How do I use SayIntentions.AI with VATSIM?

You can use our VATSIM-Outbound Handoffs feature to automatically transfer your VATSIM-controlled flight to SayIntentions.AI's ATC network once you departure a VATSIM coverage area.

Partners also have PREVIEW access to a new feature allowing for VATSIM Inbound Handoffs as well. More details below.

Please read this article carefully, as there are some important details here about how this works. 

OUTBOUND HANDOFFS: As you are departing a VATSIM coverage areas, use the following steps to automatically move to the SayIntentions.AI ATC Network:

1. Make sure your VATSIM flight plan was also filed on SimBrief.

2. Make sure your SimBrief username has been entered into the SayIntentions.AI App Settings.

3. Depart the VATSIM Coverage area, and wait until they hand you off to the UNICOM frequency on 122.8.

4. Close the VATSIM app, or disconnect from the VATSIM network. (This prevents you from transmitting on both networks at the same time).

5. Start the SayIntentions.AI app.

6. Wait 15 to 60 seconds. The SayIntentions.AI ATC controller will contact you, and ask you to switch to the appropriate ACC/ARTCC or Radar/TRACON frequency.

7. You will hear "Radar contact", and receive your next IFR instructions, if any.

You keep your flight plan. You keep your squawk code. At this point, SayIntentions.AI is your new ATC network!

INBOUND HANDOFFS: Switch automatically from SayIntentions.AI to VATSIM as I arrive into a coverage area.

This feature is for partners only for now. It is in PREVIEW, which means it likely doesn't work properly (yet). It will be released to everyone in the next few weeks.

Note: Works only with MSFS and vPilot

To turn it on.. go to Pilot Portal, Settings, Preview -- you'll see a new VATSIM section. Two new checkboxes. The first will allow you to enable/disable the outbound handoff feature (the same one we've had for a year now). I recommend just turning this on as it has no real downside. The SECOND option is the big one.......... 

If you turn this on, you need to restart the SI application. Once you do so, our updater will drop a new DLL into your vPilot\Plugins folder. At which point you will need to restart vPilot.

This plugin will detect when a VATSIM controller reaches out to you via text as you approach their airspace. Once they do, our AI ATC will basically say, "Contact VATSIM Controller <position> on 123.45". (intercepting the message, and giving you an audible ATC handoff).

Once you hear that message, your co-pilot will be disabled, and you will be automatically disconnected from the SI ATC network.. You're now 100% in their hands.

It is 100% YOUR responsibility to comply with the terms of service and rules of VATSIM at all times. This includes not "dual transmitting" on both networks at the same time. (We recommend using a separate PTT button for vPilot to avoid this).

Worth noting.. if you remove the checkbox described above, and restart the SI app, the DLL will be deleted automatically.

If I want to run both vPilot and SayIntentions.AI at the same time:

You CAN do this, but you must use a different button for PTT (Push-to-Transmit) for each app / ATC Network. This is to prevent a situation where you are dual-transmitting on each network at the same time (which would be a huge problem for both networks). 

If vPilot is connected you should also use the ATC button to avoid being in both ATC networks at the same time. You should only use VATSIM when ATC functions within SI are disabled. You can continue to use non-ATC functions in SI whilst connected to the VATSIM network.

If you're unsure how to do this, or simply don't want to do this, we recommend running just one at a time.

*** SkyNet and Traffic Injection should be turned off if using vPilot. Otherwise, the injected vPilot multiplayer traffic may be negatively affected. Either ensure the SayIntentions AI button is toggled off or the traffic slider in the SayIntentions settings is set to off. These should be set before the vPilot app is opened. ***