The Long Island Sound Fly-In invites you to join a relaxing yet engaging VATSIM evening celebrating the timeless beauty of the northeastern coastline and the unique challenges of flying in one of the busiest airspace regions in the world.

On March 17th, 2026, from 7:00–10:00pm ET (2300–0200 UTC), pilots are welcome to arrive, depart, and enjoy pattern work at a selection of classic airports ringing Long Island Sound. The event centers on the Class C facilities of Long Island MacArthur Airport (KISP) in Islip, NY, and Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (KPVD) in Providence, RI, while also featuring a handful of welcoming Class D fields ideal for general aviation: Tweed-New Haven (KHVN), Bridgeport (KBDR), Suffolk County (KFOK), Groton-New London (KGON), Quonset State (KOQU), and New Bedford Regional (KEWB).

Cruising along the shores of Long Island Sound offers breathtaking views of historic seaside villages, charming getaways, and enduring maritime communities that have shaped American coastal life for generations. From the whaling-era ports and elegant Gold Coast estates of Long Island’s North Shore to the quiet harbors, sandy beaches, and fishing traditions of Connecticut and Rhode Island, the region is steeped in rich nautical and cultural history—perfectly framed by calm waters and classic New England scenery that makes every approach or low-level departure feel special.

At the same time, the event provides an excellent opportunity to sharpen your skills in the famously congested and intricately layered airspace of the Northeast corridor. Precise communication, sharp situational awareness, and smooth coordination are essential whether you're threading a visual approach into a Class C hub, working the pattern at a busy Class D airport, or sequencing amid overlapping flows from the major New York and Boston metropolitan areas.

Full, professional ATC staffing will be provided throughout the event by controllers from Virtual New York ARTCC (ZNY) and Boston Virtual ARTCC (ZBW), covering tower, approach, departure, and enroute positions to deliver an immersive and realistic experience.

Whether you're bringing a light single-engine aircraft for scenic circuits, a regional jet into the bigger fields, or simply joining friends for some laid-back pattern work, come fly the historic shores of Long Island Sound and experience the thrill of Northeast operations firsthand. We look forward to seeing you on frequency—fly safe and enjoy the views!

Join Boston Virtual (ZBW), Virtual New York (ZNY), and Washington Virtual (ZDC) ARTCCs for the longstanding tradition of the Northeast Corridor FNO – a VATUSA-sanctioned Friday Night Operations event that has brought heavy traffic and realistic operations to one of the busiest airspace corridors in the world for over a decade.

On Friday, January 30, 2026, from 1900-2300 ET (2359-0400z), expect full staffing across the featured airports: Washington National (KDCA), New York LaGuardia (KLGA), and Boston Logan International (KBOS), along with their surrounding airspaces.

Pilots flying the Northeast Corridor can anticipate high-volume traffic mirroring real-world operations. Due to the inherent complexity and congestion of the northeastern airspace, traffic management initiatives – including ground delays, holding, miles-in-trail restrictions, and possible reroutes – are likely to be in effect. Plan accordingly, bring extra fuel, and enjoy the challenge!

This iconic event celebrates the tight coordination between our three ARTCCs while paying homage to Amtrak's famous Northeast Corridor rail service that connects these major hubs.

Whether you're shuttling between DCA, LGA, and BOS or flying in from afar, come experience the energy of the Northeast Corridor. Controllers and pilots alike – let's make this another memorable FNO!


Connecting VATUSA for the last 12 years!

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Here's a look back at the last 12 Northeast Corridor event banners!

Bundle up and fire up those engines — it’s time for the Cold Start FNO!

Kick off Boston Virtual ARTCC’s annual 60-hour winter marathon with a frosty Friday night across the Northeast Corridor. From 0000 to 0400z (1900–2300 ET) on Friday, December 5th, the Boston (ZBW), New York (ZNY), and Washington (ZDC) ARTCCs will team up to bring you wall-to-wall coverage from New England to the Mid-Atlantic.

No featured fields this time — the skies are your playground. Whether you’re flying a quick shuttle hop, an east coast milk run, or a long-haul departure, expect full staffing, heavy traffic, and that signature Northeast energy.

Start your weekend right — with a Cold Start.


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Concurrently, ZBW will be hosting the 60 Hours of BVARTCC event. This is a one-of-a-kind ATC marathon event! Boston Center will be staffed continuously for 60 hours throughout the weekend in December. Please check the event posting for details.

Every year millions of people travel to the New England area to experience the breathtaking fall colors all across the region. These fall tourists are known locally as 'leaf peepers,' and they fuel a multi-billion dollar tourism industry annually. While this influx of visitors provides a welcome economic boost to the region it is not without it's challenges-particularly for rural areas where the the infrastructure and public safety resources can be stretched beyond capacity.

BVA Special Operations invites you to come join us in celebrating this unique time of year by participating in Operation Leaf Peeper, there will be mission scenarios for many different types of missions including but not limited to security overwatch and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR); Medevac and Search and Rescue (SAR); border and airspace protection, fire watch and firefighting; airborne photography; and additional support for these missions.

Learn more about BVA Special Operations here.

19 October 2025 1300 - 1700 ET {19 Oct 2025 1700-2100Z}

Set the parking brake on the airliner and take to the skies in your favorite general aviation aircraft—this time, we’re heading to Hanscom Field in Bedford, Massachusetts.

Located just outside of Boston, KBED is home to one of the region’s busiest general aviation hubs, supporting everything from student pilots in Cessnas to corporate jets on tight schedules. With a dynamic mix of traffic, diverse operations, and a scenic approach over historic New England landscapes, Hanscom Field offers a perfect challenge for both pilots and controllers.

During the event, full local ATC coverage will be provided at KBED, with overlying radar services offering IFR and VFR support. Whether you're looking to shoot some practice approaches, enjoy some pattern work, or take a short VFR hop from another nearby field, this fly-in is all about celebrating the vibrant GA community.

Fly VFR or IFR—single engine piston or light bizjet—whatever your mission, Hanscom Field and Boston Virtual ARTCC is ready for you!

September 14, 2025 1400-1700ET {14 Sept 2025 1800-2100z}
Featuring: KBED

It is Summer in New England, and you know what that means…. Boston Virtual ARTCC's Tea Party Poker is BACK! We invite all pilots to participate and win some of the great prizes we have to offer!

Are you new to Boston Virtual ARTCC or VATSIM? Find out more about getting started with online ATC. 

What is Tea Party Poker?
Tea Party Poker is a fun game that gives pilots another reason to participate in the event, see more of our airspace, and the chance to win some terrific prizes! While there is absolutely no requirement to participate in Poker, it's become an annual tradition that many pilots take part in.

If you choose to participate in Tea Party Poker:

• Each time you land at a Class B, C, or D airport inside ZBW, send BOS_PK_CTR a private message and you'll get a reply with your virtual poker card(s).
• You must fly to airports that are at least 50nm apart (straight-line distance).
• Once you obtain 5 cards, you can keep flying, discarding, and picking up new cards to help better your hand.
• The pilot(s) with the best hand at the end of the event will win and pick their choice of available prizes.

The full set of rules is listed below.

Rules
All pilots who choose to participate in this competition agree to abide by the rules below. The competition rules may be modified for clarity or other reasons without prior notification to participants. Please refer to this page for any updates. These rules are current as of July 29, 2025. The Events Coordinator shall have final say on all questions or disputes regarding this competition, and will be responsible for determining the winners.
 
The full rules governing the contest are:
1. Event Duration: The poker game starts at 11:00am ET on Saturday, August 9 and ends promptly at 5:00pm ET (1500z to 2100z).
 
2. How To Play: A pilot is eligible to draw virtual poker cards by completing any Eligible Flight during the event. At the conclusion of a flight, a pilot may contact the designated event official (BOS_PK_CTR) via private message (PM) to obtain the poker card(s). The event official will respond via private message advising the pilot of the cards they have received.
 
• When contacting BOS_PK_CTR to obtain a card, your PM must include:

• Flight origin and destination.
• Email Address (first message only).
• VATSIM CID

• Pilots will receive:

• First drawing: two poker cards.
• Subsequent drawings:

                    - Two poker cards, if the landing is at an airport other than KBOS that is staffed by a Tower controller. Pilots have the option pick up only one card, if desired.
                    - One poker card, if the landing is at a towered airport staffed "top down" by an Approach or Center controller only, or if the landing is at KBOS.

• Pilots may contact BOS_PK_CTR to obtain a card after landing at the intended destination and once at a safe/appropriate location. Once the 'card request' message has been sent, pilots do not need to wait for a reply or card assignment; the next flight may begin immediately.

• Bonus Play: ​​​​​​​Boston Virtual ARTCC members who are graduates (having completed all 30 flights) of the Wings Over New England (WINGS) training program are eligible to receive an extra poker card. This can be claimed by notifying BOS_PK_CTR at the conclusion first flight. Failing to notify BOS_PK_CTR until later flights forfeits your eligibility for this bonus card.
 
3. Notification of Winners, Prize Priority: By entering the contest and providing your email address to BOS_PK_CTR, you consent to Boston Virtual ARTCC emailing should you be a winner. (If you are not a winner, we won't contact you, nor will we retain your contact information beyond the conclusion of the event.) Winners will be notified at the email address provided within 14 days of the end of the competition and will be able to choose from the list of prizes available in order of their poker hand. Winners must respond to their prize notification email within 48 hours to confirm their priority and select a prize. Winners who do not respond within 48 hours will lose their priority to select a prize but may still be eligible for any remaining prizes at the time they reply to the email.

4. How To Win: The pilots with the strongest poker hands at the conclusion of the event will be the winners. The number of possible winners will be equal to the number of pilot prizes available. Pilots must hold a full hand (5 cards) to win; therefore, pilots must complete, at a minimum, 3 eligible flights to qualify. Winning pilots will be allowed to select from a variety of prizes in order based on the strength of their respective poker hands:



5. Eligible Flights: An Eligible Flight is any flight that terminates in a full-stop landing at a towered airport (controlled by Tower, Approach, or Center) within Boston ARTCC (ZBW) during the scheduled event times and complies with the restrictions outlined. Flights that originate outside ZBW airspace, and flights that originate before the start of the event, may be considered eligible provided they comply with the restrictions below. If a pilot is not certain whether a flight will be eligible, they should contact the designated event official (BOS_PK_CTR) via private message prior to departure. 

• The flight must be between airports that are at least 50nm apart (by straight-line distance).
• The destination must be a towered airport (surrounded by Class B, C, or D airspace).
• The pilot must remain connected to the VATSIM network for the duration of the flight.
• VFR pilots must file a Flight Plan prior to departure that includes, at a minimum, their aircraft type, origin, and destination.
• The event ends promptly at 5:00pm ET (2100z) and any flights that conclude after this time will not receive a card.

6. Discarding: Pilots who hold a full hand (5 cards) may try to better their hands throughout the event time by completing additional flights. Pilots wishing to do this should advise the designated event official (BOS_PK_CTR) of the card or cards they would like to discard at any point, before receiving new cards. At no point shall a pilot hold more than 5 cards in their hand.

7. Designated Event Official (BOS_PK_CTR): Issuing and tracking of pilot cards will be conducted by a designated event official. Cards that each pilot has in their "possession" will remain unknown to all other pilots until the event is complete. A pilot may verify their card holdings with the designated event official via private message. All replies to card verification requests will be returned via private message.
 
8. Number of Decks: The competition will use a minimum of one deck of cards (52 cards) to start with, and the cards will be issued at random. Once this deck has been exhausted, a new deck will be added. Cards that are discarded will be placed back into the pool of available cards.
 
9. Duplicate Cards: It is possible that a pilot may mistakenly receive a duplicate card during the event. If this happens, it is the pilot's responsibility to notify the designated event official (BOS_PK_CTR) as soon as possible and receive a new card. Hands containing duplicate cards are considered "illegal" poker hands and will not be eligible to win.
 
10. Tracking of Poker Hands: Poker hands will be tied to a pilot's VATSIM CID, not their name or callsign.
 
11. Exchanging of Cards: Trading, exchanging, or transferring of cards between or among pilots will not be allowed at any time during the event.
 
12. Withdrawal: A pilot wishing to withdraw from the game must notify the designated event official (BOS_PK_CTR) by private message, or if unavailable, one of the BVA controllers staffing a position. The pilot's cards will be returned to the deck(s) and made available to other competitors to collect. Once a pilot has withdrawn, they may not attempt to re-enter the competition.
 
13. Shared Cockpit Flights: Cards are issued to flights, not pilots. Participants who choose to fly together in the same aircraft (i.e., shared cockpit flying) will be considered a single flight and receive one set of cards. For the purposes of the competition, the name and CID of the pilot who messaged BOS_PK_CTR will be considered the pilot who is participating in the competition.
 
14. Disqualification: Pilots who are disqualified will not be allowed to re-enter the competition. The Events Coordinator will have the final say in any disputes regarding pilot disqualification. A pilot may be disqualified from the competition for:

• Failure to comply with VATSIM COC.
• Refusal to comply with ATC instructions.
• Attempting to cheat or circumvent the competition rules.
• Providing false/misleading information to the event official.

 
Disclaimer
In no way should this competition be seen as a promotion or simulation of gambling. There is no purchase necessary to play or win. Gambling is not endorsed by Boston Virtual ARTCC or any of its affiliates, including VATUSA, VATSIM, and the event sponsors.

Mark your calendars for a truly enchanting experience as we invite you to join us for the highly anticipated unofficial kickoff to summer event, Escape to the Cape. This year's fly-in promises to be an aviation adventure over the Cape, featuring the iconic airports of Nantucket (ACK), Martha's Vineyard (MVY), Cape Cod Gateway/Hyannis (HYA), and Cape Cod CGAS (FMH).

Picture yourself taking flight as the weekend dusk of Memorial Day sets in, casting a golden glow over the landscape, creating a magical ambiance for this special occasion. The allure of the Cape Cod's stunning coastline combined with the professionalism of the Boston Virtual ARTCC controllers makes this a cherished tradition and a favorite among virtual aviators in the Northeast.

This event, part of BVA's renowned Fly-in series, has become a cornerstone in the General Aviation community, offering a unique opportunity for pilots to immerse themselves in the rich and challenging airspace of the Cape sector. The dynamic air traffic control services provided by the Boston Approach team ensure a realistic and engaging flying experience, making this event suitable for both seasoned pilots and those just beginning their virtual aviation journey.

As you take to the virtual skies, connect with fellow aviation enthusiasts and share the thrill of navigating this picturesque airspace. Depart or arrive at Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod Gateway/Hyannis, or Cape Cod CGAS to be part of the action, and experience firsthand why Escape to the Cape has become synonymous with the best of GA flying in the Northeast on VATSIM.

Clear skies, the beauty of the Cape, and the camaraderie of the virtual skies await you. Don't miss the chance to be part of this legendary aviation experience during the weekend dusk of Memorial Day. Join us for Escape to the Cape, and let the adventure begin!

May 29, 2025 1800-2200ET {29 May 2025 2200-0200z}
Featuring: KACK, KMVY, KHYA, KFMH