Passages

This week’s FNO is in Mami, so bring your sunscreen! Don’t know about you guys, but over here on the west coast, the media is swamped with news about the Democratic National Convention. However, September 1-4, the Republican National Convention will be taking place in Minneapolis.

On August 31st the Minneapolis ARTCC on VATSIM will be holding an event to simulate the Republican National Convention that will be held in the Twin Cities in the realworld. As you can imagine, there is going to be TONS of security. The FAA and the Department of Homeland Security has setup special policies and Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) within the Minneapolis/St. Paul area to tighten up security. Aircraft inbound to kmsp, kmic, kstp, kfcm, and kane will have to first stop in gateway airports to be screened before being allowed to continue on to their final destination. However, there is one exception to this. All scheduled airline operations will be exempt from the screenings.

If you would like to fly into MSP, email our very own Christopher Bruner, at ramsdude8674@hotmail.com with the following details. VA Code, What VA you are a part of, Departure Airport ICAO, Arrival Airport ICAO, and Aircraft Type. Our VA code is “03″

“Come fly in to the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul! This is your perfect oppurtunity to fly your GA aircraft into a big flyin! Be able to experience the realistic procedures put in place for the RNC, including TFRs, and mandatory screening at airports before being allowed to continue to the Minneapolis area! Starts at 1800 Central! Additional information including a pilot briefing will be available soon at the minniecenter.org website, so check frequently! Hope to see you there!!”

Have lots of fun!!

Wow! A lot has been going on this week, and we’ll have much more this week! Fist off, FNO is at KATL, from 000Z-0400Z as usual, but after that, we have two huge events!

“It’s time once again for Indianapolis ARTCC’S biggest event of the year. ‘CRUSH THE RUNWAYS’ at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. (KCVG) This is our Annual Event that rocks the house!! Everyone is invited, this will be one of the biggest and best events you will fly in all year long. The controllers at ZID are ready, BRING IT ON GENTLEMEN!!! Event begins 7:00PM EST and runs until 11:00PM EST. But dont be suprised if we stay up longer to assist all pilots inbound to KCVG”

And…

“ZOB Controllers have worked for money all summer long. They would earn hourly wages working different ZOB positions. Each week, controllers received a paycheck denoting hours worked and money earned. This competition spanned began the first week of May and is still going on as you read this. At the end of July, from this group of paid controllers, only the best nine are selected as ZOB All-Stars and given the chance to control at the ZOB All-Star event in Pittsburgh. Beginning at 1800z (2pm ET) and going until 2200z (6pm ET) ZOB will be providing all-star ATC from the nine controllers that have earned the name all-star!

Also, throughout the month of August, pilots and controllers alike will have a chance to vote for their favorite all-star controller as the nine compete against each other for the title of Most Valuable Controller (MVC) culminating with the ZOB All-Star event, today, on August 24th. If you want, literally, the best ATC ZOB can offer you. Look no further than the ZOB All-Star Afternoon in Pittsburgh!”

Lots of great events, so try and enjoy yourself, even if Nick is gone. Cheers!

Well folks, only one event this week, and it’s not even in the U.S! But I’m sure it will be an a wonderful event nonetheless. Hope you’re hungry for Chinese food, cause it is Eastern Wind 2008!

Event : ASIA Annual Event : Eastern Winds 2008
Date : 16 Aug 2008
Time : 1100z - 1700z

Countries : Japan / Korea / Taiwan / China / Hong Kong / Manila / Ho Chi Minh / Singapore / Indonesia / Malaysia

ASIA Annual Event is COMING !!!!! I would like to inform all the simmers that ASIA is preparing to have a large scale event and I am sure you will get a lot of fun while ASIA regions full of ATC Services. We have at least 15 destinations for your choice and let’s start to plan your flight and decide where you would like to travel to within these 6 hours.

Before that comes, we have FNO in Hawaii! Say aloha to PHNL, PHTO, PHKO, PHLI, PHOG! Fully staffed from 0000Z-0400Z, it’ll be a great time! Have fun!

Hey everybody, I apologize about missing last week’s post. I was pretty busy, and I plumb forgot! And, to make it worse, there really isn’t much to do this week! But, here’s what’s going on!

This week’s FNO is in Houston, lotsa great flights into there, and remember, type restrictions are lifted, so you Trainees can come too!

The only other event is Jacksonville ARTCC VFR Tour, which ATAv can’t really go to since none of our flights are VFR, except for the ExecuJet flights flown in the Bell 206 . But, feel free to go anyways, even if you don’t have ExecuJet privileges!

“August 10th, Come join us in a VFR Tour of the Jacksonville ARTCC, We will have Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Savanna, Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Gainesville, and Orlando TRANCONs staffed for the ultimate VFR tour of 3 different states. Wither you like the coast, rivers, military or Class B airspace, you can count on ZJX to bring a wonderful VFR tour”

Hopefully there will be many more events next week, so until next time, fly safe!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell, folks, hope you all had fun last week at the tea party, and maybe some of you even migrated up North! But we have a greeeat event coming up on Saturday, called “2nd Annual vZDV Denver Live!”

“Our second annual Denver Live! event, will be held on July 26th, 2008, at 1900z-0400z. For 9 hours, 15 ZDV controllers will gather in a local Denver-area conference center, and control live together, providing an ultra-realistic experience for controllers and pilots alike.

For the event this year, we have numerous sponsors donating many various prizes. Confirmed at this point, we have prizes from Jeppesen, Flight1, FS2Crew, and ISG Simulations. Pilots are automatically entered in a raffle for the prizes, by flying into, or out of, Denver(KDEN), Aspen(KASE) or Colorado Springs(KCOS), by filing an IFR flight plan. The more times you fly out of, or into one of the previously mentioned, you receive an additional entry into the raffle. You only receive one additional entry per flight (KDEN-KASE only earns one entry, not two). Winners will be selected randomly, and notified by email.

Last years event was one of the most successful events in our ARTCC history, seeing almost 1000 operations within a 10-hour span. This year, by adding prize sponsors, we hope to increase pilot activity, and overall boost the success of the event.”

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Amelllliiiiaaaaaaaaaa, Happy Birthday toooooooo youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!

Happy Birthday Amelia! You were born July 24, 1897! We’re all gonna celebrate your birthday by flying between KSAV and KPNS WITH FULL ATC COVERAGE! (Make sure not to fly above the cake; all those candles are going to cause one MEAN thermal!)

And finally, this week’s FNO is in Dallas pardners! Enjoy full ATC staffing from 0000 Zulu to 0400 Zulu (That’s 2:00-6:00 p.m. here in Texas) at KDFW!

Happy Landings!
Michael Hess - ATAv PR Director
pr@atavirtual.com

Well, this week we got 3 GREAT events (And, no Chris, Minnie Monday does NOT count!). First up is FNO, a really nice FNO, where you can fly ANY ATAv aircraft, no matter what rank you are! Unfortunately, numbers at FNO have been dwindling. But, for those of you that do go, here is the info. FNO is hosted by Los Angeles! San Diego (KSAN) will be fully staffed with ATC from 000Z-0400Z.

Up next, we have the 19th Annual Boston Tea Party. No, we aren’t gonna dress up as Native Americans and dump tea over the side of a ship, but we ARE going to have a PARTY!!! We’re going to play POKER!!! And have a chacne to win one of 5 prizes!

“Join us as the vZBW team meets up in person at Daniel Webster College in Nashua, NH to staff the 9th Annual Boston ARTCC Tea Party!

Over 25 vZBW controllers will be staffing up starting at 1600z until 0000z for the best vZBW Tea Party. Real world routings will allow pilots to simulate real world operations and to pick up virtual poker cards for our version of airport poker along the way to win great prizes.

As in last year’s event, controller ’scope screenshots will be uploaded to our TMU site every 30-60 seconds, allowing an instant glimpse into our airspace from our perspective. Pilots are encouraged to have a quick look during the event.

Click here for the official vZBW Tea Party 2008 website!”

Then, to close up this week, we have Northern Migration IV hosted by the Minneapolis ARTCC!

“Minneapolis Center invites you to the 4th edition of Northern Migration, an event focused on bringing everybody north for the summer! This year ZMP controllers will convene in Duluth, MN and control from one location for one of the best events in Minneapolis ARTCC history! Join us at either Minneapolis (KMSP) or Duluth (KDLH). Begins at 7pm Eastern.”

That’s it! But, don’t forget, we also have our very own event going on here at ATAv. We need your help to bring Staff home! You’ll even get double hours! So PLEASE, go to this link, and reserve a flight today!

Happy Landings!
Michael Hess - ATAv PR Director

Hey there! This week ain’t so chock full, but here we go.

First off, FNO is in ZHU this week, lots of fun to be had by all.

There is also an MLB fly-in event, where you can win free scenery!!!

“The Major League Baseball All Star Game Fly-In is hitting VATSIM on July 13th from 2100-0100Z. This is a Real Ops based event and pilot slots are running out! Visit nyartcc.org to sign up. If you fly to LGA you are eligible to win free Imagine sim LGA Scenery. If you fly to EWR you are eligible to win free imaginesim EWR Scenery. The winners are picked randomly. ”

And, next week we have the 9th annual Boston Tea Party!

“Join us as the vZBW team meets up in person at Daniel Webster College in Nashua, NH to staff the 9th Annual Boston ARTCC Tea Party!

Over 25 vZBW controllers will be staffing up starting at 1600z until 0000z for the best vZBW Tea Party. Real world routings will allow pilots to simulate real world operations and to pick up virtual poker cards for our version of airport poker along the way to win great prizes.

As in last year’s event, controller ’scope screenshots will be uploaded to our TMU site every 30-60 seconds, allowing an instant glimpse into our airspace from our perspective. Pilots are encouraged to have a quick look during the event.”

That’s it for this week, see you there!!!

I’ve got some good news, and some bad news. The good news is that Friday is July 4th. The bad news is that there is no FNO this week because of that. But, if you aren’t still parting, or hungover, there is a really fun event on Saturday! It’s called “Cross the Pacific” If you’re gonna fly, plan to leave the West Coast around 2pm. Type restrictions WILL be lifted for this event.

“The Honolulu ARTCC is welcoming back the CTP08! and will be on July 5th. All west coast planes will depart at 2pm and the Honolulu will be staffed at 100z-300z time.
please bring your big planes and small ones also! We welcome the planes that only doing island hopping also.”

And, if anyone is feeling a bit peckish, there is an event in Hungary . (I crack myself up sometimes)

“Every Friday of the month is Ferihegy Friday! You can expect regular full ATC staffing in the Hungarian airspace on Ferihegy Fridays, between 1900Z and 2300Z .
For charts, sceneries and other info visit www.vacchun.hu
VACC Hungary controllers await your visit on Ferihegy Fridays.”

(By the way, LHBP will be fully staffed, and we have about 50 charters in)

That’s all folks!

Well, not much going on this week. There’s Minneapolis Monday, FNO in OAKLAND! Oh yeah! Orlando Real Ops, and Honolulu Tsunami Sundays. What you COULD do is fly out to OAK for FNO, and then head for Honolulu on Sunday. Or, for those of you daredevils, try and squeeze Orlando in there!

Here’s the info for Orlando.
“The Orlando TRACON will be staffed to the max and operating under real world conditions to benefit your flying experience for the better. Bring your Cessna 172 or a Concorde, and fly out of or into the Orlando area and we can bit on it, you will have a jet blast of fun!”

Ahahaha.

Aaaaaaannnd, Honolulu.
“Honolulu’s Weekly Event will be taking place every Sunday! Come fly in or out of Honolulu (PHNL). VFR and IFR are accepted! Don’t just think long hauls for Honolulu you can get 1 hour and 30 minute inter-island flights! Give us a try you will love the scenery!”

Well, that’s it for this week, have fun! And, as always, fly safe! (Yeah, that’s right Nick, I stole your line! What’re you gonna do about it? Hmm? Not so tough now huh? Yeah, that’s what I thought!)

This week brings us tons of fun things! Thursday night, there is gonna be a jailbreak at Fort Worth!

“The breakout starts June 19 at 0000z Tonight we feature airports near correctional facilities:
KSHV near Caddo Correctional Center
KABI near Roberton prison
KOKC near Oklahoma State Reformatory

Tonight there’s gonna be a jailbreak Somewhere in this town.
BONUS: Oklahoma has a State Penitentiary near a class E airport. Can you guess where it is?
Shot approaches not people.”

FNO takes us to LA! We have lots of codeshares into tinsel town, tons of charters, and about 3 mainline flights. Make sure to bring your camera!

Finally, Cleveland ARTCC is hosting “Three’s company”!

“Come and knock on our door
We’ve been waiting for you
Where the airports are DTW and CLE and PIT,
Three’s company too”

Come and knock on our door. Cleveland ARTCC will be staffing all three of their Class Bravo airports for your flying pleasure. Detroit (KDTW), Cleveland (KCLE), and Pittsburgh (KPIT) will all be fully staffed awaiting your arrivals and departures.

We encourage you to fly to and/or from these airports as well as between the three of them. Since these airports are so close together you can count on a realistic environment with ATC and other pilots.”

And, DON’T FORGET MINNEAPOLIS MONDAY! (Cough, cough, Nick)

See you there!