VATCAN

Gander is looking for new recruits to operate Gander Oceanic Radios!!! If you've ever wanted a challenge, or a new perspective at Air Traffic Controlling, this may be for you!

What Is It?

In the real world, the Gander Oceanic airspace is the busiest in the world, handling over 1000 flights daily (half eastbound, half westbound). The FSS controllers are located at the Gander Area Control Centre, which maintains voice (VHF and HF) communications with aircraft that fall outside radar coverage (~200 nautical miles). The Oceanic airspace assigned to Gander stretches out to cover the north-western portion of the North Atlantic, running from the coast of Labrador down to roughly 45N, and extends easterly from there to 30W, excluding the area over southern Greenland FL195 and below.

The trick to this is that it is a non-radar environment meaning you will not have a radar to watch aircraft and ensure separation. You will need to figure out the approximate location of an aircraft based solely on position reports given by the pilots.

Why Should You Join?

Taking advantage of this opportunity may change your views on Air Traffic Controlling. It's a great learning experience, and is fun to do! You'll get to speak to many different pilots from all over the world, learn completely new procedures, and get the opportunity to work with other controllers from across the pond. You will also get the opportunity to control during one of VATSIM's largest event on the network Cross the Pond as an Oceanic Controller either receiving position reports, or giving out clearances to pilots before entering one of the many NATs. (North Atlantic Tracks)

Who Can Join?

For now, I am offering training to all controllers within the Canadian Division who currently hold a C1 rating or higher. Reason for Canadian Controllers only is because of the uncertainty of the number of interested people. Once I am sure that I can start taking students from other divisions, or once we get more instructors, I will open up the opportunity to anyone C1 rated or higher from any division.

Training will start with you reading the Controller Operating Procedures document to get you familiarized with procedures that will be taught to you later on. It will then be followed by some one-on-one sessions talking to you about the document, answer any questions you may have, etc. You will then get a chance to get on the Radio and start putting your knowledge and skills to the test. You will be expected to complete two 1.5-2 hour over the shoulder training sessions before doing your final exam. After that, you will be on your own.

All people interested in this opportunity are asked to email me vatcan20[at]gmail[dot]com and we will get you started with the reading materials and get you on your way.

As of today (December 12) our website is currently being designed, as is our Pilot Operating Guide and hope to have everything completed by the New Year.

I look forward to speaking with you!

Hey Joshua -

Not saying anything about short-term but this is sort of why I joined VATSIM ?what? 3 years ago.
I spent a lot of hours on ... what was it? TRACON? on DOS, back in the 90s ... so have heh clue 1 about ATC. But the amount of time I have to spend mastering the minutaie [SP?] of a given situation ... not really there.

But MilSim has gotten me into FS (what a load of crap! 95% of the planes I've loaded have /something/ broken, and I just proved absolutely positive c/w screen-grabs that GPS for YEG is /insane/.) ... certification is required to join a certain clan, for ArmA2 ... so FS is firmly in my face for a while.

Thing is, as ham radio operator / net controller and also as military comms (I was stationed CFS Gander, in *cough* an entirely un-related trade remember the many hours I while away on the observation deck at the airport watching the amazing assortment of planes that landed. I kid you not!) ... monitoring a frequency is second nature for me.

So, not short term ... but long-term, this would suit me. I'm online many hours a day. So ...
... you'll find UV4477 parked at YEG now and again, trying to figure out why DME/NDB are given such wonkie readings, and why this plane and this plane and this plane arbitrarily show a mind of their own

p.s. I just compared the NavCanada charts with what "From Above" shows in FS ... M$ garbage breaks my brain!

Ben,

If you have a C1 rating or higher than you are eligible for training. If you meet the requirements, send Josh an email at vatcan20[at]gmail[dot]com to get started


Thanks!

Hi - I don't ... yet.
I'll file this under "long-term planning".

thank you!