ATCsimulator2

By Adam Stanger (21 February 2005)

ur games, our community, and indeed this very website exist primarily because of our love for flight, but for many of us, there is an equally thrilling, and frequently overlooked discipline that no pilot could ever forget: air traffic control. For years the shear complexity of a true ATC simulator meant to experience one it was necessary to enroll in an FAA-approved class. In 2001, Russell B. Davis/Aerosoft (not to be confused with several other flightsim related companies that also have Aerosoft in their names) changed that by introducing ATCsimulator, an ARTS-based terminal approach radar control system featuring a number of different major airports in the United States. Three years ago I reviewed Aerosoft's offering on behalf of FlightSim.Com, and I am back today to showcase ATCsimulator 2, Aerosoft's updated and expanded simulator.

Installation is painless, as should be expected. After a brief check of the microphone, the simulator is ready. The user can choose from 120 TRACON facilities in the United States, running the gauntlet of complexity from all of Southern California to Great Falls, MT. After selecting a facility, the user can then choose the position: approach, departure, or both, and the equipment to be used: ARTS (Automated Radar Terminal System) or the newer STARS (Standalone TRACON Automation Replacement System), an hour-long block to work (which is important because new users will want to avoid “rush hour” traffic), and a host of other preferences ranging from the current wind conditions to the brightness of the display.

When ready, hit “start”.

Instructions to aircraft under your control can be delivered two ways, either by text, or by voice, the latter using Microsoft’s speech recognition technology. Getting voice to work is a labor of love, and one I didn’t have the patience for, so I had to relearn the sometimes-cryptic text commands. In the picture below right, I’ve instructed DAL1609 to proceed direct to JAURN, descend and maintain 11000, and reduce speed to 250 knots.

When the hour is up, or if the user decides to quit, the program will judge the user’s performance and calculate a percentage based on the number of mistakes made. By creating a profile, the user can track his or her career in this way.

Since most of my virtual ATC time is spent working the Salt Lake City sector on the VATSIM network, I chose to focus on that. I thought my knowledge of standard procedures would come in handy – it didn’t. For the most part, the SID’s (standard instrument departures) and STAR’s (standard terminal arrival routes) I learned on VATSIM were good only on VATSIM. That’s not to say ATCsim got them wrong – they are similar enough to be recognized, however some altitudes have changed, and departures do not require any vectors (which can ruin a good stream of arrivals.)

While the addition of the STARS-based system may make the transition from VATSIM’s ASRC more natural for some, I found the traditional ARTS display easier to use (perhaps from my previous experience with this simulator.) Below is a comparison of the old and new systems, respectively.

The greatest fault I found is how outdated the flight information is. In the picture below are two 727-200’s, which are long gone from passenger service in the States. Furthermore, I even worked a couple of TWA flights. This is great for any Trans World fans still in denial, but unacceptable for the rest of us demanding some degree of topicality.

The sim also does not include VFR flights or differing weather conditions (other than winds).

In the end, the program has a lot of potential for users dedicated enough to spend time setting up the speech engine. If air traffic control is merely a passing fancy, you won’t be pleased with this purchase. If, however, you love the complex world of ATC, this program will teach you tricks and techniques that you can use in a possible future career.

Adam Stanger
Emadstar@Bainbridge.net
Senior Controller, Salt Lake ARTCC, VATSIM.net
http://www.slcartcc.org
http://www.vatsim.net

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