Announcing Boston vs. Toronto Cross Fire!

The Boston ARTCC and Toronto FIR have again joined up to present an exciting event: Boston vs. Toronto Cross Fire. The original event, in June 2010, was an outstanding success!

An invitation goes out to everyone to participate in this rematch event which will take place on Monday February 6th from 6-10pm EST (23-03Z).

The gloves are off. In the good spirit of our partnership between Boston and Toronto, we are going to battle it out to see who can land the most aircraft on the other's airport. One arrival counts as one punch and who ever sends the most arrivals at the end of the night wins.

So come out in force and support your side; let's see which airport can fire the most planes at its opponent. Of course, this being the Boston ARTCC web site and all, we really hope you'll fly just one way, KBOS to CYYZ!

Preferred route:
KBOS-CYYZ = MHT SYR BUF YOUTH2

04 Feb 2012, Indianapolis ARTCC Hosts a Superbowl Fly In, 5-10pm (22-03Z)
This year's annual Superbowl Fly In will feature inbounds to KIND. Feel free to fly out of your favorite ZBW airport to KIND.


06 Feb 2012, Boston vs. Toronto Crossfire, 6-10pm (23-03Z)
Join us as we bring back this showdown event, which has become one of pilots' and controllers' favorite events! How many times can you launch from Boston and land at Toronto in 4 short hours? Let's find out!


02 March 2012, Boston ARTCC Hosts FNO!, 7-11pm (00-04Z)
02 March 1776 -- George Washington order The Siege of Boston! 02 March 2012 -- The Boston ARTCC hosts FNO at Boston!!
Which will end up more thrilling? Come join us and find out!


04 August 2012, Boston ARTCC Hosts the 13th Annual Boston Tea Party!, 12-7pm (16-23Z)
Live From the Daniel Webster College Campus, join us as the Boston ARTCC hosts the 13th Annual Boston Tea Party.
Approximately 30 of Boston's outstanding controller team will be controlling together, live, to give you the best ATC experience possible.
Featuring our always-favorite poker run with great prizes!

Effective 15 Dec 2011, three new RNAV STARs will be available, the INNDY2 has been canceled, and the GDM and ORW STARs are both updated.

Summary of changes:
KRANN1 [RNAV]: New RNAV STAR for aircraft arriving from the SW. Useful for the same aircraft/routes that would formerly have used the Norwich (ORW) STAR, but as an RNAV arrival, provides detailed procedures to follow (fixes, altitudes and speeds) to get set up for an approach clearance or vectors to an approach clearance.

QUABN1 [RNAV]: New RNAV STAR for aircraft arriving from the W, NW. Useful for the same aircraft/routes that would formerly have used the Gardner (GDM) STAR, but as an RNAV arrival, provides detailed procedures to follow (fixes, altitudes and speeds) to get set up for an approach clearance or vectors to an approach clearance.

OOSHN1 [RNAV]: New RNAV STAR for aircraft arriving from the SW, N or NE. Useful for the same aircraft/routes that would formerly have used the SCUPP STAR, but as an RNAV arrival, provides detailed procedures to follow (fixes, altitudes and speeds) to get set up for an approach clearance or vectors to an approach clearance. Expect clearance to cross SCUPP at 11000.

GDM4: Expect clearance to cross LOBBY at 11000 (vice BRONC)

ORW4: Expect clearance to cross BAWLL at FL230, and PVD at 11000. After overlying PVD, proceed to KRANN (vice INNDY).

At this time, no "Descend Via" clearances will be issued.

ZBW has coordinated with the developers of www.aircharts.org to offer controllers and pilots alike a situation awareness display that is designed to aid your online experience! The map will show arrivals to various ZBW (and NY Metro area) airports as well as enroute traffic, and features a real time NEXRAD weather display. Additional weather displays are also available via a user-selectable toggle.

We hope and trust that this will enhance your situational awareness and online experience. Enjoy!

Boston ARTCC Traffic and NEXRAD Situation Awareness Display

With many thanks to fellow VATSIM controller Trystan Verf, the Boston ARTCC is pleased to make available a scenery file that contains all of the RNAV waypoints that can be found on the current KBOS RNAV Departure Procedures.

This file will enable pilots who utilize their default MSFS GPS the ability to recognize the current KBOS RNAV DP waypoints in their GPS. Pilots can then fly waypoint to waypoint via their default GPS, enabling them to fly the KBOS RNAV DPs.

The file may be downloaded at: www.bostonartcc.net/file_library/KBOS_RNAV.BGL

The author tested the file for FSX, but can't say if it will work in FS9 as it was compiled with the FSX SDK compiler. If anyone tries it with FS9, we would appreciate feedback as to whether or not it works. To install it, just place it in the Addon Scenery/scenery folder within your main FSX (or FS9) folder.

Please email any discrepancy reports to atm - at - bostonartcc.net

A discussion of RNAV DPs may be found at: http://www.bostonartcc.net/forums/index.php?topic=4617.0

RNAV Departure Procedures are now the standard departure procedures in use at Boston Logan International Airport (KBOS). However, those with default flight simulator databases that have not had AIRAC/database updates in 2011 may not be able to fly those departure procedures.

Pilots who know, prior to requesting clearance, they will be unable to comply with an RNAV departure procedure should file the current Radar Vectored Departure Procedure (currently the LOGAN6) and/or advise the controller as they are requesting their clearance (e.g. "Boston Clearance Delivery, American 159 Heavy, requesting clearance to Los Angeles, unable to accept an RNAV Departure Procedure.").

All pilots are advised to review their departure clearances carefully, and if unable to comply with the clearance issued, advise the controller.