Seatle ARTCC

Controller Information

Welcome to the Seattle ARTCC (ZSE) Training Center!


We are very pleased you have decided to either have Seattle Center as your home or are visiting as a current VATSIM controller.


Organization

VATSIM is organized much like any international organization or company; there are many different levels. For reference, see the ZSE organization chart. While useful to know, don't worry too much about that yet. You main objectives are...


Before you can begin anything, you must:

  1. Register with vatsim.net and select North America
  2. Then register with vatusa.net (our division) and select Seattle Center (ZSE) as your home ARTCC
  3. Finally, register in our forums

It can sometimes take a day or two for the VATSIM/VATUSA registration details to reach our roster. In the meantime feel free to browse the documentation below


Our best personal advice to you:

Study the materials. Then re-read them again. There are built-in delays if you flunk your written tests more than once. VATSIM's unofficial mission is the same as a certain flight simulator product: "as real as it gets." This is a game, but not a "gAmEz!!"

We value realism. We value dedication to perfecting the craft of Air Traffic Control in a virtual environment, with ALL interested welcome and lots of help, cammraderie, discovery and complete fun being offered along the way! Sound good!?...


Your first step after registration: download and install VRC with all the defaults


New! Videos for the beginner.

Be kind -- these videos are our first attempts! :) They will get you up-and-running and pointed in the right direction. They usually take 1-3 minutes to download on a normal DSL/Cable connection. They are a compliment to our official training materials below and do not constitute any particular certification or authorization for students.

1024 x 768 display preferred (hint: If these videos are too big to fit your screen controlling on VATSIM with VRC might not be a good experience either)


In training you will generally proceed along the path:

  1. OBS - Beginning Observer (non-controlling position) [ OBS training materials are here ]
  2. S1 - Student (controlling position)[ S1 training materials ]
  3. S3 - Senior Student [ S3 training materials ]
  4. C1 - Full controller status

Here is a more specific Student promotion and certification roadmap that has all the steps in detail


Here is our official training curriculum.


Additional information and setup:

***NOTE: Only Controllers working the Tower position and above may provide a Voice ATIS at ZSE.


Get more help...

More information and supplemental conversation about training or procedures can be found at the VATSIM Seattle ARTCC Training Forum.