I have been a member of Boston Virtual ARTCC since 2007. To me, BVA is the most realistic online flight-environment provided by a community filled with fun, passionate members who continuously explore aviation and better their knowledge. I love the passion for aviation everyone possesses; the eagerness to learn about aviation is fantastic. Whether it is pilots learning new procedures or flight techniques or controllers being exposed to various scenarios and learning how to maintain proper positive control of aircraft at all times, BVA is filled with enthusiastic members who love to have fun while also learning and becoming better at what they do.
BVA has helped with almost all my flight certificates. I’m an airline transport pilot with airplane single-engine land, airplane multi-engine land, and instrument ratings. I am also a Flight Instructor with airplane single-engine and instrument ratings. Outside of real flight, BVA has provided the most intense, realistic environment to practice real-world flight procedures. I used BVA to keep my skills honed while also being able to practice procedures that I was not the most familiar with without placing myself at any risk. My various flight instructors had always commented on how advanced my knowledge of aviation and flight procedures had been compared to most others, and I owe a lot of that to the time spent flying and controlling on BVA.
Keeping in mind the technological and personnel limitations of a virtual community like BVA, I would give the ATC staff here a 9 out of 10. Virtually everything is done based on real-world procedures using real rules from FAA Order 7110.65. Our controllers do a fantastic job following these rules and using the proper procedures to accurately and safely control aircraft, and the phraseology is by far the most realistic online (given some limitations.) These controllers prove why BVA has the most professional, realistic staff out of all online Flight Simulator communities.
Q: How long have you been a member of BVA?
I believe I’ve been a member since 2007.
Q: Do you consider yourself primarily a pilot or controller?
My heaviest involvement has been on the controlling side of BVA.
Q: Approximately how many hours to you spend on BVA each week?
I spend about 20 hours a week on BVA, primarily controlling and training student controllers. I used to be on for 30 or 40 hours a week when I was just starting with BVA, eager to learn real-world procedures from both the pilot and controller perspectives.
Q: What is your favorite part about participating in our community?
I love the passion for aviation everyone possesses; the eagerness to learn about aviation is fantastic. Whether it is pilots learning new procedures or flight techniques or controllers being exposed to various scenarios and learning how to maintain proper positive control of aircraft at all times, BVA is filled with enthusiastic members who love to have fun while also learning and becoming better at what they do.
Q: Summarize what BVA is to you in two sentences or less.
The most realistic online flight-environment provided by a community filled with fun, passionate members who continuously explore aviation and better their knowledge.
Q: Has BVA helped you work toward your commercial rating? How so?
BVA has helped with almost all my flight certificates. I’m an airline transport pilot with airplane single-engine land, airplane multi-engine land, and instrument ratings. I am also a Certificated Flight Instructor with airplane single-engine and instrument ratings. Outside of real flight, BVA provided the most intense, realistic environment to practice real-world flight procedures. I used BVA to keep my skills honed while also being able to practice procedures that I was not the most familiar with without placing myself at any risk. My various flight instructors had always commented on how advanced my knowledge of aviation and flight procedures had been compared to most others, and I owe a lot of that to the time spent flying and controlling on BVA.
Q: What does BVA offer that no other community has been able to provide you?
Realistic flight and ATC procedures and people willing to help you learn them. I have not seen this anywhere else on the internet, at least to this intensity.
Q: What keeps you coming back to BVA?
The ultra-realism and enthusiastic members. We all challenge each other to get better and learn as much as we can while also maintaining a fun, welcoming atmosphere.
Q: From what you have experienced, on a 1-10 scale how realistic is BVA’s ATC staff, in terms of phraseology, patience, and control in busy situations, and following FAA real world procedures?
Keeping in mind the technological and personnel limitations of a virtual community like BVA, I would give the ATC staff here a 9 out of 10. Virtually everything is done based on real-world procedures using real rules from FAA Order 7110.65. Our controllers do a fantastic job following these rules and using the proper procedures to accurately and safely control aircraft, and the phraseology is by far the most realistic online (given some limitations.) These controllers prove why BVA has the most professional, realistic staff out of all online Flight Simulator communities.