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Online Controllers Flights to/from ZLA

Departures (12)

Callsign Dep Arr Status ETA
DLH451 KLAX EDDF Enroute 2212
DAL1866 KLAX EGLL Enroute 0020
NRT262 KLAX EDDF Enroute 0025
KAL012 KLAX RKSI Enroute 0226
AAL779 KLAX PHNL Enroute 0434
DAL8904 KLAX MZBZ Enroute 2331
DAL310 KLAX PHNL Enroute 0513
HAL775 KLAX PHNL Enroute 0435
SWA3472 KLAX KSJC Enroute 1032
CLX85N KLAX ELLX Enroute 0050
AAL1270 KLAX KPHX Enroute 0229
N5829 KLAX PHNL Enroute 1209

Arrivals (10)

Callsign Dep Arr Status ETA
DAL624 YSSY KLAX Enroute 0511
BVI12LA KJFK KLAX Enroute 1030
SWA361 KDEN KLAX Enroute 0925
AFR78 LFPG KLAX Enroute 1356
AAL936 KSFO KLAX Enroute 0758
ACA48 KSEA KLAX Enroute 0723
UAL2617 KSFO KLAX Enroute 1000
PAY7812 KDEN KLAX Enroute 0849
BAW9013 PHNL KLAX Enroute 1600
DKH9947 KPAE KLAX Enroute 0645

Los Angeles (SoCal) 22

Departures (1)

Callsign Dep Arr Status ETA
AAL283 KONT KPHX Enroute 1600

Empire (SoCal) 1

Departures (2)

Callsign Dep Arr Status ETA
WAT3669 KSAN KSFO Enroute 1600
SWA1854 KSAN KTUS Enroute 0514

Arrivals (2)

Callsign Dep Arr Status ETA
SWA2286 KHOU KSAN Enroute 1343
WJA1738 KBOS KSAN Enroute 1000

San Diego (SoCal) 4

Departures (2)

Callsign Dep Arr Status ETA
SWA2798 KSNA KLAS Enroute 0600
ASA1203 KSNA KSEA Enroute 1600

Arrivals (1)

Callsign Dep Arr Status ETA
SWA4154 PHNL KLGB Enroute 0559

Coast (SoCal) 3

Departures (3)

Callsign Dep Arr Status ETA
AAL232 KLAS KDAL Arriving
SLV5761 KLAS KSLC Enroute 0651
SWA2851 KLAS KOAK Enroute 1210

Arrivals (4)

Callsign Dep Arr Status ETA
FFT2171 KPHL KLAS Enroute 0939
DAL918 KSLC KLAS Enroute 0441
SWA2798 KSNA KLAS Enroute 0600
AAY1710 KGJT KLAS Enroute 0939

Las Vegas 7

Departures (1)

Callsign Dep Arr Status ETA
DAL8802 KLSV PAED Enroute 1346

Nellis 1
  • Flights To/From ZLA: 38
  • Flights in ZLA Airspace: 19
  • Controller Schedule

    September 21st, 2023

    Los Angeles Tower
    Jovan Brooks

    CRC Testing Session

    1800 - 2100 PDT / 0100 - 0400 Zulu

    Socal Approach (Los Angeles Area)
    Elon Garcia

    1800 - 2100 PDT / 0100 - 0400 Zulu

    Maintaining Calm

    Imagine being able to interact with another person while flying your favorite flight simulator as he acts as an enroute, approach or terminal controller. Not so hard to imagine is it? We do that on a daily basis with the wonderful tools supplied to us by all kinds of generous individuals in our favorite hobby. There is nothing better in the Simulated World of VATSIM than having a calm steady voice guiding you into your destination airport safely in adverse weather conditions. It is a true joy for me personally, and I also enjoy trying to be that calm voice for others as I work the friendly skies of ZLA. It is extremely important for virtual controllers to maintain a calm steady voice when dealing with pilots for many reasons, but for my money, the most important reason is to gain the trust and respect of the virtual pilots so that they visit our virtual skies again and again.

    Controlling at ZLA should be a fun, enjoyable experience for both Pilot and Controller, and if one is not having fun, then perhaps it's time to look for something else to do. I can tell you from personal experience that when a controller or even a pilot looses his composure, it ruins the fun and enjoyment for everyone in earshot. I can recall an incident while flying into Denver where a controller lost his cool and berated a pilot because the pilot did not do things exactly as the controller had expected him to do. This controller stepped over the bounds for even a REAL WORLD situation. This controller called the pilot "Stupid" and referred to him as an "Idiot" for everyone else in the Roger Wilco Room to hear. It was such a shock to me at the time that I almost disconnected from the network. I did write a letter to the Denver Chief suggesting that the matter be looked into, and from the response I got, I'd say that I was not the only one who was concerned.

    You see, even when we are having a bad day it is not "professional" to ever loose our cool with ANY pilot or controller for that matter. If we are to take matters into our own hands and verbally berate someone on an open line we cause embarrassment to ourselves, our pilots and our ARTCC, not just the individual with whom we have a "beef" with. While working the FRIENDLY skies of ZLA it is important to always remain relaxed and calm while speaking through Roger Wilco. A steady, even voice has a way of making the most chaotic of situations seem a bit less so. We have the ability to project the best face for ZLA in everything we do just by the words we choose, and how those words are spoken.

    When you are working any position within ZLA (or VATSIM for that matter) and using Roger Wilco it is vitally important that you maintain your calm, and speak with a steady cadence of words. Do not rush your commands when things get busy. Do not raise your voice as the stress level starts to go up. Do not EVER verbally abuse any individual while working a ZLA position. When you feel the "Irish" starting to rise in you, release the PTT button, take a deep breath, exhale and regain your composure. Make every single radio call in the same tone and at the same voice level under every circumstance. It will be surprising to see the effect that it will have on everyone else on the frequency. If you have a problem with a pilot that requires a supervisor, then call for a supervisor using the .WALLOP command (i.e. .WALLOP LAX needs a supervisor for consultation about a problem pilot). Do not take things into your own hands, as you may make things worse, and you may find yourself in a position where you have to defend yourself to the VATSIM staff. If a supervisor is not available, then be civil, remain calm, and try to maintain your voice in the same tone and volume level as you would when clearing a pilot to land as you try to work out the conflict. Under NO circumstances should you ever loose your cool with a pilot…any pilot!

    Another important tip is to always THINK about what you are going to say before you actually say it. If you must constantly stop a transmission or start over because you either forgot about what you were going to say, or perhaps because you never actually knew what you were going to say in the first place, the result is that you will congest your frequency making it more difficult to maintain control. When giving Clearances to pilots it is better to take an extra 10 seconds to ensure that you have ALL the information needed. Is the route complete? Is the Cruise Altitude appropriate, do you have a squawk code ready to be assigned; do you know the frequency of the departure controller that just opened? Well, when you start reading the clearance, then half way through it you realize that one of the above is missing or wrong you have done two things. You have shown the pilot that you are not completely prepared and you have may have caused a delay in either you giving instructions to a pilot, or a pilot needing to relay some information to you.

    A final tip that I'd like to pass along to you is mostly for those who use headsets while using Roger Wilco. Do you find that you are a bit tense while giving commands? Why do I ask? I ask because there are a lot of folks who seem to be holding their breath while giving instructions and then forcefully exhale at the conclusion of their instructions. How do I know this? I know this because 9 times out of 10 that individual will exhale first, then release the PTT button. What we are treated to is usually a very loud "rushing" noise that blasts our eardrums. When it happens on rare occasions it is not terribly troubling. When it happens at the end of EVERY transmission it becomes extremely annoying. Do you do that? You might be surprised. The next time you work an ATC position and are starting to get busy, pay close attention to your breathing patterns at the end of each transmission. Do you exhale every time? It probably isn't very loud to you…but to the rest of us, it can sound like a passing hurricane.

    Like I said at the top, there is nothing better than being able to interact with LIVE ATC while flying one's simulator. Interacting with live ATC who is calm, predictable and considerate is the ultimate enjoyment for this writer.

    Be Safe! Have FUN!