Tracon

Tracon Screen shot [5k] If you`re interested in simulating Air Traffic Control, then you need to get hold of an ATC Simulator. For those who like to sit looking at radar screens, TRACON II from Wesson International suits this purpose. It comes with 7 sectors plus 3 Military airspace sectors. Tracon features digitised voices. Commands are issued either by typing in the callsign and the relative commands, or by use of a mouse using pop up menus. Flight Progress Strips are displayed on the right of the main radar display, pending and active strips. A small window also displays in text the communications which have taken place. details can be called up giving the performance details of particular aircraft or the flight planned route. Also details on each airport in your sector can be called up easily. If you have a printer, Tracon allows you to print the flight strips to your printer.

Tracon is quite realistic, sectors for Australia and Europe are available with accents to suit. You can also edit or create sectors. However, you can`t edit the voice files without some other software. Therefore any airports and reporting points you designate won`t get spoken by the pilots.

Tower

Tower Screen Shot [29k]For those who prefer an out of the window view, Tower Controller from Apollo Software is what you want. This features 3 airports, Chicago O`hare, Washington National both with digitised views and Canyon Field, which is a simplier polygon view, but offers more views of the aircraft and from the pilots point of view. You can adjust what level of traffic you want. The simulation once started runs continually until you decide you have had enough. There are two radar screens showing the airfield and surrounding area. Flight strips are dipicted for Arrivals and Departures. You can use multiple runways and use the keyboard to issue commands. There are quite a few to learn but this is easily done. Unlike TRACON you can`t create new sectors with this however it can link up with MS Flight Simulator 5 when using Chicago O`Hare airport.

 

Air Traffic Control Centre (ATCC)

 

A New simulator is now out called Air Traffic Control Centre from Xavius Software. Their site contains lots of detail about this program which is certainly very realistic.