Image: Screenshot of the Month winner Drew J.

Boston Virtual ARTCC's Community Newsletter · June 2, 2026

Save the Date: Boston Tea Party

By: Cameron Peterson

Join Boston Virtual ARTCC for the longest-standing live event on VATSIM as we celebrate the 27th Annual Boston Tea Party! Our controllers will gather in person to staff as many ZBW facilities as possible, delivering top-tier ATC across the entire Boston ARTCC.

Pilots can expect full staffing of ZBW and major airports from 12-6pm ET. Additionally, pilots are welcome to participate in our fun Tea Party Pilot Poker Run: fly as many legs as you can to collect poker hands with a chance to win great prizes from our flight simulation sponsors!

The event will end promptly at 6pm, so please plan your flights accordingly.

 
Whether you’re a pilot looking for a fun themed flight or just want to enjoy great ATC, the 2026 Boston Tea Party is the place to be!

By: Sean Doyle

The Boston Virtual ARTCC - Special Operations group is an immersive and professional group of pilots and operators dedicated to realistic simulation of various civilian, military, and paramilitary operations on the VATSIM Network.

On Thursday, May 14, the BVA ATC Training Staff in conjunction with BVA Special Operations held a joint training session on a new Letter of Agreement and quick reference guide put into effect on April 21.

During the training, BVASO staff highlighted key requirements from the LOA on controller and pilot responsibilities for pre-approved squawk codes, activating special use airspace, and other military-focused flight operations such as Aerial Refueling, Military Training Routes, and military aircraft launch and recovery operations.

Controllers are encouraged to review the LOA, and be familiar with where to find information on various VSOA activities in the quick reference guide provided. If you are interested in rewatching the training session, it's on YouTube here.

By: Evan Reiter

FlightSimExpo is less than two weeks away! Happening just 15 minutes from MSP airport, FlightSimExpo is June 12-14. The event will feature developer announcements, hands-on workshops, panel discussions, and community-inspired seminars.

Boston Virtual ARTCC has been a proud partner of the show since the beginning, and many of our members are part of the team that puts the show together. This year, BVA members will once again be part of the Online ATC Display Area, which is designed to show FlightSimExpo attendees what it’s like to fly and control on the VATSIM network. 

If you’re attending the show, be sure to stop by the VATSIM booth and say hi to the familiar BVA faces you’ll recognize at the event. You can get tickets for FlightSimExpo at flightsimexpo.com, with single-day tickets starting at $40. 

Pilot Tip of the Month

Top-Down Coverage

One of the most challenging aspects of VATSIM for new pilots is…“who do I talk to?” If you’ve ever tried to depart IFR from a mountainous airport when the Tower is closed, you’ll know this is a question real-world pilots sometimes have to ask too!

On VATSIM, controllers provide “top-down” coverage, meaning that a controller like Boston Center or Bradley Approach will offer radar services and further provide clearance, taxi, and takeoff/landing clearances at towered airports within their jurisdiction.

In top-down scenarios, pilots are encouraged to identify the controller based on the position they are controlling, even when covering a lower position (for example, calling them “Boston Center” instead of “Bradley Ground”). Pilots should also reference their current location on initial contact:

“Boston Center, Mooney 984VW, Signature Ramp at Bradley, requesting taxi for VFR departure to the south at 3,500.”

For more information on which controller to contact, check out our Getting Started Guide. As always, if you’re not sure which controller to reach out to, make an educated guess as to the correct frequency, check in with your current location, and ask!

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