Cross the Pond Question about NATs

[David Veksenfeld]

How are the clearances gonna work this year when there seems to be only two NAT tracks in use in the real world due to COVID-19? Either I'm seeing it wrong but when I go on skyvector I can only see NATA and NATZ. Most of us either use Simbrief or PFPX I imagine where they give us real world routes. How is it gonna work when there is gonna be a record number of planes on this CTP event?

 

If I'm viewing it wrong, someone fill me in please, thanks.

[Robert Shearman Jr]

In the past, the CTP organizers have had to add at least one "fictitious" track to the real-world published ones. Since all pilots with slots get emails with their precise routing just before the event, it hasn't been a big deal -- just a minor amount of confusion from a few who tried to validate those routes against the real-world resources and didn't see the footnote.

 

I'm sure this year will require some additional creativity on the part of the routing team, but, shouldn't cause too significant issues day-of.

 

Note that I'm not on the planning team myself; just my own speculation.

[Andrew Ogden]

For this edition, most if not all of the tracks will be invented. They're getting the arts and crafts out

[David Veksenfeld]

In the past, the CTP organizers have had to add at least one "fictitious" track to the real-world published ones. Since all pilots with slots get emails with their precise routing just before the event, it hasn't been a big deal

 

That sounds all good - except I didn't get a slot time, I was planning on departing and arriving on non-event airports because of this, so I'm not gonna get a route in my email. Should I just expect a briefing sooner than later with their new NAT tracks?

 

Thanks.

[Robert Shearman Jr]

Same procedure as always; the non-event track will be published on the ctp.vatsim.net site the night before the event. Only this time, it may not correspond to one of Saturday's IRL NAT tracks.

[Andreas Fuchs]

Yes, please keep monitoring the website of CTP, all information will be provided there. Happy planning and flying!