Why Events Are Special
On a typical evening, VATSIM has scattered ATC coverage - a few controllers here and there, with large gaps. During events, everything changes:- Full ATC staffing from Delivery to Center, sometimes across entire continents
- Hundreds or thousands of pilots flying the same routes simultaneously
- Realistic traffic management including sequencing, holding, and flow control
- A true sense of scale - seeing dozens of aircraft on the same approach, all talking to the same controller
- Community atmosphere - shared excitement on Discord, live streams, and social media
Major Recurring Events
Cross the Pond (CTP)
Cross the Pond is the flagship VATSIM event - the largest regularly scheduled event in flight simulation. It happens twice per year:- Eastbound (spring): Depart North American airports, cross the Atlantic, arrive in Europe
- Westbound (fall): Depart European airports, cross the Atlantic, arrive in North America
What Makes CTP Special
- Full oceanic ATC coverage (Gander, Shanwick, New York Oceanic, Santa Maria)
- Full domestic ATC coverage at major departure and arrival airports
- Hundreds of pilots crossing the Atlantic simultaneously on organized NAT tracks
- Realistic oceanic procedures including SELCAL, CPDLC, position reporting, and Mach number technique
- The closest experience to real-world transatlantic airline operations you can get in a simulator
CTP Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Twice per year (spring eastbound, fall westbound) |
| Registration | Required - slots fill up quickly, often within minutes of opening |
| Slot booking | You book a specific departure airport, time, and route |
| Duration | 6-8 hours depending on your route |
| Preparation | Oceanic procedures knowledge is essential |
Friday Night Ops (FNO)
Friday Night Ops is a weekly recurring event that features guaranteed ATC coverage at selected airports around the world.- Happens every Friday evening (times vary by featured region)
- One or two airports are featured each week with full ATC staffing
- No registration required - just show up and fly
- Great for regular practice with live ATC
- Featured airports rotate, so you get exposure to different procedures and regions
Regional Events
Beyond the global events, VATSIM divisions organize their own events regularly: VATCAN (Canada)- Canadian-focused fly-ins and events
- Coverage of Canadian airports with full ATC
- Special events for holidays and seasonal occasions
- Group flights between Canadian cities
- VATUSA Fly-In Friday events
- VATSIM UK events covering UK airspace
- VACC Germany events with full German ATC
- And many more from divisions worldwide
- Christmas and New Year special events with global coverage
- Halloween-themed events
- Summer fly-in series
- Multi-day global circumnavigation event
- Fly around the world in stages over several days
- Stops at airports on every continent
- Full ATC at each featured stop
Where to Find Events
| Source | What You Will Find |
|---|---|
| vatsim.net/events | Official VATSIM event calendar with all upcoming events |
| VATCAN website | Canadian division events and fly-ins |
| VATSIM Discord | Event announcements, discussion, and coordination |
| Division websites | Region-specific events from your local division |
| SimAware / VATSpy | See active events and current ATC staffing in real time |
Preparing for Events
Events move faster than regular VATSIM flying. Controllers are busier, frequencies are more congested, and delays are common. Proper preparation makes the difference between a smooth flight and a stressful one.Book your slot early (for events that require registration)
Book your slot early (for events that require registration)
Events like Cross the Pond fill up within minutes of registration opening. Know when registration opens, have your preferred departure airport and route selected in advance, and be ready to submit the moment it goes live. Have a second and third choice ready in case your first pick fills up.
File your flight plan well in advance
File your flight plan well in advance
Do not wait until you are sitting at the gate to file your flight plan. File it hours before the event starts. For CTP, file as soon as you receive your slot confirmation. Use SimBrief to generate your plan and prefile it to VATSIM automatically.
Expect delays and flow control
Expect delays and flow control
During major events, airports operate at or above capacity. You may experience:
- Ground stops - you may be held at the gate before pushback
- Departure delays - expect a queue for the runway
- Holding patterns - you may be asked to hold near your destination
- Extended vectors - approach may vector you on a longer path to sequence traffic
Be extra sharp on phraseology
Be extra sharp on phraseology
Events move fast. Controllers do not have time for long explanations or repeated instructions. Review the Radio Phraseology page before the event. Know your callsign, have your clearance format memorized, and be ready to respond quickly and accurately.
Have charts and approach plates ready
Have charts and approach plates ready
Download and review the airport charts for both your departure and arrival airports before the event. Know the taxi layout, departure procedures (SIDs), arrival procedures (STARs), and available approaches. Do not be searching for charts while ATC is waiting for your readback.
Update your simulator and pilot client beforehand
Update your simulator and pilot client beforehand
The worst time to discover that your pilot client needs an update is five minutes before a major event. Update everything at least a day in advance and do a test flight to make sure everything works.
Start from a gate, not a runway or taxiway
Start from a gate, not a runway or taxiway
Always spawn at a gate or parking spot. Spawning on an active runway or taxiway during an event disrupts traffic flow and may result in a supervisor contacting you. Select your gate before connecting to the network.
Have enough fuel and be prepared for holds
Have enough fuel and be prepared for holds
Plan your fuel with extra reserves. If you arrive during peak traffic, you may spend 15 to 30 minutes in a holding pattern. Running low on fuel during a hold is not a situation you want to be in during a busy event.
Monitor event communications
Monitor event communications
Join the event’s Discord channel or communication platform. Event organizers often post real-time updates about delays, active runways, flow control measures, and other important information.
Your First Event
If you have never flown a VATSIM event before, here is how to ease into it:- Start with FNO - no registration required, lower stakes, and you get live ATC practice
- Observe first - use observer mode to watch a CTP or FNO before flying one yourself
- Choose a less popular airport - at CTP, the most popular departure airports (JFK, Heathrow) have the longest delays. Smaller airports often have shorter waits and less pressure
- Fly a familiar route - pick a departure and arrival airport you have flown before so you know the procedures and taxi layout
- Do not rush - if you are not ready when it is your turn, say “Standby” and take the time you need
Next Steps
Oceanic Procedures
Essential knowledge for Cross the Pond and other transatlantic events
Radio Phraseology
Sharpen your radio skills before the next event