JacksonvilleARTCC
Welcome
Hello and Welcome to the Jacksonville ARTCC!
For those of you trying to decide which area to head for to begin your virtual ATC career I strongly suggest that you choose the ZJX Team. Team ZJX was recently redstructured to create one of the strongest, most cohesive controller teams in the VATUSA Southern Region. Although being listed as one of the smaller ARTCC’s in the region we control a large volume of traffic. The bulk of our business comes from Jacksonville International (KJAX) and Orlando McCoy International (KMCO) but we also see regular traffic from Charleston (KCHS), Columbia (KCAE) and Daytona Beach (KDAB). Our procedures are very easy to learn, while at the same time providing smooth and safe traffic flow through the airspace.
Events are a regular occurrence for the ZJX team. We try to host a major event each month and our area is frequently chosen for group flights and smaller fly-in activities. Events are centrally coordinated through one of our staff positions and assignments to positions are done through our website on a first come first served basis. Although controller rating does frequently dictate the positions a student can work, we generally do not discourage our newer members from staffing a higher level position, provided they have demonstrated the ability to run such a position. ZJX training staff offers a “student” certification which allows a controller to staff a position unmonitored during non peak times. This enables a student to get plenty of practice at their position. Once a student demonstrates a competent understanding of a position he may receive a “facility” certification meaning that he can work a position unmonitored anytime. Next step would be for an Over The Shoulder (OTS) session for promotion to the next controller level.
Training at ZJX is probably the most user-friendly experience you could hope for. We have a dedicated team of instructors that work with all new students or academy graduates in the ARTCC. We also have a dedicated staff of mentors available to help any student along with his training. New students can expect to review the written material available from the FAA 7110.65 , VATUSA training department and have that information reinforced through on the job training, and have one-on-one help to prepare for their written and practical examinations. Local procedures are also a part of our training. The normal progression of training is:
- Delivery and Ground- Each controller will be introduced to the Air Traffic Control environment. You'll learn the basics of filing a flight plan and ssuing clearances and taxi instructions.
- Tower- Here you'll be introduced to airborne aircraft. You'll learn to sequence aircraft into the traffic pattern, takeoff and landing clearances and reinforce what you've already learned.
- Approach- This is where the real fun starts. You'll learn to vector aircraft for landing, issuing climbs and descents, maintain seperation and really fine tune the skills you've learned at Tower.
- Center- This is the big time! Here you'll work large quantities of aircraft arriving and departing multiple fields. You'll learn to deal with IFR and VFR, overflights and coordinate with our ARTCC neighbors.
Each phase of training requires successful completion of both the VATUSA written exam, and an over the shoulder (OTS) exam.
Many resources are available to new controllers from the ZJX website which you may view at www.zjxartcc.org. Our website provides much of the information needed to begin or continue your virtual controlling career. A lot of time has been spent on the website to make it as friendly as possible. If you have any questions regarding the site please contact me at the email provided below. ZJX has a great working relationship with our neighbor ARTCC’s. The current Letters of Agreement (LOA’s) may be viewed from the website. I recommend reading them to any new member as they contain a wealth of information, including procedures for certain airports.
Again, I hope you will consider joining the ZJX team for your virtual ATC career. If you have any questions prior to making your choice please feel free to contact me.
Tom Ferry
Air Traffic Manager
Jacksonville ARTCC
How do I Join?
The process for joining ZJX depends on your current VATSIM membership status.
I am not member of VATSIM
- Visit the VATSIM web site, and click on the "New ATC Start Here" link on the left side.
- Complete the registration process, indicating that you wish to be attached to the USA division (VATUSA) of the North America region.
- You will receive a welcome email from VATUSA once your registration is processed with a password for the VATUSA website.
- Fill out the transfer request form to transfer to the ARTCC of your choice (ZJX). Cite the reason of "New to the Division" as your reason for transfer.
- The ZJX ATM will recieve an email concerning your request and will add you to our roster.
- While awaiting a response, visit the ZJX website and register on it as a user.
- You will quickly recieve an email from the ZJX ATM giving you any information you will require to begin your controlling carreer.
I am a pilot on VATSIM
- If you are not a member of the USA Division (VATUSA), then first:
- Go to the VATSIM web site, and click on "Account Changes" under "Member Services".
- If you are not part of the North American region, complete the "Change Region" process to move to the USA division of the North America region, otherwise...
- If you are part of the North American region, complete the "Select a Division in a Region" process to move to the USA division.
- You will receive an email from VATUSA once your region or division transfer is complete.
- Rest same as outlined above.
I am a controller in another division or region
- Go to the VATSIM web site, and click on "Account Changes" under "Member Services".
- If you are not part of the North American region, complete the "Change Region" process to move to the USA division of the North America region, otherwise...
- If you are part of the North American region, complete the "Select a Division in a Region" process to move to the USA division.
- You will receive an email from VATUSA once your region or division transfer is complete.
- If not specified during the above process, transfer to the Jacksonville ARTCC by:
- Your transfer request will be processed in the next several days, and you will receive one or more emails once its processing is complete.
I am a controller in another ARTCC within the VATUSA division
- Go to the VATUSA web site, and log on.
- Click on the "ARTCC Transfer Form" link.
- Complete the form, selecting "Jacksonville" as your new ARTCC.
- Your transfer request will be processed in the next several days, and you will receive one or more emails once its processing is complete.
Looking for visiting controller Status?
All you have to do for visiting status is click "Request Visiting Controller Status" from the menu on the left and fill out the form. The Air Traffic Manager will review your request and you will receive an email once you are approved.
Once You've Joined...
Please make sure you have requested an account on our web site. Once that account has been approved and you have authenticated it, log in with your user name and password visit and the forum at least once (simply click on the "Forum" link). Your account will then be updated by the web master to provide you with the appropriate level of access.
Check out your roster entry. This area of the web site tells you where you are in the training process, and what positions you are authorized to staff. It will be updated by the Jacksonville instructors as you progress through our training program.
For those who have just joined the ARTCC completely new to ATC:
Your rating is currently an Obsever, this means you cannot connect to the network and provide ATC services until completing formal training to become an S1. Generally this means you should be proficient in Delivery through Tower Services at "Minor" Airfields in ZJX (Class C Airports). In general this means you need to be proficient in the skills located here: http://www.zjxartcc.org/module-Pagesetter-viewpub-tid-7-pid-7.html
Once you are able to demonstrate that you can understand and apply the material listed in the link above you will be assigned the S1 written test and upon successful completion, be promoted to S1 and be able to provide ATC services through the tower level at ZJX's minor fields.
At first your ability to work certain positions on a solo basis will be restricted, and will be outlined in your roster entry. This means that, in order to staff a position for which your roster entry does not show you as certified, you must be working with an instructor or a mentor who is monitoring you and working with you.
As you either demonstrate your proficiency at certain positions you are granted a student certification. This means that you are permitted to solo at the position during off-peak hours. During peak hours (2200Z to 0400Z) it is still necessary to have a mentor or instructor monitoring you in order to work the position.
After earning a student certification at either tower or approach, you will have the opportunity to earn facility-specific certifications. These allow you to work solo at specific airports, even during peak hours.
Demonstrating mastery of a position earns you a certification for that position, and removes all of the above mentioned position restrictions. Earning a certification at tower, approach, and center also earn you an increase in your VATSIM rating.
As a transfer, you may be capable in several areas already. We'll not ask you to restart from square-one... we just need to run through some checks with you before your certifications can be upgraded. You should get with one of our instructors in order to check you out at the various levels. Our mentors are also here to help you along and to answer questions regarding policies and procedures, but they cannot provide certification exams. Look for "INS" or "MTR" in the "Staff" column on the roster, click on the person's name, and you'll have access to their contact information.
