Pro Controller Manual
From Virtual Skies MRC
Contents |
Quick Start
Click here to view the quick Procontroller Quick Start Guide
Loading A Sector File
After you have Pro Controller installed and have run the software you are presented with a blank radar display containing only range rings. To see a specific area you will need to load a sector file.
The format of the sector files has changed since earlier versions so you should only load sectors specifically written for version 2.0 and higher.
To load a sector file do the following
Run Pro Controller Select File | Open Navigate to the directory in which you have saved your sector files Select the file Click Open
The Radar Display
The radar display in Pro Controller allows you to see all aircraft, airports, VOR's, NDB's, fixes, airways, SID's, STAR's, and special geographic data within your area.Colors for each of these symbols can be modified on the "Sounds/Colors" tab of the options dialog. To get to the options dialog simply double click on the radar display or go to Radar | Options.
Pro Controller also displays flight strips of those aircraft handed off to you or those you manually request.
Customizing The Radar Display
Pro Controller offers many customization options. To configure Pro Controller simply double click on the radar display or go to File | Options. Below find descriptions for the various settings under the options tab.
The BRITE tab configures the radar display in general. Use the Airspace Floor value to filter (do not display) all aircraft below a given altitude (MSL). The Airspace Ceiling can be used to filter aircraft above a certain altitude (MSL).
Pro Controller has a built in conflict alert system (CAS). The horizontal and vertical separation fields set the minimum distances required between each plane without resulting in a "conflict".
Sometimes you will want to ignore conflicts below a certain altitude (when planes are landing for instance). The Ignore Conflicts Below option allows you to do this.
To set the distance between each range ring on the BRITE display use the Range Rings Distance trackbar.
To set the distance of the extended runway centerlines use the Runway Centerline Distance trackbar.
Pro Controller will project where a plane will be in X number of minutes with a line exteneding out from the target. To set the number of minutes ahead that Pro Controller projects use the Time Lines Show trackbar.
You can customize the fonts PC uses for various text on the radar display by selecting which text in the Display Area combo box then click the Change button.
The Ignore COM frequency switch will allow Pro Controller to receive messages regardless of their transmitted frequency. The Ignore ATC Transmissions switch will allow Pro Controller to ignore any transmissions on the private ATC Channel.
With the Automatically Select Aircraft after Radio Transmissions switch on Pro Controller with select the last aircraft it received a transmission from for you.
With the Unselect Aircraft After Each Transmission switch on Pro Controller with unselect whatever aircraft you have selected when you press enter.
With the Transmit on Both COM1 and COM2 switch active Pro Controller will transmit any messages from you on both frequencies simultaneously. This is helpful when working two sectors.
When the Automatically Reject Handoff Requests switch is on any controller sending you an aircraft will be sent a polite "I'm too busy message".
When the Automatically Approve Handoff Requests switch is active Pro Controller will reply to all handoff request for you upon receiving them.
With the Automatically Handoff Upon Receiving Handoff Approval switch is set Pro Controller will handoff the aircraft immediately after the other controller approves your request.
If Reconnect To Server When Disconnected is active Pro Controller will attempt to reconnect to the server if you happen to be dropped.
You can use the Alias section to define small keyboard commands which reduce the need to type long messages over and over. Alias begin with a period followed by the characters to define the alias. Alias's can also contain parameters as well as a few constants. Some examples of alias's using all of these techniques are provided below.
Pro Controller will respond to events by playing any WAV file you like. To set up sound events select the event you want to set in the On This Event combo box then click the browse button.
If you would like to clear an event of a particular WAV just select the event then use the clear button.
To turn your sound events on or off check/uncheck the Sounds Active checkbox.
Pro Controller supports full color customization of most objects on the radar display. To change the colors select the object you want to change with the Object combo box then click the change button.
If you want to restore the Pro Controller defaults simply click the Defaults button.
Each controller can set up an ATIS which can be requested by both ATC and other pilots. The ATIS should contain basic information about your facility.
Connecting To A Server
After loading and configuring Pro Controller you are ready to connect to a server. With version 2.0 and higher of Pro Controller you can connect to any server in a network and been seen by anyone else regardless of what server they are on. With this in mind you should find the server which gives you the best connection.
To connect to a server do the following:
Select File | Connect Fill out your personal information Select a facility type that best represents the facility you are going to control Enter your certificate and password information (if the server you are connecting to requires it) Click OK Pro Controller will then attempt to connect to the server. You may receive any one of numerous error messages at this point. The cause of these errors can range from simply you entered the IP address wrong to you don't have your TCP/IP settings properly configured.
If you receive consistent error messages you may seek help in the Virtual Skies - Pro Controller support forum. There you can post a message explaining what you are doing and what error message you are receiving.
Common reasons for error messages are:
You tried to use a callsign that is already logged in The server you attempted to connect to is down You entered the IP address wrong Your certificate and/or password is invalid or wrong You are using an outdated version of the software
Using The Communication Radios
Communicating with Aircraft
To address an aircraft click on the target or type a unique portion of the callsign (Pro Controller will select the aircraft that matches your text) then simply type your message and press enter. The message by default will be transmitted on your COM 1 radio. Pro Controller can be configured to transmit on both your COM 1 and COM 2 radios at the same time in the options dialog.
Communicating with Other Controllers
Sometimes you will want to speak with other controllers only. To do this place a / in front of your message. This tells Pro Controller to send the message over the ATC radio. Only valid controllers have the ability to use the ATC radio.
What defines a valid controller?
A valid controller is a controller not logged in with an "Observer" rating and has a callsign containing one of the following suffixes: _DEL, _GRD, _TWR, _APP, _DEP, _CTR, _FSS.
If your callsign does not contain one of those suffixes or you are logged on as an observer you will not be allowed to communicate on the ATC radio or transmit on any other frequency other than 199.999. This is to avoid unwanted clutter on the ATC channels. If you wish to speak with a controller in private you can still use the .MSG or .CHAT commands which are discussed in more detail here.
Changing your COM frequency
To change your COM 1 frequency simply type // and then the frequency you wish to use (i.e. //126.450). You can then use the toggle button to switch your COM 1 frequency to COM 2 if you like.
Special Commands
Pro Controller offers a few special ways of communicating with other people or requesting information. One of these ways is the use of dot commands. Dot commands are similar to alias's except they are predefined. The following is a list of all dot commands.
- .WX IDENT Requests the weather for a specified identifier
- .MSG CALLSIGN MSG Sends a private message to callsign
- .ATIS CALLSIGN Requests the ATIS of another controller
- .CHAT CALLSIGN Opens a private chat window for callsign
- .WALLOP Sends a private message to all supervisors online
As more dot commands are added they will be added to this list.
Notes Regarding Chat Windows
When you open a chat window, with the .CHAT dot command, you can add or remove people from the chat by typing (from within the chat window) .A CALLSIGN or .R CALLSIGN.
Working With Aircraft
Aircraft Target and Info Blocks
Aircraft in Pro Controller will display on the radar display with one of four symbols. These symbols are as follows:
- V Aircraft is a VFR target.
- \ Aircraft is an IFR Target
- X Aircraft is a VFR aircraft in Class A Airspace (IFR only above 18,000msl)
- L Aircraft is experiencing lag and position may not be current
In addition to the target on the radar display some basic information is provided to help you judge the aircraft speed and position. This is called the info block and will look something like the examples below:
- N1697J Aircraft's Callsign (this will be a transponder code if they have not filed a flight plan)
- 30 12 Aircraft is at 3,000ft MSL and cruising at 120kts
- 0343 Aircraft's Transponder Code (this will be a callsign if they have filed a flight plan)
- 140+ 25 Aircraft is climbing through 14,000ft msl and is at 250kts
In addition to the info block and target you may see a line extending out from the target. This line is the projected path of the aircraft and is based on the position history. By default Pro Controller projects one minute ahead but that can be changed in the options dialog.
Requesting and Approving Handoffs with another controller
This section assumes you have not modified the default color scheme in Pro Controller. If you have the colors mentioned will not be correct.
When a aircraft is getting close to leaving your airspace you will want to make sure the controller who is handling the airspace adjacent to yours is ready to receive this aircraft. At this time you will want to verify it is ok by Requesting to handoff that aircraft to that controller.
To do this do the following:
- Select the aircraft
- Right Click to see the Aircraft Pop Up Menu
- Select Aircraft | Request Handoff | Select the controller you want to send this plane to
A handoff request will be sent to the controller you choose. You will also now notice red circles around the plane. This is a visual reminder to you that you have requested to hand the plane off. When the other controller "accepts" this plane those circles will turn green and you can now proceed with your handoff of that aircraft by doing the following:
- Select the aircraft
- Right click to see the Aircraft Pop Up Menu
- Select Aircraft | Handoff
- A message will be sent to the aircraft telling them to contact the controller you specified on *the appropriate frequency.
If you are the controller receiving a handoff request the aircraft will have two yellow circles around it. When you see this and want to accept that aircraft do the following:
- Select the aircraft
- Right click to see the Aircraft Pop Up Menu
- Select Aircraft | Accept Handoff
- When you do this the yellow circles will disappear and you can expect the aircraft to contact you shortly.
NOTE: If at any time you seem to be "stuck" with circles around a plane you can select that aircraft then type .RESET. Pro Controller will reset the status of that aircraft back to normal.
Copyright & Credit
- Copyright (C) 1997 by Jason Grooms All Rights Reserved
- Pro Controller is provided as FREEWARE and may not be distributed as part of any software package or bundled CD-ROM without written permission from the author. Pro Controller may not be archived on any online server which charges for file downloading privileges.
- There is no known contact with the ProController original devleoper (Jason Grooms)
- Pro Controller is Year 2000 and Feng Shui compliant]
