Thank you for your contributions to VATUSA – whether as a Pilot, Controller, or Staff Person!
It has been a busy 1st quarter!
• I have been participating on the VATSIM GRP Revision Committee as VATUSA’s representative. The revised policy is in draft and will hopefully be released in 2nd Quarter.
• Wes, Ryan Parry, Ryan Pitt, Cody, Brandon, ATMs and DATMs and I have revised DP001. The new version is posted on the website.
• Wes and the Region Managers are in the process of finishing the initial DP003 revisions and should have the draft in front of ATMs/DATMs and ECs for review soon.
• Anthony, Meg, TAs and Instructors have been hard at work on the VATUSA Academy Website. The website will be a game changer on how we deliver New Member training. I’m certain this will provide a long lasting improvement and will hopefully open some training bandwidth.
• Blake completed our transition to a new web hosting service. The uptime of our website has vastly improved!
• Ryan and Jeremy continue to provide effective TMU services during our events. Discussions have just started on further integrating TMU features into the VATUSA website.
• Brayden, Shane Friedman, and Erik Quinn are spearheading an effort to create a VATUSA Iron Mic competition.
• Nick is pouring over the VATUSA Logo Contest submissions. A winner should be declared shortly.
At the end of 1st Quarter 2021, our controlling hours grew by 37% on average compared to 2020 while filed traffic at our Designated Airspace Fields increased by 74%. Once the 1 year anniversary of the COVID pandemic passed, the 2021 to 2020 comparison dynamic changed. In the first couple of weeks of 2nd Quarter 2021, controlling hours decreased YoY by 27% while filed traffic at our Designated Airspace Fields leveled off YoY. Growth in our controller ranks remains strong at 35% YoY. The Academy Website, when implemented, should help open up Instructor-Led training bandwidth. My goal is to hang on to as much of the Division's 2020-2021 growth in pilot and controller participation as possible.
Our new FNO format, which starts this Friday April 9th, will hopefully make our premier event more manageable from a controller and pilot perspective. Details on the new format can be found at
https://forums.vatusa.net/index.php?topic=9989.0Until next time, blue skies!
