These guides include:

• ATC Manual
  Covering all aspects of ATC procedures implemented within Infinite Flight (primarily for IFATC to reference when controlling on the Expert Server)
• Developer Reference
  Documentation for third-party developers to get the most out of Infinite Flight with access to our APIs
• Flying
  From pushback to parking, this is a "one-stop shop” for Infinite Flight pilots
• Get Help
  A gateway for answers to frequently asked questions, device troubleshooting, and account management. If you don’t find your answer our support team is always standing by to help you further
• Getting Started
  This guide contains a complete breakdown of the various User Interfaces and how to use them

The guides are constantly evolving to not only keep up with in-app changes but also real-world changes. And as well as this, we are always looking to update or introduce new guides for areas that remain uncovered or require expansion to help educate the community or improve their experience using Infinite Flight.

Journey of the User Guide

The journey of the User Guide started long before the first guide (Getting Started) was published. The ATC Manual was an internal document created by IFATC, for IFATC, to help standardize the team and increase transparency on how ATC service is provided on the Expert Server.

Following the success of this, the other guides followed and the ATC Manual was one of the first to be converted and placed in our User Guide section of the website, bearing little resemblance to the first PDF version made many years ago!

Why did we introduce another guide for ATC?

So why a new ATC Guide if we already have the ATC Manual? The ATC Manual is designed to cover procedural aspects of controlling but it relied upon controllers already having a basic grasp of controlling principles. So what about new and aspiring controllers? And what about scenarios that veteran controllers are faced with on a daily basis that the manual simply doesn’t cover?

You need to learn to walk before you can run and that is where the ATC Guide comes in. Controllers around the world complete training programs which teach fundamental skills of air traffic that are not airport-specific. These skills include taxiing aircraft, issuing takeoff clearances, and separation standards. These learned principles help solidify a foundation that controllers can rely on throughout their careers as they apply procedures specific to their airports.  The new ATC Guide will now be able to help controllers master critical tasks needed to safely control the skies of Infinite Flight!

So what does our brand new guide cover?

For version 1 we have included the following aspects for Ground and Tower control (with the addition of Radar control planned for later this year):

• Our usual “Step by Step” guides to take controllers through each aspect of controlling
• Video clips that show how to interact with the ATC User Interface
• “Pro Tips” and references to the ATC Manual
• Specific scenarios which cover the possible techniques that could be used to handle them, and the pros & cons for each

User Guide | Infinite Flight

We’ve put together a collection of help documents for Infinite Flight pilots, and ATC to help you get flying or controlling.

Infinite Flight

What are these new “scenarios”?

Aviation, and indeed controlling, is always a dynamic environment to operate within and you could find yourself faced with a situation that isn’t covered by the rules of the manual. Of course, procedures work and are there to provide a framework to follow, but sometimes you have to think outside of the box! The scenarios we have picked and the associated techniques that could be used to solve them are designed to offer controllers various options that they may not have previously considered. Technique 1 might be perfect for today, but Technique 2 might be your best option tomorrow!

Ultimately, you as the controller will always have to make the final call. As you gain experience this will likely become more natural and easier to determine but the ATC Guide is here to offer controllers of all experience levels something to “hang their hat on”!

Want to contribute to the guides?

Make sure to head over to our community where you can contribute and make your own tutorials. We often look here and add these to the User Guide when we can!

Interested in joining IFATC?

The Infinite Flight ATC (IFATC) Team is a group of highly qualified Air Traffic Controllers that provide global ATC services on the Expert Server. Each member is trained to the IFATC standard upon joining to ensure that pilots can experience the best and most realistic experience possible when flying. If the ATC Guide or this article have sparked your interest in controlling, why not head over to our community where you can find out more information on how to join?

So what’s new?

Previously, when pilots were cleared for the approach, speed control was at their discretion. However with the new release, controllers will now be able to issue speed control after aircraft have been cleared for the approach.

The new speed commands are:

• “[Callsign], maintain 160kts until 4 mile final”
• “[Callsign], maintain 170kts until 5 mile final”
• “[Callsign], maintain 180kts until 6 mile final”

How are aircraft speed commands used in the real world?

Speed control is an integral part of traffic management and controllers will often use this to:

• Increase arrival flow rate
• Ensure required minimum arrival spacing
• And to standardize initial approach profiles for improved predictability

Allowing aircraft to stay in a clean configuration for as long as possible for fuel efficiency is key but when they are slowed, they are expected to reduce their speed at a rate of 1kt per second. Common intermediate speeds such as 220kts and 180kts are usually used, offering controllers predictable patterns, especially in terms of closure rate with aircraft ahead.

The vast majority of commercial aircraft have a Final Approach Speed that is in the region of 115kts to 155kts. This means that even with minimum separation between two arrivals, the closure rate with an aircraft at 160kts behind is minimal and thus protects the integrity of the separation applied. The use of 170kts to 5 miles and 180kts to 6 miles follows the same principle as 160kts to 4 miles, however the latter is the most commonly used.

So what do you do if you are issued with one of these new speed commands?

• Reduce to the speed instructed as expeditiously as possible
• Configure your aircraft to be able to fly at that speed
• Maintain the assigned speed until you reach the distance specified
• At the correct distance from the runway (keep reading for tips), reduce to your Final Approach Speed and continue to configure for landing

Once you’re at your Final Approach Speed, make sure to assess your stability, a successful landing is always preceded by a stable approach!

Help from our flying guide: Stability Approach Criteria

How do you know how far you are from the runway?

If you are flying an ILS Approach, the distance to the runway threshold will be displayed to the right of the Horizontal Situation Indicator once you have tuned to the frequency and displayed it.

Using the ILS is the best way to get distance information but if this isn’t available, you can also try one of the following:

• Select the airport, or ideally the runway end fix (if available) as your “next fix” and then use the “distance to next” option in the status bar to display this
• Use visual clues such as perceived distance based on experience or where other aircraft began to reduce to their Final Approach Speed

What are the benefits?

There is a reason that these are used at the busiest hubs across the globe, and that is efficiency! The days of being behind a pilot that decides to reduce to their Final Approach Speed at 15 miles are finally gone and controllers will now be able to pack more aircraft in without the concern of separation being lost.

What can you expect with this change?

• More efficiency
• Tighter spacing and therefore fewer delays
• Fewer go-arounds
• And overall, a more realistic experience!

Ready to give Infinite Flight a try? Head to your App Store or Google Play Store to download Infinite Flight, and we will see you in the skies!

Please note: A subscription to Infinite Flight Pro is required to fly in multiplayer and with ATC.

Image Credits: @Pingu, @ThomasR and @Ruky