Image: Screenshot of the Month winner Charlie H.

Boston Virtual ARTCC's Community Newsletter · December 5, 2025

60 Hours of ATC

By: Evan Reiter

One of our favorite events of the year is here! Happening now, enjoy 60 non-stop hours of live ATC coverage. Connect any time, day or night, all weekend long, and you’ll find us here.

We’ll also be hosting VATUSA’s FNO tonight from 7-11pm ET. No featured fields this time — the skies  across the Boston, New York, and Washington ARTCCs are your playground. Whether you’re flying a quick shuttle hop, an east coast milk run, or a long-haul departure, expect full staffing, heavy traffic, and that signature Northeast energy.

Speaking of marathon ATC events: you may have noticed that Boston Center was lit up for more than 30 straight hours last month. Cleveland Center was hosting “Rock Around the Clock: 24 Hours in Cleveland”...and we just couldn’t help but join in the fun. Think of it as a preview of what's to come this weekend.

By: Camden Bruno

As the holiday season approaches, we are pleased to invite the community to an All-Member Meeting on December 21 at 8-10pm ET in the BVA Member TeamSpeak.

The meeting is open to all community members. It’s designed to highlight and review the year and offer dedicated Q&A time with the Administration Team. You can find connection/joining instructions here. 

At the conclusion of the meeting, the A-Team will stick around and invites controller members to join us in a staff-up of the ARTCC, as well as invites pilot members to fly within the airspace. 

By: Jonathan Halverson

There was no CTP Westbound this year, so we felt many pilots were missing the exhilarating experience of sitting at cruise for hours on end with nothing but water to look at. We put on our aprons, dug out the cookbooks, and plated up an answer. On November 22, BVA joined forces with the New York ARTCC and San Juan CERAP to present the West Atlantic Free Flight Experience, or WAFFLE.

Pilots were offered full staffing between Boston, Newark, Bermuda, and San Juan so they could experience crossing the pond in a slightly different direction than usual. During the event, Boston handled 131 departures and 77 arrivals safely and efficiently (with no stacks of course… this wasn’t PANCAKE!).

Many thanks to our ATC partners and the pilots who participated in the event.

By: Jonathan Halverson

On November 15, the VATSIM Board of Governors released updates to the VATSIM Code of Conduct (CoC) and Code of Regulations (CoR). While many of the changes don’t affect the day to day use of the network, we felt two specific changes that affect all VATSIM members are worth highlighting in this space.

First, the minimum voice capability was changed for both pilots and controllers. Controllers must be able to send and receive voice while pilots must, at a minimum, be able to receive ATC instructions via voice. An exception is available for members with disabilities that prevent them from adhering to these standards. BVA recommends pilots use full voice capability whenever possible as it provides the most realistic experience and standardizes ATC operations.

Second, there were multiple changes to advisory frequency use. “UNICOM” is no longer used to refer to the common advisory frequency of 122.800. Additionally, the CTAF trial that has been running in VATUSA, VATCAN, VATMEX, and VATCAR has been moved out of trial status and is official network policy. There are provisions for other divisions to utilize “discrete advisory frequencies” but, as of the time of writing, no other programs have been adopted. Pilots should continue to utilize the appropriate CTAF frequency when operating at airports that are either untowered or unstaffed by VATSIM controllers. CTAF frequencies are available on the Airport Diagram, VFR sectionals, the VATSIM AIP, and through your pilot client with the .ctaf command. The ongoing re-write of our WINGS program will incorporate this change.

Pilot Tip of the Month

Runway 33L Approaches

During overnight hours (like during this weekend's 60 Hours of ATC event), pilots may be assigned a noise abatement approach when landing on Runway 33L. The two common procedures are the RNAV (RNP) X RWY 33L and the LIGHT VISUAL RWY 33L.

Both procedures are charted and may be found anywhere U.S. aviation charts are published. However, the procedures look a little different from the standard ILS approaches we see in everyday flying.

BVA has produced a Runway 33L Nocturnal Procedures at KBOS Pilot Reference. We welcome all members to scroll through the document, especially if you're planning some late-night flights into KBOS during 60 Hours this weekend.

If you are assigned an approach to Runway 33L that you do not have the chart for or are unsure how to fly, request the ILS RWY 33L from ATC instead.

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