FEATURE

VATSIM - Virtual Air Traffic Simulation Network

What's VATSIM all about?
VATSIM is an online network of people who come together to participate as pilots and air traffic controllers in an ongoing simulation environment. VATSIM provides members with the mechanism for people to connect their home PC based Flight Simulators up to a simulated air traffic control delivered by the internet. When participating on VATSIM, the other aircraft you see and the air traffic controllers you talk to are real people participating in real time. VATSIM is a service provided free of charge to end users, all software required to connect is provided at no cost (except your Flight Simulator), with no membership, subscription or usage fees. VATSIM is about education, fun and community, with world wide membership currently in excess of 61 000 users.

How do I get started?
Your membership with VATSIM will begin as a pilot once you have applied for an account at http://www.vatsim.net. After obtaining an account, you need a mechanism by which to connect your Flight Simulator up to the network. This function is serviced by a piece of software called Squawkbox also available from http://www.vatsim.net. Once you have experience as a pilot, for an extra challenge you can take the next step to become an Air Traffic Controller with your local division...

VATPAC
VATSIM is structured such that the world is divided up into smaller areas called Regions. Within each Region exist smaller Divisions and the local Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island Division is known as VATPAC, which is the "home" division of Worldflight Australia. VATPAC provides a forum for members to interact, learn and train with fellow local peers. They also undertake regular social activities such as attending the Avalon International Airshow and hold conventions.

VATSIM - www.vatsim.net

VATPAC - www.vatpac.org