Games - Virtual Air Traffic Flight Simulation Network

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	Games - Virtual Air Traffic Flight Simulation Network

The Virtual Air Traffic Simulation Network (VATSIM) is a world-wide network for virtual air traffic simulation. VATSIM is intended primarily for simulating commercial and recreational air traffic (as opposed to military/wargame simulation networks).

VATSIM users can both pilot (using a flight simulator, most commonly the current version of the Microsoft Flight Simulator) and provide air traffic control services (using a freeware simulated radar screen program provided by VATSIM).

While flying or providing control services, VATSIM users adhere as close as possible to real-life procedures including weather, airport closures and NOTAMS. Users interact using text or voice, although communication by voice is becoming increasingly popular, and their communications closely resemble those heard in real air traffic control. This has made VATSIM a valuable training aid to many student pilots, who often are inexperienced at clearly communicating with real air traffic controllers. Real air traffic controllers also take advantage of VATSIM to practice controlling traffic without putting any life at risk.

VATSIM is divided in several regions (such as Europe, North America, and Oceania), and the regions are further divided in divisions (such as Russia, Japan, and USA - for example VATUSA). Many controllers on VATSIM provide virtual air traffic control services for areas they live in. The most active areas are North America, Brazil, Europe, and Japan/South Korea.

Membership and Training

Membership and participation is completely free of charge. VATSIM has over 101,000 registered users. Anyone interested in aviation and flight simulator can join and fly on the network immediately. However, in order to become an air traffic controller on VATSIM, one must go through a comprehensive training program and pass a series of written exams. A ranking system for controllers ensures that newcomers will not take demanding positions that they are not ready for yet.

Recently, VATSIM has begun a similar training program for pilots, although it is optional and even the newcomers can connect and fly immediately. Depending on the workload, air traffic controllers are expected to provide limited assistance to new pilots. Newcomers are recommended to start in less active areas, away from larger airports.

There are other networks that are out there besides VATSIM.

Pilot Usage Overview

Once a user has purchased and become familiar with a flight simulator such as Microsoft Flight Simulator, they can freely download, install and configure a VATSIM client such as Squawkbox 3.0. The overall process for connecting and flying on VATSIM is as follows:

Place the plane at a gate or the general aviation parking of an airport.
Use websites such as to download and review charts and airport diagrams.
Connect to one of VATSIM's servers and specify a callsign and aircraft type.
File a flight plan, similar to a real life flight plan, using the client.
Tune the onboard radio to the appropriate air traffic controller such as 'clearance/delivery'.
Request clearance of the flight plan and receive a Squawk code (if flying under instrument flight rules (IFR) or within controlled airspace)
Tune the radio to ground control and request taxi to a runway.
Tune the radio to tower to request take off.
Once in the air, tune to the departure frequency, then center, depending on the route.
At the destination, the process is then reversed, where the pilot calls approach, then tower for landing and ground control for taxiing to a gate or parking.

(Certain frequencies are skipped depending on the airport and which air traffic controllers are online at the time.)

The flight plan, procedures and communication with air traffic controllers is very similar to real-world aviation including airplane separation, procedure turns, departure and arrival charts, takeoff and landing clearance, and noise restrictions.

Software

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