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1. INTRODUCTION – THE BASICS
- Introduction
- How to read the manual
- The responsibility and role of a ATCO
- Controller functions
- Clearence
Delevery (DEL)
- Ground (GND)
- Tower
(TWR)
- Departure
(DEP)
- Approach
(APP)
- Area
Control Center (ACC)
- Flight
Information Service (FIS)
- The VATSIM community
- About VATSIM
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1.1 How
to read the manual
This manual is intended both for those novice to air
traffic control, who want to learn the basics, and to
those who want to learn more.
If you are new to air
traffic control, we’d like to point out that this manual
is quite comprehensive, and it is absolutely not
necessary to know everything in this manual by heart.
You will get an idea of what it is all about, and can
later use the manual as a reference to get necessary
information.
Some sections are more advanced than
others. The sections are marked according to what level
they correspond to in the following way:
- (unmarked) – Required knowledge for all controllers.
- [S] – Required knowledge for Students and above.
- [S+] – Required knowledge for Senior Students and above.
- [C] – Required knowledge for Controllers and above.
- [C+] – Required knowledge for Senior Controllers and
above.
- [Ref] – Reference only for all controllers.
In conjunction to this manual you should also read the
GUIDE.
The GUIDE contains material that focus more on
practical ATC.
Finally, we would like to point out that our motto is
“as real as it gets”, but also always remember to have
fun while aiming at that goal. Good luck!
VATEUD TRAINING DEPARTMENT
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1.2 The responsibility and role of a ATCO [S]
We start with the most important:
As a controller, your main task is to separate aircraft.
Your responsibility is therefore to make sure no
collisions occur. You must at all time avoid any risk of
collision.
Now that we have said it in three different
ways, we hope that you remember what your main task is.
But there are other tasks as well..
- Prevent collisions between aircraft.
- Prevent collisions between aircraft and ground /
obstacles on ground.
- Expedite and maintain an orderly flow of air traffic.
- Provide advice and information for safe and efficient
conduct of flight.
- Make it as real as it gets and at the same time
understand that all involved shall have as fun as
possible.
As a controller, you have a good overview over the
traffic, but you never know how the situation is inside
the cockpit where the pilots sit.
Your responsibility is
therefore to the traffic situation.
You are not
responsible to how the aircraft is flown. Every pilot
has a responsibility for his aircraft.
Sometimes, there
is a disagreement between you as a controller and the
pilot as to what is the right action in the current
situation. Remember that it is the pilot who has final
word in these situations.
This doesn't mean that he can
fly his aircraft the way he pleases, but rather that you
cannot give the pilot an instruction which he or his
aircraft is physically unable to perform.
To avoid this
kind of conflicts, it is always important to give the
reason why unusual instructions are given.
It is very rare that disputes occur in our virtual
world. We always try to help each other. If you end up
in a dispute anyway, try to remember that we are real
people in a virtual world.
If you or anybody else makes
a mistake, no lives are at stake. This is the most
important difference between real life and the virtual
world. Try not to get angry, never argue with anybody,
but rather point out the problem in a calm and
constructive manner.
The above can be summarized in
“common sense” and “humility” - two good
characteristics.
If a situation gets unpleasant or
hatred, or if a pilot deliberately tries to sabotage our
environment, you should try to contact a Supervisor
(SUP) or Administrator (ADM).
These people have a
responsibility to act in this kind of situations, and
they are also the only ones who can expel pilots and
controllers.
Let's move on from this boring but
necessary topic and look closer on your task as a
controller.
Apart from separation, you should also give
service to the aircraft. Simply said, you should guide
the pilots from point A to point B.
The pilots are in a
never ending need of current information. They need
weather and traffic information etc. It is your
responsibility to deliver this information as correctly
and quickly as possible.
There is one final task which isn't less important than
the others. That is to have fun. We want you to enjoy
yourself online VATSIM!
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1.3 Controller functions [S]
One of the most common mistakes made in the VATSIM
environment is the misconception of a particular
facility's function.
A controller can work in many
different roles, where maybe Tower is the most well
known. Every role has its own responsibilities and
working tasks as described below.
Note that in the on
line environment, we have reduced the number of tasks,
in real life, there are many more.
A basic summary of what each position does follows
below. The usual practice is that a position takes over
all of the “lower” when they are unmanned.
Example:
TWR handles all the duties of the position DEL,
GND and TWR if none of the “lower” is on-line.
If DEL
gets online, then DEL will of course handle DEL and TWR
will handle GND and TWR.
Finally (to make things really
clear) if GND gets online, then GND handles DEL and GND
and TWR only TWR.
Note that some positions require a minimum rating. There
may also be stricter local rules that apply for certain
controller functions. Please refer to your local vACC
for more information.
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1.3.1 Clearance Delivery (DEL) [S]
Clearance Delivery gives ATC clearances to the pilot
after checking the Flight Plan.
If the Flight Plan
contains error it is DEL’s responsibility to correct
them before releasing the aircraft.
This function is not
often in use online during normal operation, but you
might see it on very busy airports and during fly-inns.
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1.3.2 Ground (GND) [S]
Ground Control is responsible for exercising general
surveillance on the airport movement area - apron.
Ground gives taxi clearances and restrictions. Note
however that Ground isn't responsible for the runways,
they are tower’s responsibility. When the aircraft is
approaching the active runway, Ground hands over to
Tower, who “owns” the runways.
If an aircraft needs to cross a runway, (active or
inactive) on its way to it’s destination a specific
clearance to do so must be obtained. Ground then needs
to coordinate with tower to get approval or hand over
the aircraft to TWR for that clearance (the first being
the preferable).
There are a few airports that have
runways that are used as taxi-ways. They are controlled
by GND, if this is clearly stated and coordinated
between TWR and GND.
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1.3.3 Tower (TWR) [S]
Tower is responsible for all take-offs and landings and
gives instructions to effect proper sequencing and
separation of aircraft for departure.
Tower decides
which runways are being used for take-offs and landings
depending on wind direction etc. You are also
responsible for aircraft on the ground when they are on
the runway or are about to cross a runway.
Landing
aircraft are handed over to Ground as soon as they leave
the runway (or sooner at tower’s discretion)
Departing
aircraft are handed over to the next controller when
they leave your airspace, which normally means 3000-4500
ft. The hand-off can also be done earlier if coordinated
between TWR and next controller.
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1.3.4 Departure Control (DEP) [S]
Departure Control is responsible for ensuring separation
between departures once they are handed over from TWR.
This controller may also suggest headings or vectors as
appropriate to maintain this separation.
APP take care
of DEP, when this position isn’t manned.
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1.3.5 Approach Control (APP) [S]
As the name implies, Approach is responsible that
aircraft when they approach the airport.
For arriving
aircraft, the hand over point is normally when the
aircraft enters the STAR (Standard Instrument Arrival)
entry point. Approach is responsible that separation is
made in a safe way. In case the STAR doesn't end at the
initial approach fix (final), Approach is responsible
for vectoring aircraft on to the final with proper
altitude and speed. Approach may also vector aircraft
away from a STAR or SID (Standard Instrument Departure
if this is necessary for safety reasons, or to get a
good traffic flow.
Normally Approach also handles
departure’s responsibilities, taking care of departing
aircraft which are handed over to Centre Control.
Arriving aircraft are usually handed over to Tower when
they have established ILS (Instrument Landing System) or
when on final for visual approach.
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1.3.6 Area Control Center (ACC) [S]
Area Control Center (sometimes called Control CTR)
provides ATC to aircraft on the en-route phase of
flight.
This includes giving information that the pilot
needs such as weather and traffic information.
It
usually includes taking care of departing traffic,
climbing to their cruising altitude and issuing
inbound-clearance to traffic that is approaching the
final destination of the flight.
ACC is also responsible for all airports where Tower and
Approach are not manned.
ACC is a demanding position and
requires a great deal of experience.
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1.3.7 Flight Information Centre (FIS) [S]
Flight Information Centre (sometimes called FSS) is an
air traffic facility that provides a myriad of services
to the pilot, such as pilot briefings, relaying of
clearances and broadcasting of weather information.
At
selected locations, FIS also provides en-route Flight
Advisory Services.
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1.4 The VATSIM community [S]
VATSIM is a huge and quite complex organisation.
There
is only one sort of membership, but you can say that
there are three different kind of activity that you can
engage in. Many members participate in more then one of
these activities.
As a pilot or ATCO there is little need to know
everything about the organisation as such, but from time
to time you might want to contact someone from
administration to get help or guidance.
Since it isn’t
always easy to know who to turn to, a brief insight in
the organisation-tree is presented here for reference.
There is also a short description of the history of
VATSIM at the end of this section.
It is not in the scope of this manual to describe the
VATSIM organisation in detail and the best way of
finding the right person is to start looking at your own
vACCs homepage. There will be a staff-list with contact
information on that page. The staff will guide you in
the first instance if your request can’t be handled
within your vACC.
You can also turn to the VATSIM forum
and ask for help and further assistance.
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1.5 About VATSIM [S]
An Introduction into the Great Hobby of Online Flight
Simulation and Simulated Air Traffic Control
It wasn't long ago when the whole world was ours alone.
Beginning with Microsoft's Flight Simulator Version 5.0,
we could simulate flying to many parts of the world.
Flying, however, was a very lonely proposition. There
were no other airplanes in the skies while we flew
en-route and our arrivals at major airports were like
landing in ghost towns.
There was dynamic scenery and
beginning with Microsoft's Flight Simulator 98,
multi-player capability to keep you company. But other
than that, Flight Simulator, as wonderful a program as
it has been throughout its history, fell flat when it
came to simulating air traffic control.
In 1997, all of that changed with the introduction of
SquawkBoxİ, an add-on program for Flight Simulator
95/98, and ProControllerİ, a stand alone program.
Over
time, SquawkBoxİ has been revised several times and now
works with all major Flight Simulation programs
including Microsoft Flight Simulators 95, 98 and 2000,
Precision Simulator and the Fly! series of programs.
Through the use of ProController and the internet,
people operating as air traffic controllers could track
and control aircraft in real time as they flew in Flight
Simulator by utilizing a simulated radar screen.
Pilots,
using SquawkBox, could now talk to and receive air
traffic control from people using ProControllerİ. Soon
thereafter, various organizations were established to
bring order and structure to this new nîche in the
hobby.
The Virtual Air Traffic Simulation Network, known as
VATSIM.net or "VATSIM" was created in 2001 by a group of
individuals who came together with a goal of creating an
organization which truly served the needs of the flight
simulation and online air traffic control community.
With an eye towards more than just providing a network
of computers for users to log into, VATSIM is an online
community where people can learn and, at the same time,
enjoy the pastimes of flight simulation and air traffic
control simulation, all while making new friends from all
over the world.
VATSIM is not just for individuals who have experience
in online flight simulation and ATC. It is perfect for
both the new user, and the long time "simmer".
- For someone who has just learned about online flight
simulation and air traffic control and is interested in
real world procedures, VATSIM and its members, many of
whom bring real world experience and expertise to our
community, offer an ideal environment to learn real
world skills.
- For pilots, you'll be able to fly with radar service
by air traffic controllers who issue instruction and
assistance in all phases of flight from getting your
clearance to arriving at your destination airport.
- For air traffic control enthusiasts, the entire world
is simulated meaning you can work ATC virtually
anywhere…from a general aviation airport to the busiest
airports in the world. Nearly all of the real world
positions are available for you to choose and learn to
work.
The best part of all of this is that VATSIM brings real
people together who share your passion for flight and
air traffic control. When you contact that controller or
pilot, you aren't contacting a computer generated voice
or image - you will be communicating with a real person
who shares the same interests as you!
All it takes is a few moments to register and join
VATSIM. Once you do, prepare to learn and be rewarded
with friendships that will span the globe. In addition,
you'll receive the appreciation and thanks of the online
flight simulation and air traffic control communities.
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