Virtual Air Traffic Simulation Network


Virtual Air Traffic Simulation Network is a nonprofit organization that operates an online flight-simulation network noted for its active membership and realism. Members can fly as pilots or direct traffic as air traffic controllers, participating in what has been described as a close approximation of real-life aviation procedures.

Overview

VATSIM provides a flight-simulation network that allows users to either fly online as pilots or direct traffic as air traffic controllers, producing an organic simulation of air traffic.
Communications between pilots and controllers are carried out using integrated voice-over-IP or in-game text messages. Users require custom software to join the simulation.
The main organs of the network consist of the Board of Governors and the Executive Committee, each of whom is responsible for one of the six geographic regions—namely, Africa & Middle East, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America, called VATAME, VATASIA, VATEUR, VATNA, VATOCE and VATSA respectively. These regions are further subdivided into divisions, some of which further divide into virtual area control centers, and virtual air route traffic control centers. Operating procedures within each area reflect local standards.
The network also has a volunteer team of supervisors that crack down on pilots/air traffic controllers who respond to reports of other fellow users breaking the VATSIM Code of Conduct or of those who may need assistance in flying on the network. The new pilot rating system, however, aims to introduce an entry-level test to reduce the amount of cases of pilots that connect without knowing what to do in busy airspace, causing disruption and frustration for controllers.
Because the simulation adheres as closely as possible to real-life aviation procedures and radio phraseology, VATSIM can function as a training aid for student pilots lacking experience and private and commercial pilots looking to enhance their skills in radio communications. Events in the simulation are not hard coded on the network but rather emerge through human interaction and error. Consequently, the network has been described as bringing immersion to what was historically a solitary exercise and credited with playing a key role in the commodification of flight-simulation software.

History

SquawkBox and ProController

The advent of the Internet in the mid-1990s enabled users of modern flight simulators to fly together using multiplayer functionality. In 1997, SquawkBox was created by as an add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator 95, enhancing the built-in multiplayer features to allow large numbers of players to connect to the game. ProController, a radar-simulation program also developed by Jason Grooms, was created in the same year to connect virtual pilots with virtual controllers. The FSD Server was created by Marty Bochane to provide the signaling infrastructure and logic required to integrate ProController and Squawkbox, enabling users to fly in real-world weather conditions. ProController was retired as an approved ATC client on March 13, 2004.
As of October 2019, the SquawkBox pilot client is soon to be retired for use on the network.

Formation of VATSIM

Spearheaded by Harvey Stein, the founding of VATSIM was announced on July 12, 2001, following dissolution of the Simulated Air Traffic Controllers Organization, after the founding of another network, IVAO. The board drew up terms of agreement with Randy Whistler, the then President of SATCO, declaring VATSIM the official successor of SATCO.

ASRC and Roger Wilco

Sometime in 2002, ProController was slowly being phased out in favour of ASRC. Alongside that, Roger Wilco was used to faciliate voice communications between pilots and ATC, with ATC denoting that voice communications were available with them with the callsign format XXXX_V_TWR, alongside putting their voice server IP and voice room name in their ATIS. The ASRC software is still approved for use as an ATC client on the VATSIM network as of May 2020, though its last release was v1.2, and is no longer used by the majority of members on the network.
On March 27, 2005, an alternative add-on to FS2002/FS2004 and FSX called FSInn was approved for use on the VATSIM network alongside SquawkBox.
On 17 April 2006, the VRC ATC client was approved for use on the VATSIM network, and as of May 2020, the VRC client is still in use today, mainly in the American and Oceanic regions, due to its easy setup, but comes with a lack of customisability.
On September 15, 2007, the EuroScope ATC client was approved for use on the VATSIM network. Created by Gergely Csernak, the client is the most used ATC client on VATSIM, due to its custom plugin support, realistic radar screens, and automatic controller coordination. It is designed to integrate with other ATC clients like VRC, vSTARS, and vERAM, however. It is generally used mostly in the Europe and Asia regions.
On January 14, 2012, the vSTARS ATC client was approved for use on the VATSIM network. Created by Ross Carlson, the client aims to replicate the real-world STARS system used in many US TRACON facilities.
On February 27, 2016, the vERAM ATC client was approved for use on the VATSIM network. Also created by Ross Carlson, the client aims to replicate the real-world ERAM system used in many US ARTCC facilities.
In 2018, VATSIM announced that it had achieved eighty thousand active members for the first time.

Audio for VATSIM

From its inception, VATSIM employed a system consisting of voice 'rooms', where, by using custom-written TeamSpeak 2 servers as a backbone, each virtual 'frequency' functioned similarly to a VoIP conference call, and a controller needed to 'open' each room in order for voice communications to be possible on the corresponding frequency.
In October 2019, VATSIM had finished a complete overhaul of its' voice system and called it Audio for VATSIM, a key feature of which is simulation of the entire VHF radio range, thus eliminating the need for voice rooms. The system realistically simulates signal degradation, audio quality, transceiver operation, frequency cross-coupling, and altitude effects.

Microsoft partnership

On July 23rd, 2020, VATSIM, alongside announcing a complete overhaul of their branding, announced that they entered into a partnership with Microsoft to ensure that Flight Simulator will be compatible with VATSIM upon launch.

Reception

Considered the largest online flight simulation network in the world, VATSIM has attracted mainstream media attention. Commentators have praised VATSIM for its realism and quality, describing the network as giving flight simulation an interest and depth it would otherwise lack and lauding its friendly atmosphere.
Coverage, although positive, has focused on what is perceived to be the peculiar nature of a hobby so complex that it can closely approximate work and cost thousands of dollars. The experience has been described as more strict than some participants might like.

Membership and training

VATSIM has over four hundred thousand registered members, of whom more than eighty thousand were considered active as of May 2018. Membership is free, and there are no usage fees associated with connecting to the network.
Pilots require no form of training to signup or participate on the network, though they may undertake optional training to learn how to fly certain procedures on the network. The current pilot ratings are detailed here:
A new pilot rating system is due to launch on September 1, and the new ratings are detailed as follows:
before commencing an IFR flightPilots are able to file their own flight plans either through their flight plan dialog in their pilot client or by using the VATSIM pre-file dialog, also used by flight planning sites like Simbrief. However, flight plans on the network still adhere to the old FAA flight plan standard, which is also due to be retired domestically in the US. Plans are in progress to transition to an ICAO flight planning form.
Air Traffic Controllers are required to undertake mandatory training before they are permitted to direct traffic. The Global Ratings Policy defines the requirements for each ATC rating, preceding local division restrictions. The ratings are as follows:

Events

The network sponsors regular events to encourage interaction between pilots and controllers, during which traffic can approximate real-life levels.

Worldflight

Worldflight Australia is an annual virtual round-the-world charity event where 11 teams in their own fixed-base aircraft simulators fly to over 40 destinations around the world on VATSIM to raise money for the Australian Royal Flying Doctor Service. VATSIM air traffic controllers provide service throughout this event. In 2006, fifteen enthusiasts conducted a 130-hour flight in a full-sized Boeing 747-400 simulator, for which Qantas Airways provided food.

Cross the Pond

Cross the Pond is a biannual event during which pilots complete transatlantic flights across "The Pond" between Europe and Northern America. The event alternates between westbound and eastbound every 6 months. Certain airports are selected a few months prior for which pilots can book slots to fly for, and VATSIM air traffic controllers provide full service for each of these airports throughout the event. The event is meticulously planned and coordinated by all major VATSIM staff members, to make sure that pilots enjoy their service. During the spring 2020 event, VATSIM surpassed its record for most pilots connected to the network with 3,111.