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For two weeks in a row, Boston Virtual ARTCC was the most active ARTCC across the entire VATSIM network!  Our ZBW coverage was 71 hours for the week ending February 7, and 52 hours for the week ending February 14.  We finished in a close second with 70 hours for the week ending February 21. And just before the release of the Informer, we did it again with 66 hours to wrap up February. That's three (and almost four) in the month of February!

The Iron Mic award is given out by VATSIM each week.  Normally, facilities make concerted efforts to try to win the award:  They coordinate staffing, stay up all night, and watch dark radar screens.  The really cool thing about our three recent wins is that they were entirely by accident.  We were just controlling: We staffed up, had traffic, and were enjoying it so much that we just kept on going.

We are seeing more and more ATC coverage almost every day, with regular availability during weekday evening peak hours and all-day coverage during most weekends.  Pilots (both members and non-members) are definitely taking notice, making ZBW one of the most active and busiest ARTCCs on the network.
 
 
Regional Circuit: KDEN - KEGE
Thursday, March 10, 8:00pm ET

Challenge: PRP Series VFR 1-3, IFR 1
Monday, March 21, 8:00pm ET

To see all of our upcoming events, please visit the Events Calendar. You can also add 'events.bvartcc.com' as a subscribed calendar to see our events on your phone or desktop calendar.
 
The FlightSimCon is approaching! Here are a few updates:
  • Registration is open: $60 for the whole weekend
  • Full schedule available here
  • New partners and attendees include HiFi Simulations, FltPlan.com, Cape Air, Aerosoft, and Dovetail Games
 
BVA Announces Partnership with VATSTAR 
 
Boston Virtual ARTCC is proud to partner with VATSTAR!  VATSTAR is the only other Authorized Training Organization (ATO) in the United States that is not a virtual airline.  The new partnership provides BVA members with another way to obtain the P1 and P2 ratings that isn’t offered through our Pilot Ratings Program (our members can obtain P3, P4, and P5 through the PRP).  

VATSTAR will also incorporate our logo on their website, include our ARTCC in their training material, and conduct checkrides within our airspace.
 
For more information about VATSTAR, visit their website.

 

Cape Air Virtual's Pilot of the Month is:
 
KAP324 Joshua Bjerke 
 
This Cape Air Virtual pilot has flown 43 flights over the course of this month. Next month's winner will be judged based on the number of flights out of our hub of KHYA!
BVA's ATC Instructors have recognized:
 
Nils Backe (NB), S2
 
as Air Traffic Controller of the month for his outstanding dedication and service.
   
 
Our Next Regional Circuit: KDEN-KEGE 
 
We’re heading west for our next Regional Circuit!  On Thursday, March 10, we’ll be hosting a Regional Circuit event in conjunction with Denver Center (ZDV).  Controllers from that ARTCC will provide coverage at Denver (KDEN) and Eagle County (KEGE) from 8-11 PM EST for our Regional Circuit.

This event will give our pilots and controllers a chance to fly together during a Regional Circuit event.  We encourage all pilots to mark their calendars and plan to join us in TeamSpeak as we fly the event.

This is the first time we’re testing one of our event concepts in another ARTCC.  Based on feedback from our pilots and ZDV controllers, we will determine whether to continue expanding this concept throughout the VATSIM world moving forward.
 
 
Flying the Correct Pattern
Last month's question was: "Unless otherwise stated on an A/FD, should a pilot fly left or right closed traffic at uncontrolled fields?"

The correct answer is - left! Unless specified somewhere like a sectional or the A/FD, you default to left traffic for every runway at every uncontrolled field. And remember, don't always expect left traffic at controlled fields, because that is up to the controller!

Challenge Question: Are there any weather minimums for the Tuckernuck Visual RWY 6 approach at Nantucket, and if so, what are they? (Hint: the chart can be found on this page.)

The answer to the challenge question will be included in next month's Pilot Tip.
 
 
Each month, we run a contest on our forums to determine who has the best flight simulator screenshot. This month, we have two winners! Nils Backe and Camden Bruno both had stellar shots, shown below.
 
Nils:

Camden:
 
You can always find current and archived editions of the Logan Informer on our forums.

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