VATNZ - VATSIM New Zealand

Is there something you're trying to tell us here Greg? "I don't get it" isn't giving us much to work with . Unicom voice always has, and in all likelihood ,will always be an "optional extra".

Many don't use it simply for the fact that you are required to text information anyway over the unicom frequencies. Simply put. You don't have to bother

VATSIM is committed to serving the needs of all its members. VATSIM has a number of members who are text only for a variety of reasons (hardware, connectivity or hearing impairment). Those members are unable to hear voice transmissions. All VATSIM controllers automatically monitor text on their frequencies (the controller client software is built this way) and can provide text services when a pilot requires them. By its very nature, UNICOM is a frequency without a controller and there is no person "running" the frequency to ensure text-only pilots are aware of what is going on and getting the necessary information. As a result, VATSIM requires that all pilots transmitting on UNICOM transmit their information via text to ensure receipt by all concerned.

VATSIM is looking at a potential technical solution which would alert pilots when there is a text-only pilot on the UNICOM frequency and in range so they could use voice and only back it up with text when required. This is a significant programming change that would require changes to all of the pilot software clients (FSInn, Squawkbox, XSquawkbox, etc.) to support. If such a solution is possible is still under exploration.

As things are now, you can not use voice on unicom. ONLY TEXT. The explanation is technical.
But if you are up to it read along:
The vatsim-servers (The ones you connect to) are all connected in one great network. So a guy
on the European server can still se a guy from The US even though he connected to a different
server. They are all connected. So when you write something on Unicom it's broadcasted to all
aircrafts near you. Regardless of which server pilots are connected to.
The voice servers are NOT connected to each other! So people on an America voice server
can't hear people on a European voice server. So both guys can be parked in the same airport,
but if they not are on the same voice-server (Unicom) they can't hear each other. However they
still can text each other.

Greg

This was set up when VATNZ fist commenced operations to get SB and FSInn aligned, because of how many FSInn users flew in from overseas without being in a correct voice room. At the time, simply making them consistent made sense.

And of course the reporting needs on each voice room is very different. NZZC should see a pilot making taxi and departure calls, as well as intentions then approach and landing calls, etc. Oceanic should see oceanic position reporting.

There are many times when it is necessary to have them split off and I wouldn't support a change to one for change sake.

Personally I'd like to see more of the pilots actually using them!!

I thought it was pretty obvious. He's saying that we don't need to bother with two unicom voice channels for NZZC and NZZO flights.

Like everything these things take time, we at vANZ teach and encourage Pilots to use it. Probably just needs needs more advertising for noobs, maybe the SUPs could broadcast the channel details when there are pilots flying around with no ATC. Or something on the home page perhaps.

It does amaze me how many long timers here don't bother with it, and that goes with the West Island group... they switch over from unicom-au voice, to text in NZZC. Maybe this is because they think we are all on text.

I always use the voice unicom as my secondary form of communication. I always transmit via text first and then voice if there are a lot of pilots in the voice unicom. I happen to use voice unicom more frequently in Australian Airspace than New Zealand. Honestly I couldn't say that I know where the reference for the voice unicom channel is on this website. Maybe we need some kind of introduction to flying in VATNZ Airspace tutorial, I would be more than happy to create it. Also with our airways clearances on domestic flights being so not like the rest of the worlds, maybe it would be a good thing to cover the basics in a simple tutorial for pilots.

Honestly I couldn't say that I know where the reference for the voice unicom channel is on this website.

Maybe we need some kind of introduction to flying in VATNZ Airspace tutorial, I would be more than happy to create it. Also with our airways clearances on domestic flights being so not like the rest of the worlds, maybe it would be a good thing to cover the basics in a simple tutorial for pilots.

Maybe we need some kind of introduction to flying in VATNZ Airspace tutorial, I would be more than happy to create it. Also with our airways clearances on domestic flights being so not like the rest of the worlds, maybe it would be a good thing to cover the basics in a simple tutorial for pilots.