The VATSIM Code of Conduct has been updated and has been in effect for some days now.
You can read all the changes below in the link, here is the most important changes that impact how we control within the FIR.
📻️ UNICOM -> ADVISORY FREQUENCY
"UNICOM" is now referred as the "ADVISORY FREQUENCY", prompting consistency with real-world terminology
Phraselogy can be used as before, but we shall now refer 122.800 as "ADVISORY FREQUENCY".
SAS32K, monitor advisory frequency on 122.800, good day!
This has been discussed by Norwegian mentors and staff and is currently not a completed discussion. For now UNICOM shall be referred to as advisory frequency. However there is nothing in the way to give "frequency change approved" or "monitor 122.800" as a replacement for the first phraseology example. And nobody is going to arrest the case if you continue to use unicom
🧭 IFR Procedures
A new requirement mandates that pilots flying under IFR must be capable of following procedures based on current charts and navigational data.
This mandates that we can expect pilots to fly procedures based on filed flight plan route and aircraft code unless anything else has been advised (remarks and advised on initial contact etc). This still does not prohibits pilots from flying VOR to VOR or to fly non-precision approaches only. The same applies other way around, most important is that the pilot can perform the procedures.
⁉️ Unfamiliar Airspace
Pilots unfamiliar with airspace are now explicitly advised to observe operations and study procedures beforehand. This expands on the previous recommendation for reasonable flight preparation.
We can now demand and expect pilots to be prepared and be able to fly according to their intention, given instructions and/or filed flight plans.
☕️ Unattended Connections
The section on unattended connections now explicitly allows pilots to step away briefly while under active ATC control, with the controller’s permission. However, the overall 30-minute unattended limit remains.
It has been clarified that pilots have to request and expect approval to step away for a short time, usually less than 30 min.
⛔️ Connecting on the ground
When a pilot connects on the ground at the same location of another aircraft, the pilot connecting shall deconflict with the aircraft already occupying the location.
More relevant for pilots, but nice to know if you get contacted by pilot complaining about another aircraft connected at same location
🔗 https://blog.vatsim.net/vatsim-updates-the-code-of-conduct-effective-october-1-2024/