[New Simmer wanting ATC/Pilot Procedural training!]

Hi all, Cessna 172 VH-MAD here. First time back online since 1/8. Very interesting to follow this thread. My plan is to do some simple little things, suggest Matthew that you also "jump in" without upsetting the apple cart as follows:
1. Do a "radio check" with ATC. Just to gain confidence in talking to a real person.
2. Request a taxi clearance and taxi from some obscure part of the airfield, to a nearby obscure part (having sat and observed for awhile that other aircraft weren't nearby), in the GA part of the field e.g. as a GA type aircraft. That way, I don't need to fly at all, will only be interacting in the live ATC world for say 10 mins. I presume this would be an acceptable action.
What do the gurus think, does that sound like a newbie intro plan?

 

[New Simmer wanting ATC/Pilot Procedural training!]

Actually, the Archerfield to Ballina sounds interesting to "lurk" in, given I live in Lismore, 30 min drive from Ballina.

[New Simmer wanting ATC/Pilot Procedural training!]

Hi all, have been registered with VATSIM since Dec 2006 but never active, except for a taster login and sat in my Cessna on the grass somewhere (can't remember, either Brisbane or Sydney) to observe and listen. Was quite informative. Haven't visited VATSIM hardly at all ever since, nor FS hardly either. Like Matthew, I'm wanting to get active and "do it properly" etc. Have FS 2002, suits me fine. Did have Squawkbox on my older PC (still have the PC, but unused) but not on my current workhorse PC (both are WinXP, yes I know, obsolete but still working fine). As a newbie, have similar questions to Matthew. Thank you Brendan Chen, I copied your numbered steps post and saved it in my learning notes, will follow your steps. This is my first time posting in the VATSIM forums. Have set up my 2 screens, joystick, speakers, inside my retired 1981 Mazda 929, adds to the realism as am in a cabin, and with black plastic thrown over the windows is a totally enclosed environment. Cheers, Mark.