I am new on vatsim (I have completed just 3 flights). I have tried 3 times to fly VFR in a controlled airspace (ATC connected). Only once did the controller cooperated. The other two times I didn’t make it past the clearance. I will be more specific: (all cases the weather was much above VFR minima and it was class D airport, my departure heading was towards E or uncontrolled airspace)
First time I asked the tower via private message if they wouldn’t mind if I fly VFR (only tower and ground were connected) and I got no reply. After 10 mins or so I asked one more time and the response was “I am busy, contact ground xxx.xxx”. The frequency really was not very busy at the moment, there were long pauses between transmissions. This put me off from attempting any further communication and I just disconnected and flew offline.
Second time I flew without issue.
Third time it was control for an entire FIR with no other controllers connected he was quite more busy, still it wasn’t a continuous stream of transmissions, there were short pauses but he had to do a lot from approaches to landing clearances, en route clearances, ground clearances, taxi instructions etc (I think this system is a little bit broken). I asked VFR route clearance via text and again got no reply (I did via text to ease his workload, the request was "callsign, Bonanza G36 on GA stand at XXXX airport, Info M onboard, request VFR clearance south departure). I asked him on voice if he could please reply to my clearance request and his response was “Doing VFR via text is not a good practice” so I proceeded and asked the clearance via voice which the response was “Stand by” and he never called me back (I waited 10 minutes). Again I just disconnected and flew offline.
I am new and inexperienced on VATSIM so I ask, did I do something wrong in these cases? Is it frown upon to fly VFR on VATSIM? I really like to fly small GA aircraft on VFR and flying offline in a dead world just isn’t as immersive and when I asked these two I got the most awkward and uncomfortable waiting time of my life.
I think the issue here is not that you were VFR, but were trying to contact a controller via PM & flying via text. A controller who has to read and respond to a text message takes time out of their scan and other duties. Just because the controller isn’t speaking on frequency doesn’t mean they’re just sitting there with nothing to do.
Situation 1: just call up the appropriate controller and make your request, if your request cannot be accommodated, they’ll tell you.
Situation 3: Using text with a controller does not ease their workload. Call via voice, don’t use a separate frequency channel that the controller again needs to divert attention away from other duties. You mentioned that you then called via voice. Just call via voice in the first place. Text based pilots may receive a lower level of service than those using voice.
All that said, VFR services are always provided on a workload permitting just as it is in the real world. If ATC cannot accommodate it, they’ll let you know.
Not all regions are used to VFR flights and if it’s a single controller covering GND, TWR, APP and CTR it all depends on how busy the airspace is.
In what area do you want to fly? Greece? May I suggest flying in Germany? We do have a lot of S1 controllers sitting on smaller airports, eager for pilots showing up! Get the necessary VFR approach and departure charts and go flying there!
I mostly fly VFR in the US. I have never had ATC refuse my flight request. I use voice unless instructed to text on the main page (never pm, which they probably don’t appreciate as most are busy). A simple change in request (ex, you’re taxing and you ask to amend the taxi instruction to see if intersection departure is possible) increases their workload. They have to coordinate with other controllers behind the scenes, etc. with planes in the air. So, they can be busier than you think. Some of them are learning just like we are. I still sometimes slow them down although I feel I’m a lot more efficient than I used to be. It’s not perfect but be patient and listen to some good advice here. Good luck and don’t give up.