now T
PHPBG>hi T gladyou're back; try to connect to antoher IVAP server
EHM1829>ok have tried without luck, will just start flying and hope for best
EHM2589>ok
EHM1829>starting FLogger
PHPBG>at HP A4 rw 25
EHM2589>right now you're with us T -)
PHPBG>cannot see you on screen T, yet
EHM2589>I can see T right now
PHPBG>me too; perfect
PHPBG>are you ready T?
EHM2589>I mean EHM1829 -)
EHM2589>We're at h/p rwy27
EHM2589>pardon me rwy25
PHPBG>28 actually
EHM1829>ok folks
PHPBG>we'll wait for you
EHM2589>sorry, my fault, h/p rwy28
PHPBG>doesn't matter it's all in the same direction
EHM1829>on my way
PHPBG>In this particular case it means you'll be last T, for a change :}
EHM2589>yep -( -)
PHPBG>Sorry D
EHM1829>hahah
EHM2589>what a luck T -)
EHM2589>Gian is coming too -)
EHM2589>ça va Gian ?
PHPBG>It's a little bit confusing with French ATC; according to LFEE_ctr we don't have to contact LFF_CTR
EHM2589>ça va G, Mumble ne marche pas pour le moment
EHM2589>we're on the chatbox
EHM2589>only h/p rwy28 many problems
EHM2589>we will waiting for you -)
PHPBG>Hi Gian, welcom
PHPBG>OK Three in line waiting at A$ rw28
EHM2589>nous sommes dans le hold point rwy 28
PHPBG>A4 I meant
PHPBG>That's what I said... in English
PHPBG>or do you prefer French G?
EHM2589>first of all G, put .chat and then add all of us, think so
EHM2589>ok you got it -)
EHM2589>We're four right now -)
PHPBG>great; supperb
EHM1829>Hi PD&G
EHM1829>at long last i am ready
EHM2589>and number 2 for this one -)
EHM2589>the better is that you're with us T
PHPBG>I think my fuel tank is half empty now ;}
EHM1829>hahaha
EHM2589>ha ha ha ...
EHM1829>oil is half price
PHPBG>Sounds crazy "hahaha"we've never had that before; What happened to EJ's Mumble?
EHM2589>tomorrow have to leave early 06h30 -(
EHM1829>oops
PHPBG>Maybe I've to go back to the fuelstation...
EHM2589>that's what I'm second in this leg -)
EHM2589>Gian n'oublie pas FLogger...
EHM2589>have to put parking brake...
EHM1829>back in one min
EHM2589>t'en prie
EHM2589>many problem with server but we will see you, come to rwy 28
EHM1829>back
EHM2589>Me and T are in server 6 thnk so
EHM1829>rgr
PHPBG>OK, let's see what ATC (our beloved friends) is doing while we're on the way; lining up and take-off; happy flight nevertheless DG&T
EHM2589>ok guys we're ready
EHM1829>ready
EHM2589>yep thanks to you too
EHM2589>Gian is gone
EHM1829>he is back
PHPBG>airborne
EHM2589>thanks God
PHPBG>strong crosswind
EHM2589>yep very right strong wind
EHM2589>airborne
EHM1882>strange to fly silent:).............
In the meantime EJ did a great job, restoring Mumble (mine is working fine now). Thanks for that.
The links for the next flight of our tour:
http://doodle.com/dfbyz7deq8izygmg https://www.dropbox.com/s/gavest5rqcnmueq/leg05%20LFQO-LFRK.zip?dl=0Meet you all on Mumble!
Peter