Which FSX Servers Are Good?

The Breakdown

When choosing a server to play on, people often wonder how good they are. How realistic? How Busy? How nice are others? Of course, many want to join the very best server. This article will break down the top FSX multiplayer servers: fsATC, Downwind, Green Fly, and Mr. Bale's FSX Hut. This article will also rate VATSIM and IVAO (both require a client you must download in fsx).

VATSIM

Things To Know - VATSIM (Virtual Air Traffic Simulation Network) is an ultra-realistic ATC network that has support for many simulators, including FSX, X-Plane, P3D, and FS2020. VATSIM does use SIDs and STARs for IFR, which are hard to fly without an FMC, which no default aircraft come with. If you want one, you will have to get add-on aircraft. When you fly on VATSIM, make sure you have up-to-date charts on hand so you know where the controller is telling you to go. It is also recommended to get updated scenery. In VATSIM, chances are high that you will have different scenery from the controller, but with add-on scenery, it is much more likely that your scenery will be close to the one in which the controller is using.
Flight
VFR - VFR flight in VATSIM is not very different. You will still hear a lot of IFR flights on frequency (the majority of VATSIM flights are IFR), however you will still be able to fly VFR with ease and with ATC communications. You can fly VFR circuits in many international class bravo airports. You can do VFR in and out of many international airports. VFR in VATSIM is not much different from real life, as VATSIM tries to mimic real life procedures and communications.
IFR - IFR flight in VATSIM can be hard for FSX players. For most IFR flights, you will be assigned instrument departures, arrivals, and approaches, all which are hard to use without an FMC/FMS/MCDU. No default aircraft in FSX come with an FMC, however some add-on aircraft do have them. Such aircraft include PMDG aircraft. In VATSIM, different approaches are used, including Localizer, Area Navigation (RNAV), and visual approaches. FMCs can fly RNAV approaches for you, however you can always request the visual approach. If you do fly IFR, keep in mind that it is very similar to real life, and that it is extremely realistic. Be sure to maintain professionalism while flying in VATSIM.
Community
The VATSIM community is very professional and friendly. Usually, you won't have to worry about messing up, because really everyone does, and controllers are usually patient with you. However, if you don't understand what a controller says, even after they type it, then disconnect and reseach what they are talking about. Before joining VATSIM, always know what you are doing and be prepared.

IVAO

Things To Know - IVAO (International Virtual Aviation Organization) is the second most realistic multiplayer network. Like VATSIM, it uses SIDs and STARs. It is not as friendly or realistic as VATSIM, however still is very realistic.
Flight
VFR - VFR flight in IVAO is not much different from VATSIM. You can still easily fly VFR. You can find some of their VFR rules at their website.
IFR - IFR in IVAO is similar to VATSIM: Being very close to real life procedures. You always want to be prepared to fly on IVAO, and you want to have an FMC installed to make everything easier.
Community
The IVAO community is not quite as friendly as VATSIM, however still pretty friendly. For example, there have been cases where planes would sometimes be rude to the controller. However, most are nice, just like VATSIM.

fsATC

Things To Know - fsATC is an FSX:SE server you can find on the multiplayer section of FSX:SE. It has a discord server, which has many members, and you have a chance of being kicked if you don't join the discord server. The history of fsATC is a bit bumpy, including one person threatening a lawsuit over ownership, but the server is very large. If you want a server in which you can expect ATC to be online for most of the day, but don't want to join VATSIM or IVAO, fsATC is the server to choose. This is a server making use of the default multiplayer function in FSX:SE, so you won't have to download anything.
Flight
Flight in fsATC is different from VATSIM and IVAO. SIDs and STARs are generally not used, as this is a server intended for fsx, and an FMC makes flying them a lot easier, but default FSX aircraft don't have an FMC. There are often controllers online, however VATSIM and IVAO are still a lot more active.
Community
The fsATC community is made up of kind flight simmers. The community itself is nice and proffessional, however some staff can be different. It is likely that you will have a good time, but fsATC doesn't have the best history.

Downwind

Things To Know - Downwind is an FSX multiplayer server that is still growing, created by the original founder of fsATC. Like fsATC, Downwind has a discord server. All aircraft that don't join the discord server are considered rogue, and if they interfere with anything, rogue aircraft can be kicked on request. It has many events, including Earth ATC every Friday (in which the pilot can spawn in at any airport with any plane, and one staff member would try to be ATC for the whole Earth), pattern madness events, etc.
Flight
Flight on the Downwind server is not much different from fsATC, seeing that Downwind is made by the founder of fsATC. SIDs and STARs are sometimes used, depending on the controller (pilots mostly have to manually fly them). The server is very active for its size, but still doesn't compare to the amount of traffic on VATSIM or IVAO. Downwind uses a strips system, so controllers can keep track on aircraft just like in real life.
Community
The Downwind community is friendly and helpful, like most multiplayer FSX communities out there. They are kind and helpful, and for the size of the server, it is very active.

Green Fly

What To Know - Green Fly is a Multiplayer FSX server, which like fsATC and Downwind, also uses Discord, but unfortunately, is not as active as other servers.
Flight
Flight in Green Fly is not quite as realistic as fsATC or Downwind. The server does not have a strips system, and uses text for flight plans. The server is mainly made up of beginner flight simmers, so SIDs and STARs are very rarely used. Green Fly does have a partnered flight school, so Green Fly is probably the best server to go to for beginners.
Community
The Green Fly community is not all that large or active compared to other communities, so chats are not all that frequent.

Mr. Bale's

What To Know - Mr. Bale's is a casual FSX server for flying without limits. There is also a Discord server for chatting and ATC. ATC is supported, however the ATC system is not organized, and if you want ATC, go for any of the other options I mention above.
Flight
Flight in Mr. Bale's is not organized. Mostly, people just do whatever they like on Mr. Bale's. ATC is rarely online. If you want an extremely casual flight simulator experience, Mr. Bale's FSX server is the one to pick.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the server that is best for you depends on what you want. Do you want an ultra realistic flight experience? If so, go on VATSIM or IVAO. Do you want something a little less stressful? Go for fsATC or Downwind. Do you want a server for beginners? Choose Green Fly. Do you want a casual flight experience? Go for Mr. Bale's. The server you choose should match with your needs. Happy flying!