New ATC Tool, vATIS Released

[Kyle Ramsey 810181]

VATSIM is pleased to announce the release of vATIS, a new, automated ATIS software package, being made available to VATSIM controllers.

 

 

Building on a three-year old concept, the project is the work of Justin Shannon, controller and Webmaster for the Los Angeles ARTCC in response to a desire to have an easy to use, effective, automatic voice ATIS creator for everyone’s use.

 

While EuroScope does include a voice ATIS in its radar client, vATIS utilizes true voice synthesizer technology, giving it the ability to “read and say” whatever is written in the text box. Not only will the output sound like what you hear in the real world, the program also ends the requirement that each individual word, number or letter, be pre-recorded and stored as a .wav file. If you can type it, the program can say it.

 

The interface itself is simple, elegant and intuitive. At its most basic, you choose a facility, select the runways in use, enter the voice server to be used (only the first time), enter the ATIS frequency, add a closing tag line if desired (e.g.- “read back Squawk only,”) and connect. The program will do the rest.

 

For more complex airports, you have the option of inserting your own instructions for the program to read, such as multiple runways in use, land and hold short ops, special condition NOTAMS, etc. (See illustration below)

 

 

The program also makes it possible for a controller to save pre-set runway configurations, making the sign-on process easier.

We hope you will enjoy using vATIS. As with everything at VATSIM, it is provided for you to use free of charge, but its copyright prohibits inclusion in any for-profit product.

 

The program and manual are available now at:

 

http://radarcontact.me

 

In addition a support forum has been set up called vATIS Help in Members Helping Members for users to ask questions and get the most out of this new and exciting tool for controllers. go to the forum here :

 

viewforum.php?f=135