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Flights

Pre-Flight Checks

Our three-part Pre-Flight Checks series walks pilots through everything needed to get connected to VATSIM and start flying. From making an account, configuring your simulator, choosing a callsign, filing a flight plan, and more, this precursor to the WINGS series will help you get the most out of your online ATC experience.

Especially if you're new to our community, we recommend completing the Pre-Flight Checks before starting out on the 30 WINGS flights. 

Pre-Flight 1 and Pre-Flight 2 can be completed any time; Pre-Flight 3 requires a controller to be online (at any airport in Boston ARTCC airspace).

When you're ready, start with Pre-Flight 1, which walks you through our community's resources. You'll then be directed through Part 2 (Simulator Setup) and Part 3 (Getting Connected). By the end of the three-part series, you'll be connected to the network and have spoken to with BVA controller.

When you have completed the three-part Pre-Flight Checks series, you're ready to begin the WINGS program.

Choose Your Experience

For the best experience, BVA recommends flying the full program, starting with VFR 1 and working sequentially through the others. The flights were designed to be flown this way as each flight's training material builds on concepts covered in previous flights. As the program is written, it builds from VFR, to simple IFR with conventional navigation, then covers more complex IFR subjects before introducing RNAV. Plus, to be considered a WINGS graduate, you'll need to have achieved all ratings.

However, we also know that not all virtual pilots find enjoyment (or even a need) to understand all aspects of flying. You might not care much about VFR and airspace rules if all you want to do is fly a jetliner. Similarly, if you feel comfortable flying ILS approaches and want a new challenge, you might want to skip to more complex material.

For this reason, we've identified four sets of flights that pilots who don't want to fly the entire program might want to consider: VFR, Airlines, Complex IFR, and RNAV. Although you won't get the same, fulsome experience if you choose to only participate in one of these sets, you'll still get a great experience. The flights included in each set have been specifically reviewed to ensure that you'll receive enough prerequisite knowledge to complete the challenges without having completed the preceding flights.

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Get Started!

Whether you're flying one of the subsets above or you'd like to start at VFR 1 and work through the full program, we hope you'll enjoy the learning packed into the 30 WINGS flights shown below. To get flying, click the name of a flight in the table to view the training materials associated with the flight.

VFR Flights
 
Flight Name Summary
VFR 1 The Traffic Pattern In this flight, you will complete a minimum of three laps of the VFR traffic pattern in a small, non-jet, general aviation aircraft like a Cessna 172 or Piper Cherokee. Before flying, ensure you have the airport diagram available and that the weather is suitable for a VFR flight.
VFR 2 VFR Navigation and
Flight Following 		In this second WINGS VFR flight, it's time to fly somewhere! You will put the skills learned in the previous flight about the traffic pattern to work on a VFR flight from Nantucket Airport (KACK) to the Quonset State Airport (KOQU). In the process, you will learn about obtaining Flight Following, selecting an appropriate VFR cruise altitude for your direction of flight, and will also brush up on your traffic pattern knowledge.
VFR 3 Entering Class B Airspace This VFR rating flight will take you from Quonset State Airport (KOQU) to Boston Airport (KBOS). The key difference between this and the previous rating is that you will not be receiving Flight Following while en-route. Air traffic control will provide services at KOQU and KBOS, but nothing in between. Therefore, you'll learn about the different types of airspaces, what the requirements to enter them are, and when you are required to talk to ATC.
VFR 4 Exiting Class B Airspace This WINGS flight travels from Boston Airport (KBOS) to Nashua Airport (KASH) without Flight Following, much like WINGS VFR 3. The last flight focused on entry to the Class B airspace; in this one, you'll exit the airspace. Overall, this flight serves as an excellent review of the material covered thus far in Wings Over New England.
VFR 5 The Cross Country Flight One of the key stages on the journey towards a private pilot’s license a 'cross country' flight, designed to help pilots practice enroute VFR navigation. In this rating, you will depart Nashua Airport (KASH) and fly to two other airports of your choosing, provided that one is controlled and the other is untowered. You’ll be responsible for conducting most of the flight planning on your own to ensure that you fully grasp necessary VFR concepts prior to beginning the WINGS IFR series. 
VFR 6 Boston Class B Helicopter Routes

The final Wings Over New England VFR flight takes you from Nashua Airport (KASH) back to Boston Airport (KBOS) using a published helicopter route to transition into the Class B airspace. Contrary to their name, helicopter routes at Boston are also used by fixed-wing aircraft and are an excellent way of navigating through the complicated and busy Class B airspace.

 
IFR Flights    
 
Flight Name Summary
IFR 1 Introduction to IFR

In this introduction to Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), you will depart and arrive at Boston Airport (KBOS) using a Standard Instrument Departure (SID) and an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach. The focus of this rating is on proper compliance with the LOGAN# departure procedure, listening and responding to ATC instructions, and flying the ILS approach successfully.

IFR 2 VOR Navigation The second IFR rating is a short hop from Boston Airport (KBOS) to Providence Airport (KPVD). It expands on the concepts from IFR 1 and introduces VOR navigation and TEC routes. Additionally, you'll fly an ILS approach at KPVD to further hone your instrument approach skills.
IFR 3 Airways This flight will take you from Providence Airport (KPVD) to Martha's Vineyard Airport (KMVY) using the published TEC route, which includes the V167 airway. Weather permitting, you will receive a visual approach at KMVY.
IFR 4 Airway and TEC Route Review This flight reviews the concepts of VOR navigation, TEC routes, and IFR flight that have been introduced in the previous IFR ratings. You will be responsible for identifying and flying the appropriate TEC route from Martha's Vineyard Airport (KMVY) to Albany Airport (KALB). This route includes several waypoints and airways and offers ample opportunity for to practice VOR navigation.
IFR 5 The Standard Terminal
Arrival Route (STAR) 		This rating introduces IFR pilots to a Standard Terminal Arrival Route (STAR). During the flight, expect to fly a specific route from Albany Airport (KALB) to Boston Airport (KBOS) and receive vectors for an ILS or visual approach. Enjoy radar vectors while they last: this is one of the last ratings in the program where you'll get vectors to final! 
IFR 6 Full Approaches and
Untowered Airports 		IFR 6 takes you from Boston Airport (KBOS) to Dillant-Hopkins Airport (KEEN) and introduces the concepts of full approaches and untowered airport operations. Unlike previous ratings where ATC has done most of the work to line you up with the runway, in this flight you will navigate from the filed route to the final approach course without receiving vectors from ATC. This also is the first flight in the IFR series that visits an untowered airport and overall is significantly more complex than any previous rating, so read the briefing material thoroughly before flying!
IFR 7 Non-Precision Approaches This flight introduces you to the proper procedures for departing IFR from an untowered airport and for flying non-precision approaches. You will fly the TEC route between Dillant-Hopkins Airport (KEEN) and Hartford Airport (KHFD) and receive vectors for the LDA Runway 2 Approach at KHFD.
IFR 8 Full ILS Approaches Without Course Reversals This flight takes you from Hartford Airport (KHFD) to Laconia Airport (KLCI) for another full ILS approach, this time without flying a procedure turn or course reversal. Little new information is covered in this rating. Instead, you'll reinforce the multitude of skills taught in WINGS IFR 6 and 7.
IFR 9 Obstacle Departure Procedures and Circling Approaches IFR 9 takes you from Laconia Airport (KLCI) to Saratoga County Airport (5B2) and introduces published obstacle departure procedures (ODPs) as a way of safely navigating away from untowered airports. At 5B2, you will fly your first approach that is not assigned to a specific runway and learn about using procedure turns for the purpose of course reversal.
IFR 10 Backcourse Approaches This rating takes you from Saratoga County Airport (5B2) to New Bedford Airport (KEWB) and focuses on flying a back course approach. You'll get more practice on departing an untowered airport and enroute navigation. 
IFR 11 IFR Checkride WINGS IFR 11, one of the most challenging flights in the program, focuses on some lesser used, but still important IFR techniques while providing a great review of the content we've discussed thus far. It will take you from New Bedford Airport (KEWB) to Plymouth Airport (KPYM) and then on to Portland Airport (KPWM) as you learn about airborne IFR clearances, hold entries, and missed approaches.
IFR 12 Non-Precision Approaches
with CDFA 		In addition to offering a review of non-precision approaches, this flight introduces the continuous descent final approach (CDFA) technique for flying approaches without vertical guidance. You will fly from Portland Airport (KPWM) to Sanford Airport (KSFM) and will have the option of practicing the CDFA technique using a non-precision approach of your choosing.
IFR 13 Missed Approach and Hold Entry This flight focuses on FAA-recommended hold procedures and offers additional practice flying approaches in bad weather. It will take you from Sanford Airport (KSFM) to Bedford Airport (KBED); there is no published TEC route, so you will also gain experience researching and selecting an appropriate route.
IFR 14 Introduction to RNAV and the FMC This flight gives an introduction to the modern navigational capabilities provided by a Flight Management Computer (FMC). While flying from Bedford Airport (KBED) to Burlington Airport (KBTV), you will learn about basic concepts behind RNAV, including RNAV airways and RNAV approaches.
IFR 15 High-Altitude Airways and the RNP Approach This flight from Burlington (KBTV) to Syracuse (KSYR) offers an opportunity for high airway routing and introduces the concepts associated with the flight level (FL) and when to set the altimeter to 29.92. The flight also introduces the Required Navigation Performance (RNP) approach.
IFR 16 RNAV Arrivals, Holds,
and the CDFA 		This flight from Syracuse Airport (KSYR) to Boston Airport (KBOS) introduces the RNAV arrival, which includes “descend via” clearances and runway transitions. An ATC-assigned hold during the arrival will give you practice on setting up a holding pattern in the FMC.
IFR 17 RNAV Departures, Hold Entries, Missed Approaches, and CPDLC

WINGS IFR 17 takes you from Boston Airport (KBOS) to Rutland Airport (KRUT) to introduce the RNAV departure and discusses the concept of Controller-Pilot Datalink Communications (CPDLC). The approach at KRUT is an RNAV full approach with a hold-in-lieu-of-procedure turn, as well as a missed approach with an RNAV hold. This flight also provides more practice flying RNAV holds using the FMC.

IFR 18 Introduction to RNAV Terminal Arrival Areas (TAA) This flight from Rutland Airport (KRUT) to Presque Isle Airport (KPQI) gives you the chance to fly a longer route at high altitudes. At KPQI, ATC will issue a clearance for an RNAV approach using procedures for a Terminal Arrival Area (TAA).
IFR 19 VOR Approaches Using GPS This flight from Presque Isle (KPQI) to Lebanon (KLEB) demonstrates how to fly a VOR full approach using a GPS or FMC. The approach also serves as an introduction to circling to land in mountainous terrain.
IFR 20 Into the Mountains

In this flight, you'll contend with the challenge of obstacles and terrain. But, armed as you are with your knowledge of ODPs and RNAV approaches, you'll be ready to tackle this one without too much trouble. Serving as a review of some of the previous materials we've covered and a reminder of the advantages RNAV has to offer, enjoy the views while you fly WINGS IFR 20! 

IFR 21 Airspace and Arrivals This flight offers a review of effective navigation planning. Take terrain, special use airspace, standard terminal arrival routes (STARs), and ODPs into account as you plan an effective route between Adirondack Regional Airport (KSLK) and Bradley (KBDL). After the full approaches and short mountain runways, the vectors-to-final approach at KBDL will be a nice change from the challenges of the past few flights!
IFR 22 Weather, Deviations, and Emergency Management Flying is about much more than just operating the controls of an aircraft. Even with the best pre-flight planning, there is no substitute for experience when facing unexpected scenarios in the air. In IFR 22, while flying from Bradley Airport (KBDL) to Bar Harbor Airport (KBHB), you'll use your home simulator to gain valuable experience for handling unexpected scenarios that could impact any VFR or IFR flight. We'll also discuss a new type of approach that hasn't yet been mentioned in WINGS: the contact approach.
IFR 23 Circle to Land The focus of WINGS IFR 23 is circling approaches. We've looked at circling approaches before (in WINGS IFR 9) so some of this material will be review. However, in IFR 9, our circling approach was on a lettered approach (the VOR/DME-A at 5B2). For this flight, we'll address circling at a controlled airport, on an approach designed for Runway 35, along with some reasons to circle when you might not explicitly have to.
IFR 24 Charted Visual Flight Procedures Charted Visual Flight Procedures (CVFPs) are the focus on this final WINGS flight. You will travel from Norwood Airport (KOWD) to Nantucket Airport (KACK) and fly either of the CVFPs at KACK: the Great Point Visual Runway 24 Approach or the Tuckernuck Visual Runway 6 Approach. In either case, you'll be required to use a mix of visual and instrument references.

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About Boston Virtual ARTCC

We are a free, immersive, and realistic air traffic control community for pilots and aviation enthusiasts. We provide air traffic control within the Boston ARTCC on VATSIM. We are not affiliated with the FAA, or the real-world Boston Center facility.

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