The "Don't Mess With Texas FNO" scheduled for March 24, 2023 has been cancelled due to staffing constraints affecting supporting facilities. The date will be a dark day with no FNO. The following Friday, March 31, will also be a dark day due to Cross the Pond the next day. FNOs will return on April 7 featuring PIT, LGA, and BOS.

Command Center Staff Openings Announcement

VATUSA is looking for qualified candidates interested in joining the Command Center staff. The Command Center is responsible for all TMU activities at the national level in VATUSA, and typically activates when a period of unusually high traffic load is expected, such as during FNOs, weekend primetime events, division-wide events, and international events. The Command Center and its staff are responsible for implementing traffic management programs that assist facilities during their high-traffic-load situations. There are two staff positions in the Command Center. Only the National Traffic Management Specialist position is an entry-level position.

Please note: neither position described below is a ZHQ position. All Command Center staff members are home controllers at their respective facilities and as such must maintain active status at their respective facility.






Position: National Traffic Management Specialist
Location: Command Center
Time Commitment: 7 hours per month or greater
Supervisor: Events Manager
Application Deadline: Closes March 8th, 2023 @ 2359z

A National Traffic Management Specialist (NTMS) is responsible for the operation of the Command Center. Specialists regularly act as the Operations Planner and National Operations Manager during high traffic events in VATUSA, which entail a plethora of responsibilities, including the implementation and monitoring of traffic management initiatives. NTMS’ will also be called upon to assist the NTMT in the management of the Command Center.
 
Main responsibilities:

• Assist in the creation of an Operations Plan for Command Center events with the cooperation of participating facilities
• Acting as National Operations Manager, or as an assistant, for Command Center events
• Implementing national traffic management programs
• Monitoring and analyzing system components and weather patterns for potential system impact
• Utilizing and planning traffic management initiatives when required
• Acting as the authority for interfacility traffic management cooperation and communication

Requirements for the role:

• Active member of VATSIM in good standing
• Ability to meet the minimum activity requirement for Command Center staff
• Obtained a rating of C1
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong understanding of US airspace and the NAS

Preferred qualifications for this role:

• Experience as an events staff member at a VATUSA facility
• Knowledge of traffic management in the NAS

If you would to apply for the NTMS position please email [email protected] with a VATSIM/relevant real-world résumé and cover letter by (Closes March 8th, 2023 @ 23:59z).






Position: National Traffic Management Team Member
Location: Command Center
Time Commitment: 1 to 4 hours per week or greater, in addition to regularly staffing Command Center recognized events (once per quarter, minimum)
Supervisor: Events Manager
Application Deadline: Closes March 8th, 2023 @ 2359z

The National Traffic Management Team (NTMT) is responsible for the operation of the Command Center. Team members regularly act as the Operations Planner and National Operations Manager during high traffic events in VATUSA, which entail a plethora of responsibilities, including the implementation and monitoring of traffic management initiatives. NTMT members will also assist in the creation of TMU training materials and TMU and Command Center policies, and the day-to-day oversight and operations of the Command Center.

Main responsibilities:

• Recognizing and initiating events that will require Command Center intervention and oversight
• Creating an Operations Plan for said events with the cooperation of participating facilities
• Acting as National Operations Manager, or as an assistant, for Command Center events
• Implementing national traffic management programs
• Monitoring and analyzing system components and weather patterns for potential system impact
• Utilizing and planning traffic management initiatives when required
• Acting as the authority for interfacility traffic management cooperation and communication
• Creating and implementing TMU training programs
• Day-to-day oversight and management of the Command Center

Requirements for the role:

• Active member of VATSIM in good standing
• Ability to meet the minimum activity requirement for Command Center staff
• Obtained a rating of C1
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Event staff experience at a VATUSA facility
• Strong understanding of US airspace and the NAS

Preferred qualifications for this role:

• Former or current events coordinator at a facility
• Knowledge of traffic management in the NAS
• Experience as staff in the Command Center

If you would to apply for the NTMT position please email [email protected] with a VATSIM/relevant real-world résumé and cover letter by (Closes March 8th, 2023 @ 23:59z).

VATSIM and VATUSA are proud to present the first ever edition of 24 Hours of VATSIM. 10 flights throughout the world will culminate in three involving the US.

Departing 1800-2000z: KATL -> TNCM,TJSJ,TFFF
Departing 2000-2200z: MMMX,MMGL -> KLAX,KSFO
Departing 2200-2400z: KIAH -> CYVR,CYYJ

Bookings open on February 19 at 2200z and they are available here: https://booking.vatsim.net/

People around the world are getting ready to flip the calendar to 2023. In the US, there will be parties from coast to coast. To celebrate with our own party, VATUSA will light up America as best we can, with the highlighted time from 2359 to 0400z (6:59pm - 11pm ET). Choose your favorite flying machine and find as much service as you can, but be careful on approach to avoid the fireworks!

The Moncton / Gander FIR in association with VATUSA presents Moncton Friday! On November 4th 2022 starting at 2300z, come fly in or out of CYHZ for a spin-off of our weekly event. You can expect full ATC coverage in and around CYHZ to help you enjoy your flight. For this week we invite you to join us on Friday instead of Monday for some amazing flight sim fun.
 
Can't wait to see you there!
 
The Moncton/Gander FIR recommends the following routes:
 
Canadian Destinations to Halifax
…EBONY FUNDY5
 
Boston to Halifax
… TUSKY PEGGY5 or …ALLEX FUNDY5
 
Gander Domestic/Gander Oceanic
… CAYLY CABOT5 or … AGMIR LIRLA5
 
To Montreal – Jet
CYHZ4 KELNO Q806 MLT DERDO…
 
To Montreal-Non-Jet
CYHZ4 DUSEN XIBUL MUSDU…
 
Halifax West Bound – All Aircraft
CYHZ4 SENVI VIGMA ALLEX…
 
Halifax North West Bound – Jet
CYHZ4 KELNO MOWND…
 
Halifax North West Bound – Non-Jet
CYHZ4 DUSEN XIBUL…

VATUSA in partnership with VATPAC invites you to Friday Night Ops: Downunder! Join us as we light up the skies between Sydney (YSSY), Melbourne (YMML), and Brisbane (YBBN) on October 14, 2022 (Saturday morning Downunder).

Flight Planning
In Australia, flight plans are filed in the ICAO format. SIDs & STARs are not included in the filed flight plan. This will be provided by ATC on contact with clearance delivery (for departures) and with the Centre controller prior to top of descent.

Pre-Departure Clearances (PDCs) are used in Australia. Pilots are required to readback PDCs to to the delivery controller. However, when reading back the PDC you do not need to read back everything. Just the SQUAWK, DEPARTURE PROCEDURE, RUNWAY and BAY.

[PILOT] "Melbourne Delivery, Qantas 436 with PDC readback."
[ML_DEL] "Qantas 436 g'day Melbourne Delivery, go ahead with PDC readback"
[PILOT] "Qantas 436 is cleared to Sydney, DOSEL1 departure, runway 27, squawk 4457; bay C3"
[ML_DEL] "Qantas 436" or "Qantas 436 contact ground 121.7 for push"

If you do not receive a PDC, you can request airways clearance on VHF with the Delivery controller. However, you are required to readback the entire clearance by voice.

[PILOT] "Brisbane Delivery, Qantas 535"
[BN_DEL] "Qantas 535 g'day Melbourne Delivery, go ahead"
[PILOT] "Qantas 535 request clearance"
[BN_DEL] "Qantas 535, cleared to Sydney via SANEG flight planned route. SANEG 1 departure runway 01R. Climb via SID 6000(ft). Squawk 4457 departures 133.45"
[PILOT]  "Cleared to Sydney via SANEG flight planned route. SANEG 1 departure runway 01R. Climb via SID 6000(ft). Squawk 4457 departures 133.45, bay 18 Qantas 535."
[BN_DEL] "Qantas 535, when ready for push contact ground 121.7"
 

VATPAC recommends the following routes between Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney:

YBBN – YSSY: 
DCT BN H91 CORKY H12 BOREE DCT

YBBN – YMML: 
DCT BN H91 SANEG Q923 CANTY H119 ML DCT

YMML – YBBN: 
DCT ML H66 LAGOB H185 BN DCT

YMML – YSSY:
DCT ML H129 DOSEL Y59 TESAT DCT

YSSY – YBBN: 
DCT ENTRA Y245 BANDA H185 BN DCT

YSSY – YMML: 
DCT WOL H65 RAZZI Q29 ML DCT

Pilots are still welcome to fly other routes, however you must make sure your flight plan is compliant with Flight Planning Requirements. You can use our ATC Assist Tools 'Route Finder' function to find current valid routings: https://atc.vatpac.org/

Aerodrome and Departure/Approach charts are available for free within Australia which can be found here: https://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/current/dap/AeroProcChartsTOC.htm

A report for the September 9 "The Plane Train FNO" event has been compiled. The report includes information on the planning process, staffing levels, TMU initiatives, traffic data, and comments from the facilities involved. This was the first FNO of the three part "Single Field Trials" series, which continues at DFW on September 30.

Have you made a VATSIM account, but feel intimidated every time you try to speak on the frequency? Or have you yet to make an account in fear that you haven't got what it takes yet? Then this is the event for you!

At busy airports, or events, it can be a little tricky to learn and get used to the pace. To help overcome that VATSIM created the First Wings events, dedicated to helping pilots get used to the phraseology, the procedures, and what is expected of them.

For this edition, we will be flying in North America. On Saturday 10th September, American and Canadian controllers are staffing Dane County (KMSN) and Winnipeg (CYWG), with departures from either airport starting at 20 UTC and ending at 22 UTC.

To ensure a fun and smooth afternoon for pilots and controllers alike slots are required! Pilots without a booked flight can, and will, be delayed.

Both before and during the event experienced and patient controllers and pilots will be on the VATSIM Discord to help answer any questions you have. You may join the discord through https://community.vatsim.net/. If you do not use Discord, VATSIM Supervisors will be on hand during the events, and can at any time be reached via a .wallop.

First Wings events are now held on a regular basis, with one edition occurring at the beginning of each month. To allow everyone to participate, regardless of their timezone, the location of the event rotates every month, passing through all corners of the World.


Routing
CYWG-KMSN: MUSIB1 MUSIB TUKAD DLH EAU DLL
KMSN-CYWG: WREST BGOSH J89 DLH J538 VBI GOVIT NORAK4