Virtual Boston ARTCC

Rules | Prizes | Preferred Routes

See photos of past years' tea party events!

View controller screenshots and Traffic Situation Displays live during the event!

During the event, pilots can check the current poker standings by clicking this link.

The Boston Tea Party is back again! Due to its popularity, this year's 8th annual Tea Party will once again be combined with a day of Airport Poker. What is the Boston Tea Party? What is Airport Poker?

Over 24 Virtual Boston ARTCC controllers from around the world will be getting together in person in Nashua, NH (the same city Boston Center and TRACON is located in) to staff the ARTCC on Saturday, July 14th from 1:00 PM EDT (1700z) to 6:00 PM EDT (2200z). We won't be dumping any tea, but we'll be running an exciting game of Airport Poker to dump prizes on the winners! This "admirable" gathering of controllers would make John Adams flip over in his grave. Pilots are guaranteed to have fun on what should be a very busy day in Boston!

Pilots who plan to fly in the Boston ARTCC airspace during the event are encouraged (not required) to use the VATUSA Online Reservation System (remember to use GMT, or Zulu, time to file). This will allow us to better plan our staffing and position assignments prior to the event. On the day of the event you are encouraged to prefile using the VATSIM Pre-Filing System.

And that's not all! The Airport Poker winners will receive special prizes from the Boston ARTCC. Get ready for a fun day of flying with some of the best controllers on VATSIM!

Attention all text pilots: Please try to at least operate in voice receive mode. Even if you don't have a microphone, please install and configure Squawkbox 3 or the AVC Client. Please notify ATC that you can receive voice transmissions. Text pilots could experience delays should heavy traffic be encountered, even though all of our controllers strive to provide a high grade of service to text-only pilots.

Please do not send private text messages to controllers! This is a distracting and unnecessary practice and should only be done if voice and/or text communications cannot be established over the ATC comm radio.

Pilots should be familiar and comfortable with holding procedures. When high traffic levels warrant it, there can be delays into the high-volume airports. Center (En Route) controllers may issue you a hold to regulate inbound traffic. Please read this Holding Tutorial if you are not familiar with holding procedures. Controllers will likely not have time to teach you how to hold.

If you would like to be a sponsor please Contact Us by Saturday, July 7, 2007.

Current Prize Sponsors:

5 FlyTampa Product Licenses

1 EagleSoft Product License

1 FeelThere Product License

1 ActiveSky Product License