In every pilot’s knapsack there is an air traffic controller’s baton waiting to get out.

So, you’ve always wanted to be an air traffic controller and guide the heavy iron across the crowded skies. Well, here’s your chance, there’s a new kid on the block called Vireos Simulations and they have introduced a standalone ATC program for your PC.

According to the Vireos website, as a virtual controller you can manage air traffic consisting of both heavy iron and GA planes in both high and low altitudes, and wait there is more! VS state that this is the, “most modern, complex, and accurate ATC presentation to date.” Vireos are using real world data, starting with the USA, creating a virtual realism for each sector of each ARTCC (Air Route Traffic Control Center) and TRACON (Air Route Traffic Control Center).

Vireos offer the most accurate flight schedules possible with “real sector dimensions, correct entry and exit policies, and radar presentation.” The flight schedules will be based on real world timetables, varying according to time, date and season. The Vireos ATC experience will be subject to a unique random experience by creating random arrivals and departures as the program starts, thus ensuring that no session will be duplicated. Realism and accuracy seems to be their byword.

Although not yet released the first sector will be in the USA and will be the Boston ARTCC –  “ZBW” with 30 Tracon and 36 ZBW sectors covering 70 airports. It sounds very interesting and we await further developments with interest. Wouldn’t it be great if it could interface with FSX?

Did you know, “that Vireos is a taxonomic genus of various small insectivorous American birds chiefly olive-grey in colour.” Neither did I, so there you go!