Membership Requirements
last updated Thursday, August 26th, 2010 @ 18:40 UTC
As stated elsewhere on the site, TransGear events are completely open... that is, there is nothing you need to "join" in order to participate. Newcomers are always welcome as long as they can meet a select few requirements for participation, as outlined below:
All Participants
- ... must have a working installation of FlightGear, of any version compatible with the Multiplayer network.
- ... must have the scenery tiles for the Eastern USA installed, or run TerraSync to fetch the required scenery.
- ... must have a working internet connection and the ability to maintain Multiplayer connectivity.
- ... must have a working installation of FGCom, and the ability to transmit and receive voice messages. (The "range extended" version, allowing contact with stations up to approximately 80nm distant, is strongly recommended. Info can be found on the Charts and Resources page.)
- ... must treat all other event participants, and all others they contact on the Multiplayer network, with patience, politeness, and respect.
Pilots
- ... must be somewhat proficient in the basic operation of an aircraft model from the Approved Equipment List. "Basic operation" means the ability to safely take off and land, and maintain assigned altitudes and headings (either manually or through the use of autopilot). Additions to the list may be made with permission of the event organizer.
- ... must have a general, basic understanding of what a visual approach pattern is (particularly the "downwind," "base," and "final" legs), versus what an ILS approach is, and how to follow one or the other as directed. A higher level of procedural compliance is generally optional.
- ... should have a very basic ability to comprehend and follow simple directions given in spoken English.
- ... should glance through the Pilot's Handbook and Communications Handbook for more detailed information about their expectations, but should understand that as long as the above requirements are met, we will forgive errors made through the learning process.
Controllers
- ... must have a basic understanding of the TransGear event schedule and pilot's procedures; should read through the Pilot's Handbook and ensure that they have a familiarity and understanding of essentially everything listed there.
- ... must be able to speak in standard avcomm terminology as much as possible, and should have read through the Communications Handbook and ensured they were familiar with everything outlined there.
- ... must understand the general roles of Approach, Tower, Ground, and Departure, and be able to perform all of these roles simultaneously.
- ... must be able multi-task and handle the workload of up to ten or more pilots in their airspace simultaneously, and maintain good separation between all aircraft at all times.
- ... must understand the basics of issuing vectors, altitudes, and speeds, with the goal of setting a pilot up for a good visual and/or ILS approach.
- ... must have familiarity with standard arrival and departure procedures (SIDs and STARs), as well as other IFR navigational systems, procedures, and resources.
- ... must be adaptable to non-event pilots popping into the area (with or without FGCom), to changing weather conditions, to new pilots learning their role in TransGear as they go along, and to any other changes or adverse situations.
- ... should read through the Controller's Handbook for more detailed information on all of the above.
- ... must pass an "audition" with the event organizer in which the above skills will be demonstrated.
- ... must attend at least one TransGear event as a pilot or spectator before requesting an "audition".
Please contact Redneck via PM on the FlightGear forum if you wish to audition to become an official TGA Air Traffic Controller.