The Northeast Corridor (NEC) is one of the busiest, most complex, and economically vital transportation systems in the world connecting eight states and the District of Columbia. Carrying over 2,200 daily trains, including Amtrak, commuter and freight trains, the NEC is the nation’s most congested rail corridor and is among the highest volume rail corridors in the world. Along with rail travel, the Northeast United States also includes some of the most complex and congested airspace in the National Airspace System (NAS). The FAA has introduced Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Routes (NEC ACR) project back in 2019, which is designed to reduce delays and improve efficiencies for traffic to and from the Florida Metroplex along the East Coast. New and amended Q and Y Routes will replace the north-south high-altitude route structure by transitioning to Performance Based Navigation-Centric NAS thus decreasing the reliance on ground-based NAVAIDs. The final implementation of the routes is expected on April 20th, 2023. More information on the NEC ACR project can be found here.

To highlight this closely integrated airspace, Virtual New York ARTCC, Washington Virtual ARTCC, and Boston Virtual ARTCC have teamed up to host our 9th annual Northeast Corridor FNO on January 20th, 2023! Join us from 7-11pm ET {2359-0400z} for rush hours of volume and traffic initiatives to keep the congested airspace balanced and manageable. We'll be fully staffing Washington-National (DCA), New York - LaGuardia (LGA), and Boston-Logan (BOS) airports.  Come visit some of the best airports the Northeast has to offer!

Event Date: Friday, January 20, 2023
Event Time: 1900-2300 ET {2359-0400Z}

VATSIM UK and the Boston Virtual ARTCC invite you to the Historical Boston Tea Party Fly-in! Join us and celebrate this historic day with a transatlantic trip from London’s Heathrow Airport (EGLL) to the Boston Logan International Airport (KBOS). Pack the cargo hold full of tea and try to keep it (and your plane) out of the harbour - that is of course, unless you’ve filled the hold with Lipton!

EGLL-KBOS city pair event on the 17th of December, departures from Heathrow only between 1300z-1500z. 60 pilot slots will be made available at 1800z on the 25th of November. Pilots without a booking will be used to fill any empty/missed slots, and delayed on stand to ensure bookings depart on schedule.

Event Routes
Two routes will be used to allow Heathrow to depart 30 p/h and traffic is split evenly across both routes. Non-event traffic is asked to file one of these routes depending on if their CID is odd or even. The routes are as follows:

> Route N: UMLA1G UMLAT T418 WELIN T420 TNT UL28 PENIL M144 BAGSO DCT DOGAL DCT 54N020W 54N030W 53N040W 51N050W DCT ALLRY N356E ALLEX Q822 AJJAY OOSHN5
> Route S: GOGS2G GOGSI N621 EVTES N514 ODADA P72 LEDGO DCT ADARA DCT 52N020W 52N030W 51N040W 49N050W DCT JOOPY N276C TUSKY DCT EURRO OOSHN5

Event Bookings
Booking system goes live at 1800z on the 25th of November. Link here: https://vats.im/btp-bookings

Pilot Guide
The pilot guide contain details on departure, oceanic crossing procedures, and arrival. Link here: https://vats.im/btp-pilot-guide

Enroute ETA
An ETA at each FIR boundary will be posted here and updated as forecasts become more accurate. The first arrivals are expected into Boston around 2000z.

Join us for this one of a kind ATC marathon event! Boston Center will be staffed continuously for 60 hours throughout the weekend in December.  As part of this unique tradition, we will also be hosting Friday Night Operations (FNO) to kick off the first night of this amazing weekend. This is one of our favorite events and we look forward to talking to you all throughout the weekend of continuous ATC coverage.

There are no sign-ups or special actions required for pilots to participate: just connect and fly, any time you want, between 11:00am ET on Friday, December 2 through 11:00pm ET on Sunday, December 4. How many flights can you get in before the end of the night on Sunday?

Begins: Friday, December 2, 11am ET (1600z)
Ends: Sunday, December 4, 11pm ET (0400z)


Winter Kickoff FNO: Friday, December 2, 7-11pm ET (2359 - 0400z)
featuring ZNY and ZDC

In the Regional Circuit, we staff up multiple of our airports to provide pilots with an opportunity to receive 'gate-to-gate' ATC service for the duration of the event. Pilots are encouraged to fly between the airports and make the return flight if time allows; however, traffic from other airports is welcome as well. The Regional Circuit always creates an immersive atmosphere with busy frequencies and congested airways between the host airports.

This Regional Circuit features Bangor (BGR), Burlington (BTV), and Manchester (MHT) airports.

October 11, 2022 2000-2300ET {11 Oct 2022 2359-0300z}

It’s also a great time to try out one of our WINGS flights. Remember, many of the flights have published Alternate Airports, allowing you to earn your BVA pilot ratings at event airports!

This week's BVA event features a special twist on our normal GA Fly-In series. Join BVA on October 1st from 1-5pm ET for a special military airport focused fly-in event featuring four airports within our airspace with military installations: Westfield - Barnes Regional Airport (KBAF), Westover Air Reserve Base/Metropolitan Airport (KCEF), Portsmouth International At Pease Airport (KPSM), and Schenectady County Airport (KSCH). This is a great opportunity to practice helicopter operations or just go for a scenic flight across the center of our airspace. While you are at it, feel free to dive into the rules and regulations around Special Use Airspace.  Any pilots wishing to conduct military operations and maneuvers must comply with VATSIM vSOA policy or you will be asked to cancel such procedures.

October 1st, 2022 1-5pm ET {1700-2100z}

It’s also a great time to try out one of our WINGS flights. Remember, many of the flights have published Alternate Airports, allowing you to earn your BVA pilot ratings at event airports!

The East Coast consists of 2,165 miles of shoreline stretching from Maine to Florida. It is the most populated coastal area in the United States and home to several of the nation’s most historic landmarks. The East Coast also features some of the largest airports in the United States, but you will find none of them staffed this night. That is right – this FNO is featuring all the airspace in between the mega metroplexes you are more used to seeing.


Miami ARTCC, Jacksonville ARTCC, Washington Virtual ARTCC, New York ARTCC, and Boston Virtual ARTCC have come together to guarantee staffing at the 10 featured event airports – none of which are Class Bravo airports (by design). We want you to explore what our connected airspaces have to offer from Key West to Palm Beach, Jacksonville to Myrtle Beach, Wilmington to Norfolk, Harrisburg to Islip, and Providence to Manchester. You can expect full staffing along the eastern seaboard for the entirety of the event. The goal of this event is to spread the traffic volumes across all 675,000 sq. miles of airspace, which are lit up for this special night.


Event Fields: KMHT, KPVD, KISP, KMDT, KORF, KILM, KMYR, KJAX, KPBI, KEYW
Date & Time: June 24th 2022, 7:00pm → 11:00pm Eastern (2300z - 0300z)


P.S. These facilities again are selected to give you, the pilots, maximum coverage along the East Coast. If you notice and see several facilities getting most of the traffic, then you can expect delays if you choose to head there as well. We kindly ask and remind you that we have TEN (10) airports staffed, so go out and find that needle in the hay, that diamond in the rough, that airport without delays and fly there instead.

P.S.S. No really don’t form conga lines or you can expect to polish off your holding procedures.

Sky Blue Radio, The Pilot Club, and Boston Virtual ARTCC presents a nice Thursday evening fly-in to the Granite State. This event is a hybrid between GA and jet aircraft, so feel free to fly whatever you want! We will have full staffing at Nashua Airport - Boire Field (ASH) and Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT). We are here to have a good time and to enjoy the amazing breakfast at the Midfield Cafe!

Event Field: KASH (General Aviation) & KMHT (Airlines and Jets)
Date & Time: June 2nd, 2022 | 7pm - 10pm Eastern (06/02/22: 2300z - 0200z)


Did you know: Nashua, NH is home to both the Boston Consolidated TRACON (A90) and Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZBW). This city plays host to our annual LIVE event in August, find out more here: https://forums.vatusa.net/index.php?topic=10541.0

In the Regional Circuit, we staff up two of our airports to provide pilots with an opportunity to receive 'gate-to-gate' ATC service for the duration of the event. Pilots are encouraged to fly between the two airports and make the return flight if time allows; however, traffic from other airports is welcome as well. The Regional Circuit always creates an immersive atmosphere with busy frequencies and congested airways between the host airports.

This Regional Circuit features Boston Logan Airport (KBOS) and Syracuse International Airport (KSYR).

July 13, 2022 1900-2200ET
(07/13/22 2300-0200z)