Traffic Management in VATSIM

[Jeremy Peterson]

I am in the process of developing a Google Classroom-based platform for learning traffic management functions in VATSIM. Currently, it consists of one work-in-progress course covering introductory TFM (traffic flow management) topics.

TFM 100 is designed to provide controllers who are relatively familiar with their airspace and who are interested in traffic management a broad insight into the tools and capabilities that work (and don't work) in VATSIM.

If you are interested in participating in the course, visit the Training section. You will need to join the "Students" group in order to receive the access codes to join the courses.

If you are interested in contributing material, logistics, administration--anything with the system, please email me!

I intend on developing these courses frequently so (1) be patient for new material; and, (2) enjoy!

Note: though I am a current member of the NYARTCC, this system, in its current state is not reflective of the ARTCC in any fashion, including representing it, its operations, or its mission. Further, as of yet, the system is disjoint from the VATUSA organization even though material within the course is VATUSA-oriented.

[Camden Bruno]

I'm slightly confused. Is this project being sponsored and/or developed by VATUSA? The VATUSA Command Center, advertising of VATUSA events, and iFrame of the VATUSA TMU map makes me believe so. But I'm not 100% sure based on this post or the website.

[Jeremy Peterson]

No, I just had to give it a name for now. Though all the material applies to operations within VATUSA. I will work on the copyright infringement in the future.

[Daniel Hawton]

I'm slightly confused. Is this project being sponsored and/or developed by VATUSA? The VATUSA Command Center, advertising of VATUSA events, and iFrame of the VATUSA TMU map makes me believe so. But I'm not 100% sure based on this post or the website.

Negative, this post is not sponsored or developed by VATUSA.

[Jeremy Peterson]

Fixed to read "Virtual" instead of "VATUSA"

[Daniel Hawton]

No, I just had to give it a name for now. Though all the material applies to operations within VATUSA. I will work on the copyright infringement in the future.

Fix it now, please.  I've removed the links and am very displeased at the design giving the appearance that it is affiliated with VATUSA.

[Jeremy Peterson]

No, I just had to give it a name for now. Though all the material applies to operations within VATUSA. I will work on the copyright infringement in the future.

Fix it now, please.  I've removed the links and am very displeased at the design giving the appearance that it is affiliated with VATUSA.

Very well. Well there goes an opportunity to present traffic management to the masses...

Nevertheless, the site reflects no affiliation whatsoever to VATSIM or VATUSA. Just that the content in the actual courses is geared towards VATUSA use. Though I guess I could change that to "traffic flow management in online community air traffic organization environments"

[Daniel Hawton]

No, I just had to give it a name for now. Though all the material applies to operations within VATUSA. I will work on the copyright infringement in the future.

Fix it now, please.  I've removed the links and am very displeased at the design giving the appearance that it is affiliated with VATUSA.

Very well. Well there goes an opportunity to present traffic management to the masses...

Nevertheless, the site reflects no affiliation whatsoever to VATSIM or VATUSA. Just that the content in the actual courses is geared towards VATUSA use. Though I guess I could change that to "traffic flow management in online community air traffic organization environments"

You seem have fixed it.  When I pulled it up it was clearly labeled "VATUSA Command Center".  This has nothing to do with the course, but that it appeared to be VATUSA sponsored.  The event and iframe weren't the issue, but using VATUSA in the title as you did was... especially when followed up with "I will work on the copyright infringement in the future" when asked by a member.  Thanks for fixing that.

[Jeremy Peterson]

Shall we clean up this forum post now that all of these issues are resolved or keep it the way it is?

[Mark Hubbert]

Very well. Well there goes an opportunity to present traffic management to the masses...

Nevertheless, the site reflects no affiliation whatsoever to VATSIM or VATUSA. Just that the content in the actual courses is geared towards VATUSA use. Though I guess I could change that to "traffic flow management in online community air traffic organization environments"

I am curious about all of this.  You mention there goes an opportunity but with all of the various forum posts regarding training development you do not see an opportunity? 

There have been multiple requests for volunteers to assist in the development of our training program, yet you have never mentioned having an interest yet you see no opportunity?

No, I just had to give it a name for now. Though all the material applies to operations within VATUSA. I will work on the copyright infringement in the future.

You decide to embark on a journey to develop and provide a training program that is geared towards the operations of VATUSA/VATSIM yet you do not bother to reach out to the training director?

You haven't even viewed all of the VATUSA training materials that are available to include training Job Order updates but you are developing with all of the material applying within VATUSA.

Please enlighten us with what you are trying to do and why you are doing it as inquiring minds would like to know.

[Jeremy Peterson]

Well as far as I was aware, there was never a specific program for the development of training material pertinent to traffic flow management. Furthermore, there seems to be a continuous debate between "traffic management is not necessary for VATSIM" and "traffic management is necessary for VATSIM" with little to no progress on the matter. So, I looked to develop a set of training materials that addressed this very problem, where my stance is "traffic management = good". Because these materials are very much preliminary, I have not made the outreach to the VATUSA management. I was putting this out for public comment and to gauge interest. Additionally, I do not want to relinquish control of the development or content of the material to VATUSA, so I have held off on requesting official endorsement.

There is a systemic under-understanding (that is, not enough understanding) of traffic management across the network. Thus, during times when VATSIM functions at its most (during events), basic traffic management procedures fail.

[Jeremy Peterson]

VATUSA3, please do point me to any Traffic Management resources you do have, should they exist and I will happily loom over them. However, seeing that this topic is not represented in the VATUSA CBTs, I will attempt to assume that such material doesn’t exist. Further, a few Traffic Management CBTs does not a TMC (Traffic management coordinator) make. That’s why the courses I am developing are separate from those under the current VATUSA structure.

[Ira Robinson]

Hello Jeremy. Without trying to dissuade you from this project, I can't help but wonder what happened to all the information and web site structure that New York had?  Your opening screens are familiar and I believe they are a part of the full package that ZNY once had online. Not that there is anything wrong with that, I should expect you to mine any material that was used previously.

AJ should be able to direct you there. And if he can't I probably have the full package that we used when we ran our own internal TMU class. Did you know we did that?  It was something like a 12 week class if I remember right.

Anyway, I was just trying to point out that you may not have to reinvent the wheel here, and that if you do choose to include VATUSA at some point, earlier is better than later.

[Jeremy Peterson]

Appreciate the response Ira. I am aware of the content that ZNY made with Alex Evins and AJ, but that information is either inaccessible or deprecated. That content was also before "my time" here with ZNY. During the time between then and now, I perceived a lull in the attention given to traffic management, so my interest in it led me to create this. Plus, I want to create this project in a fashion that I synthesized, rather than an extension of what was already created.

Due to the shear nature of the traffic management community, the materials overlap. Nonetheless, all of my content is original. Any resemblance to previously created material is simply coincidence. I have citations for any material used other than that which is easily accessible and publicly distributed content (like most pictures or videos)

I would love to see the material that ZNY had but such material is not readily available without me having to reach out to someone for the resources (which I don't want to do).

And at this point, I have no inclination of including VATUSA management on this (yet). I want to create a workable system first with material that I created. That's my take. Hope this clears some things up.

[Ira Robinson]

Appreciate the response Ira. I am aware of the content that ZNY made with Alex Evins and AJ, but that information is either inaccessible or deprecated. That content was also before "my time" here with ZNY. During the time between then and now, I perceived a lull in the attention given to traffic management, so my interest in it led me to create this. Plus, I want to create this project in a fashion that I synthesized, rather than an extension of what was already created.

Due to the shear nature of the traffic management community, the materials overlap. Nonetheless, all of my content is original. Any resemblance to previously created material is simply coincidence. I have citations for any material used other than that which is easily accessible and publicly distributed content (like most pictures or videos)

I would love to see the material that ZNY had but such material is not readily available without me having to reach out to someone for the resources (which I don't want to do).

And at this point, I have no inclination of including VATUSA management on this (yet). I want to create a workable system first with material that I created. That's my take. Hope this clears some things up.

It clears up your thinking, yes.  You would rather do it yourself.  That's fine.  I think the questions that were raised were natural to the way the process started.  Confusion over the web site, a question regarding your training process, all with the intent to distinguish your efforts from that of the Division, and offer Division support if desired.


But you have made it clear you don't want that. So what is there to say but good luck with the project.