NOTAMs Latest Topics

Taxiway Changes at KBOS - Temporary Procedures for Pilots & Controllers

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 22:31:49 +0000

The most recent FAA Airport Diagram for KBOS added 'T' as a turnoff from Runway 33L and removed portions of Taxiway 'F'. We recognize it will take time for simulator software to reflect the changes. Additionally, Runway 33L is closed (in real life) for resurfacing until November.

When landing Runway 33L, pilots are encouraged not to exit on Taxiway 'F', even if it exists within their simulators.

When using Runway 33L for landing, controllers will:

Instruct pilots who exit Runway 33L on 'F' to "cross Runway 22L on Foxtrot", as if the taxiway existed.
Instruct pilots who exit Runway 33L on 'Q' to "join Mike" prior being instructed to cross Runway 22L on 'F', 'C', or another taxiway.
Controllers will not instruct aircraft to taxi on the removed portion of 'Q' between Runways 4L/4R. However, if a pilot enters this area, controllers will issue a crossing instruction with reference to 'Q'.

The current and former Airport Diagrams are screenshotted below, and a comparison PDF is attached.

Old:

New:

KBOS AD Comparison.pdf

VATSIM Forum Indicators

Sat, 30 May 2020 14:11:19 +0000

Looking to beef up your forum signature? VATSIM's signature indicators display your real-time connection status on the network as a controller or pilot.

All you need to do type the URL below (as plain text) in your forum signature, where "CID" is your VATSIM CID:

https://my.vatsim.net/indicators/

For example, I would use:

https://my.vatsim.net/indicators/1314720

And that would display:

Cape Air (KAP) Coded Routes

Sat, 09 May 2020 03:09:52 +0000

Cape Air uses abbreviated departure clearances as well as VFR arrival clearances at KBOS. These clearances are used to simplify transmissions and reduce frequency congestion. Pilots operating using the Cape Air (KAP) callsign, including Cape Air Virtual pilots, may use any of the attached abbreviated clearances. These clearances are optional; pilots must initiate the use of a coded route in order to receive a coded clearance from ATC.

Cape Air routes will only be issued to pilots operating under a Cape Air (KAP) callsign.

This is Version E, updated on May 5, 2024.

Cape Air Coded Routes.pdf

Logan Informer

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 19:51:35 +0000

The Logan Informer is Boston Virtual ARTCC's monthly community newsletter; it's emailed to BVA members on the 1st of every month. You can also find links to the current and past versions of the Informer below.

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Boston Virtual ARTCC Airspace Briefing Guide

Sat, 13 Feb 2016 16:20:16 +0000

Boston Virtual ARTCC's Airspace Briefing Guide (ABG) provides guidance for both member and non-member pilots who are flying within our airspace: Boston Center, or ZBW, on VATSIM. We strongly recommend all pilots review the document prior to flying in our airspace for the first time.

The ABG covers important information about having the most recent/updated scenery, some general recommendations about flying online, and several procedures specific to our airspace, particularly operations at KBOS.

Please visit bvartcc.com/ABG to download the latest copy of the ABG.

Guests: Welcome to the Boston Virtual ARTCC Forums

Sun, 19 Jul 2015 22:11:07 +0000

The Boston Virtual ARTCC forums are designed as a hub of collaboration between members of the community. Members of BVA can login to the forums to gain full access to forum features, Discord, and more.

Non-members are welcome to explore the publicly-available forum sections, including our events listing and news sections. If you have questions about operating in our airspace, please feel free to Contact Us. We welcome everyone to share comments and suggestions for controllers using our Feedback page.

BVA is a community within VATSIM's global network of pilots and controllers. We provide air traffic control (ATC) within the Boston ARTCC on VATSIM. In addition, we have an active community of pilots who work with the controllers to create one of the most realistic air traffic control environments available online. BVA is currently accepting applications at www.bvartcc.com.

Read our Letter to Airmen: www.bvartcc.com/lta.

Untowered Airport Operations Reference Material

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 17:33:51 +0000

This NOTAM details procedures for operating in an uncontrolled/untowered airport environment in the United States. For BVA’s purposes, an untowered airport is any airport which would normally be untowered as well as any controlled airport that is uncontrolled due to ATC availability.

At untowered airports, aircraft use standardized flight patterns and radio communications to operate safely without the coordination and traffic advisory assistance of a controller. Untowered airport procedures include communications and entries to and exits from the traffic pattern. Untowered airport procedures are designed to give pilots maximum awareness of other aircraft operating in the area. If all pilots follow the recommended procedures, aircraft will be able to safely merge into and out of the traffic flow without posing a threat to each other.

The attached document was last updated on September 6, 2020.

Untowered Airport Operations.pdf

Special Use Airspace Reference Material

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:38:00 +0000

Special Use Airspace is designed to keep certain flight activities in one area and to keep unrelated operations away. This airspace can be temporary in nature (i.e. a temporary restriction of airspace due to a special activity), intermittent (i.e. an area reserved for military operations at specific times), or permanently restricted (i.e. airspace surrounding the White House and other Capitol buildings).

The attached pilot reference document, updated on May 4, 2020, provides additional information about the types of special use airspace and the related implications for aircraft operations.

Special Use Airspace.pdf

Navdata Updates for Default, Freeware, and Payware Aircraft

Wed, 23 May 2012 14:56:10 +0000

Last Updated on October 27, 2025

Navigation data (navdata) consists of waypoints (intersections/fixes), navaids (VOR, NDB, etc.), and terminal procedures (SIDs, STARs, and IAPs).

Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) continuously updates navdata to reflect real-world changes. For FSX, Prepar3D (P3D), and X-Plane, the navdata contained in your simulator is a snapshot of the current data available at the time. As a result, although the information was accurate when the simulator was first released, it will not be kept up-to-date automatically.

Regardless of the simulator you fly, you may not see waypoints that have been added since the last time your navigation database was updated. In addition to the simulator's database, some in-sim aircraft have their own navdata that requires updates. This post details where these navigation data updates come from and how to access them, by simulator type.

In general, navigation data comes from the creation of new terminal procedures (SIDs/STARs/IAPs) or from the creation of new RNAV/GPS or conventional routes. These revisions and additions are provided to the world on a 28-day cycle known as an Aeronautical Information Regulation And Control, or AIRAC, cycle. At the time of the last update in October, 2025, the current AIRAC cycle was 2510, effective October 2, 2025. The next update date was October 30, which would be 2511.

MSFS:

MSFS' navdata is kept continuously updated through a partnership with real-world provider Lufthansa Systems. However, many simmers opt to also purchase FMS Data from Navigraph to ensure add-on aircraft databases are updated as well. (The base navdata updates in the simulator aren't always used by add-on aircraft.) Navigraph's service adds missing airports, procedures, and updates more than 70,000 enroute waypoints. For more information and pricing details, visit the Navigraph website.

For X-Plane:

In X-Plane, one database is designed to define all navdata in the simulator. Unlike other sims, it shouldn't be required for users to update both the base navdata and aircraft databases. There are two payware services available for X-Plane pilots to update their navdata:

Although not as effective, one free option to keep (some parts) of X-Plane's navdata current is to access and install free FAA information (scroll to the "The updated approaches - what we get from the FAA for free" header.

For FSX and P3D:

There are two primary sources for navdata: the simulator itself (all pilots) and an aircraft's database (for complex, primarily airliner, add-ons). Both sources should be kept current to the latest AIRAC for the best results.

For base simulator navdata, Hervé Sors has been providing free updates for years. To download the files, click the links below:

Fixes: https://www.aero.sors.fr/navint.html (click "Worldwide" on the left).
Navaids: http://www.aero.sors.fr/navaids3.html (click the "World Navaids package" link on the left).
Magnetic Variation Data: https://www.aero.sors.fr/navaids.html (click "Updated Magvar Data" on the left, follow instructions in the file).

These freeware updates are highly recommended to keep navigation data current, even if you use add-on aircraft. The cycle available from that website is frequently updated so it is worth checking back regularly.

To keep payware aircraft databases current, a payware option is available via an annual subscription. See Navigraph’s FMS Data for details and pricing. Once you've purchased a subscription, you can download as many formats (to update as many aircraft) as needed.