Help

How to run a session and the complete list of instructions.

Starting a session

Search for an airport by ICAO code or name, then choose your position – Tower (T) or Approach (A ) – the traffic level and whether the wind is stationary or changing. Deep links work too: #EDDF opens the options for Frankfurt, #EDDF/TWR or #EDDF/APP starts a session directly.

Tower: you work the runway and the control zone. Arrivals are fed onto the ILS by a virtual approach controller and check in once established inside 10 NM; departures wait at the holding point for LU / T and are handed off after take-off.
Approach: arrivals check in over an entry fix and have to be vectored or sent direct to an IAF onto an approach; once on final they are handed to tower. A virtual tower works the runway.

Issuing instructions

Click an aircraft on the scope or its row in the traffic list; its callsign is put into the command line. Type one or more instructions separated by blanks and press Enter . A blank between a letter and its value is optional: A 100 and A100, R 270 and R270 are the same. Pilots read back what they accept and answer unable to anything that does not make sense for their situation or aircraft. The readback is immediate, but the crew needs one to ten seconds before it starts to act on an instruction – plan turns and descents accordingly.

Command	Meaning	Notes
`ILS 25R`	Cleared ILS approach runway 25R	Approach only (tower may clear emergency aircraft). The aircraft intercepts the localizer from its present heading and reports established.
`VIS 25R`	Cleared visual approach runway 25R	Approach only (tower may clear emergency aircraft); within 20 NM of the field. The crew joins a short final on its own and reports on final.
`L 25R`	Cleared to land runway 25R	Tower only. Needs an approach clearance for that runway first. May follow it in the same transmission: `ILS 25R L 25R`.
`G`	Go around	Only on approach. Cancels the approach clearance.
`T`	Cleared for take-off	Tower only. Refused if a disabled aircraft blocks the runway.
`LU`	Line up and wait	Tower only.
`L 240` / `R 240`	Turn left / right heading 240	Three digits. Cancels an approach clearance, direct routing or hold.
`A 30`	Climb / descend and maintain 3000 ft	Hundreds of feet. Refused below the minimum or above the type's ceiling.
`S 180`	Speed 180 knots	Refused outside the type's envelope (shown in the database panel).
`C KUKIN`	Direct to fix KUKIN	With an ILS clearance the aircraft turns inbound at the fix, otherwise it keeps its heading there.
`H KUKIN`	Hold at fix KUKIN	Standard racetrack: right turns, one-minute legs, inbound on the track the fix was reached on. Any heading, direct or approach clearance ends the hold.

Scope and panels

Scroll to zoom, drag to pan, double-click to re-centre. Range rings are labelled in NM.
Each target has a data block – callsign, altitude in hundreds of feet with climb/descent arrow, ground speed in tens of knots, type – and a vector line to where it will be in one minute.
The traffic list at the bottom shows your aircraft newest first; emergencies are listed on top.
The side panel holds the wind rose, a notepad and a database lookup for types, airlines and callsigns.
Esc on an empty command line (or the Pause key, or the ⏸ button) pauses the simulation. Every pause costs 50 points.
The REPORT / END button shows an interim report and lets you continue or end the session.
Display: choose between the Civil (white on black) and Military (green phosphor) colour scheme on the start page or in the side panel. The choice is stored in your browser.

Separation, incidents and score

Aircraft closer than 3 NM (Approach) / 2 NM (Tower) and 1000 ft are a loss of separation; both turn red and blink. A landing over an occupied runway is a runway incursion. The third incident – or a collision – ends the session.
Score: landing +10, departure +5, handoff +8, instructed go-around −5, missed approach (no landing clearance) −10, loss of separation −50, runway incursion −50, aircraft left unsequenced −20, unable −2, collision −200, pause −50.

Abnormal situations

PAN PAN (orange): medical emergency on board – give the aircraft priority.
MAYDAY (red): engine failure or fire. The aircraft climbs poorly and refuses high speeds; get it on the ground as directly as possible. Emergency departures may be cleared for an approach and to land.
Rejected take-off (RTO, orange): the aircraft stops on the runway and blocks it for five minutes. As tower, send arrivals around with G in time.

Emergency aircraft stay on your frequency until they have landed.