For years, VATSIM has struggled with the issue of overall pilot quality. Here at BVA, our members—through a series of training resources—are some of the best pilots we see online. However, the average (non-BVA member) VATSIM pilot can sometimes struggle with things like taxi instructions, instrument approaches, or even the basic IFR clearance.
In most cases, we feel that VATSIM pilots who struggle are doing so because of a lack of knowledge and resources. We think most would want to improve if they had better access to information, and also if they had a better understanding of what, and why, the controllers are asking of them.
In an effort to help improve pilot quality across the network, our Administration Team will be implementing several new features that we feel will help the average VATSIM pilot, and may benefit our members too.
To see all of our upcoming events, please visit the Events Calendar.
Last weekend, Boston Virtual ARTCC handled arrival and overflight traffic as part of Cross the Pond Westbound 2017, one of the biggest events on VATSIM each year. As an arrival airport, we landed 123 arrivals and departed 48 aircraft at KBOS over the course of this event. This does not include any of the non-event regional traffic throughout the ARTCC, nor does it include the traffic into JFK (all of which also passed through our airspace).
To make this event possible, we staffed 8 different sectors of Boston Center, 4 sectors of Boston Approach, and several local controllers in and around the ARTCC too. Several controllers were online for 8-10 hours, as were pilots who flew in the entire CTP trip. Thank you to everyone who dedicated time to help make this event a possibility.
Check out our Facebook page for a 1-minute timelapse video of the event.
We look forward to Cross the Pond Eastbound in October and wish you blue skies and happy landings until then.
BVA’s Spring FNO takes place this week! Join us on Friday, April 7, just days away from opening day at historic Fenway Park, for Three Up, Three Down! You’ll find a full set of controllers online in ZBW and at Boston beginning at 7pm ET this Friday.
Although FlightSimCon is still at least 2 months away, the event is moving ahead at full steam. With more than 35 confirmed exhibitors and partners in attendance, the conference is shaping up to be the biggest yet.
Boston Virtual ARTCC is excited to welcome Arvid Hansson (HO) to the ATC Training Staff. Arvid is a long-time member of VATSIM, having been flying and controlling on the network since 2010. Since then, the majority of his time as a controller has been spent as a part of VATSIM Scandinavia, Arvid’s home division. However, in the past couple of years, Arvid has developed a passion for the United States ATC program, and specifically Boston.
Arvid has been Boston Center-certified for the past year and has recently decided to take it to the next level, by helping fellow air traffic controllers progress through the ATC program and earn their ratings. In addition to his wealth of ATC experience, Arvid has years of experience as a part of VATSIM Scandinavia’s ATC Training Staff, and has previously held an Instructor (I1) rating. Therefore, Arvid required no instruction on how to train and has already begun mentoring several prospective ATC students.
Overall, Arvid brings a fantastic sense of humor, positive attitude, great experience, and top-notch knowledge to our ATC training program. His addition to our team as an ATC Mentor brings us yet another fully certified member of the instructional staff.
Please join us in welcoming him to the team, as we’re very happy to have him aboard.
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