Evan Reiter

Today, we're launching a streamlined version of our Forums and Discord (along with making a few minor changes in TeamSpeak). We've made these changes to improve the way our members can communicate, and to make it easier for new members to use the Forums and Discord. Action Required for ALL BVA Members - visit the Social page of our website: If you see a "Join our Discord" button, click on it to re-verify your account. If you see a "Congratulations! Looks like you've already joined our Discord server" message, you're verified in our Discord. You should have the same access you had before. Once verified, please use the Social page to select whether you wish to be notified (via an @mention) for things like ATC status, events, and more. With more than 400 members in our Discord who have joined over several years, we expect there may be a few situations where the authentication doesn't work as planned. If you have any trouble accessing Discord, please post here or send Szymon a message directly. If you're interested in learning more about the changes, read on! The changes are based on a lengthy discussion we began with the community back in August: Here's a quick summary of the changes that members will see... On the Forums, we have: Reorganized and cleaned up several categories, This removed redundant/duplicate categories. Created more pinned threads to cover things like WINGS questions, event suggestions, and more. Removed some outdated information, like the "Add-On Reviews" section from 2012. In Discord, we have: Reorganized categories and channels to modernize our Discord and provide more relevant places to post messages. Improved the way notifications work, including with the option to personalize your settings via the Social page. Added new channels for Cape Air Virtual, at their request. Added several new automations and fancy features (like notifications when ATC opens and closes, although we haven't turned those on quite yet). As with any significant change, a tremendous amount of coding and development effort went into these changes. Please join me in thanking Szymon for his incredible efforts over the past few months. Likewise, we expect a few bugs here and there. If you encounter anything unexpected, or have feedback on the changes, please let us know via this thread or in Discord. Discord Channel Reorganization In an effort to keep things fun while also maintaining a level of decorum for members from around the world, we have re-aligned the purpose of several Discord channels. Although you can see a general description for each channel within Discord, I'm also sharing the intention behind each of the channels here for ease of reference. The biggest overall change -- and this will require a bit of learning and getting used to for all of us -- is that the #lounge channel has been re-named and re-purposed to a #lounge-and-aviation-talk channel. The intention is to keep this channel focused on legitimate aviation and flight simulation discussion. When we want to post about another game, a meme, a non-flying stream, or something off-topic, a new #games-memes-and-almost-anything-goes channel has been created. This channel is really intended to replace what the #lounge had become, and although we'll be a little more lenient with moderation there, we still expect that members will adhere to the same standards we've come to appreciate. There will be a tendency for people to (1) post in the "wrong" place or (2) try to "police" where posts are made. Let's please be patient with each other and recognize it's going to take some time for all of us to get used to the new structure. I ask all members NOT to act as "Discord police" and start accusing people of posting in the wrong spot. If you have a question about what goes where, feel free to ask...but let's not take that too seriously for just now. Welcome: #intro-and-getting-started - a place for new members to introduce themselves. Notifications: announcements - server or administrator-posted announcements about community news and events. atc-status - automated or ATC-posted notifications about when coverage begins and ends (we're waiting a few days to turn these on to make sure we don't send out too many unnecessary notifications). Squawkbox: #lounge-and-aviation-discussion - post general comments, #group-flights - arrange fly-ins or other group simulation activities. #screenshots - post any screenshots (you can also post them on the forums). #msfs, #prepar3d, #x-plane - based on the popularity of the #msfs channel and by request, we've created channels specific to each sim. These can be used to talk about simulator-specific add-ons, troubleshooting, suggestions, and more. #games-memes-almost-anything-goes - post whatever you want, within reason. Community Support & Feedback: This category is really intended for BVA pilots. While controllers have access to post here, it's intended that ATC questions are handled in the ATC category. In general, these channels are "question, answer". Additional discussion should be moved to a different place. #general-questions - post general questions that don't go anywhere else ("I can't login to the website?", "how do you get started with the WINGS program?") #flying-questions - post a question you'd like one of our controllers (or other pilots) to answer ("what do I need to do to enter Class C airspace?") #troubleshooting - post any general troubleshooting issues you have, especially as they relate to the BVA website, vPilot, WINGS flights, etc. (it's expected that sim-specific troubleshooting would happen in the simulator-specific channels). #feedback - share any feedback you have for us The remaining categories are for Air Traffic Controllers and Cape Air Virtual members. Air Traffic Controllers: Not much has changed here. However, we have taken a more active line in moderating the use of #ask-the-training-staff. It's expected that only ATC Training Staff members reply to questions in this channel. Controllers who wish to ask a question that anyone else can answer (rather than limiting the responses only to training staff members) should use #the-water-bubbler. The Cape Air Virtual channels were created through our Letter of Agreement with the CAV Management Team. Please give them a few days to acquaint themselves to the changes. I'm sure they will provide more information in due course.

Beginning at 10:30pm ET on Thursday, May 20 (or 0230 on May 21), the forums, our Discord, and TeamSpeak will be undergoing the reorganization described in this thread. During this time, you can expect: The forums will not be available. Our TeamSpeak will be available, but there may be changes occurring to channels and permissions. Our Discord will be online, but will be entirely restructured. You may receive several notifications and/or changes to your roles and permissions. We expect the work to last between 3-5 hours, and will post another update here when the project is complete. Following the updates, we will provide additional information about steps members may need to complete. The work will modernize our Discord infrastructure and better align our forums and Discord. Specifically, members can expect automated role assignment, notifications for events and ATC availability, and more. For a full explanation of the changes, visit this thread.

Triple Crown FNO (departures to neighboring ARTCCs) May 7, between 7-11pm ET Timelapses: Boston Tower/Approach, submitted by Evan M. Statistics: From StatSim. KBOS Departures: 63. Arrivals: 28.

About TiMe! Well done.

Sounds Good to me!

I'll raise a CUp to that good news! Nice job.

Read the May Logan Informer, where you'll find information on NY Approach Callsign Changes, our HONK! v2 event, a debrief of Cross the Pond, and other community news.

Cross the Pond Westbound 2021 April 24, statistics for arrivals between 1-7pm ET (1700 - 2300z) Timelapses: Boston Center (overall), submitted by Collin K. Boston Center (northwest area, JFK arrivals and IAD overflights), submitted by Arvid H. Boston Center (Boston arrivals and approaches, also shows approach and ground traffic), submitted by Josh N. Boston Approach, submitted by Daniel N. Boston Tower/Ground, submitted by Daniel N. Statistics: From StatSim. KBOS Departures: 67. Arrivals: 121. KBDL Departures: 7. Arrivals: 4. KJFK Departures: 48. Arrivals: 131. KJFK Departures: 22. Arrivals: 101. SimAware:

Congratulations! The S1->C1 journey can seem like a long one at times. I hope you take the opportunity to reflect on it and found it was something you've enjoyed doing. And, of course, hope that the license to learn serves you well on BOS_CTR in the coming years!

Another controller in need of a name change.

For BVA member pilots flying transatlantic during Cross the Pond, FSElite has published a thorough guide with helpful suggestions: https://fselite.net/originals/pilots-your-guide-to-vatsim-cross-the-pond-westbound-2021 Friendly reminder: VATSIM has asked pilots who were not issued a booking/slot to avoid flying transatlantic.

Apparently you will only see this information populated on the day of the event.

@Jayaram Bhasker, I think I have a slot for you. I sent you a private message in Discord.

The real question is when is he going to change his name to something unique?

Yes, the autopilot issue on the OOSHN...the RNAV into GHG...two slow movers switched to 22R...he handled it all with the grace under pressure we come to expect from season Boston controllers. Congratulations to @Mitch Monette (ME) for his successful OTS on Class B Approach. Pleasure working with you! Now enjoy A90 final on Saturday...well, okay, maybe not quite yet.

Time for some Kraft Dinner to celebrate! (For you few Americans here in our international community, Kraft Dinner is known as "Kraft Mac & Cheese".) #DDOGE

Slot announcements were sent out yesterday, and pilots who received one will have been notified via email. If you did not receive a slot and are looking for one, or if you wish to drop/exchange your slot, please post here to help coordinate with other BVA members. For more background information on the event: https://forums.vatsim.net/topic/30925-vatsim-cross-the-pond-westbound-2021/?tab=comments#comment-177667

Amazing! Congratulations.

Circle in on the Triangle (departures from KBOS, KPHL, KJFK, KIAD, and KORF to arrive at TXKF) April 10, departures between 2-5pm ET Timelapses: Boston Tower, submitted by Cameron P. Statistics: From StatSim. KBOS Departures: 83. Arrivals: 27. Departures: KPHL: 11. KJFK: 37. KIAD: 16. KORF: 26. Arrivals at TXKF between 4-6:30pm ET: 49.

...and the new dates are confirmed: September 24-26, 2021. If you have already registered for the event, we will be transferring your registration and hotel room information automatically. If you booked any other travel (e.g., airfare, car, etc.), make sure to update it accordingly! (Note that it will take a few days for the Delta/Southwest/WestJet deals to get updated.)

No Regrets!

Slot bookings for Cross the Pond are now available from the CTP website. A slot is (basically) required in order to fly transatlantic during Cross the Pond. For more information on the slot booking process and to make your request: https://forums.vatsim.net/topic/31056-24th-april-2021-cross-the-pond-westbound-discussion-thread/?tab=comments#comment-177255

All pilots flying Cross the Pond: please review our Pilot Brief prior to departure. The brief is attached to this post. As with Cross the Pond Eastbound, VATSIM has asked pilots who were not issued a booking/slot to avoid flying transatlantic. We welcome pilots to fly domestic routes into and out of Boston. We also expect coverage at our satellite airports like Bradley (KBDL) and Providence (KPVD). If you were not given a booking, please consider domestic routes to and from any airport that is staffed within Boston Center! For general information about flying Cross the Pond, check out the FSElite Pilots' Guide to VATSIM Cross the Pond Westbound 2021. You can link other people to this post/page using the URL: www.bvartcc.com/ctp. CTP West 2021 Pilot Brief.pdf

Bunny Hop! (KBOS, KBDL, KPWM) April 3, 2-6pm ET Timelapses: Boston Departure, submitted by Cameron P. Boston Ground, submitted by Evan M. Statistics: From StatSim. KBOS Departures: 70. Arrivals: 55. KBDL Departures: 34. Arrivals: 15. KPWM Departures: 23. Arrivals: 24.

CRiKey indeed! Well done.