a

[Sebastian Crumpacker]

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Edited April 19, 2021 at 09:53 PM by Sebastian Crumpacker

[Robert Shearman Jr]

Both of those are non-towered.  (They're depicted in magenta, not blue for towered, on the VFR sectional accessible at SkyVector.com).  As a VFR flight, you don't need to be talking to ATC unless operating at a towered field or within B, C, or D airspace.  You can obtain Flight Following services (traffic, weather, and terrain advisories) once airborne at your option, but at the two airports you should simply self-announce on VATSIM's "universal" CTAF of 122.8.

[Sebastian Crumpacker]

a

 

Edited April 19, 2021 at 09:53 PM by Sebastian Crumpacker

[Robert Shearman Jr]

Because it's not possible to cover every real-world ATC position but we still want to provide services, VATSIM ATC coverage works on a "top-down" philosophy -- meaning that if position A isn't staffed but overlying position B is, that overlying position also handles the duties of position A.  So if the Tower you are supposed to contact isn't online, you'd first check for an Approach or Departure controller who covers that area.

Even if your field is outside of all B and C airspace, it might still fall under the TRACON which covers that area.  TRACON boundaries aren't published on pilot charts so you can either check the Facility Directory -- or just call any nearby APP/DEP controller and ask.

If the APP/DEP controller says you're outside their airspace or there isn't one nearby online, then try the Center controller, if there is one.

Sometimes, there's *more* than one Center.  You can check their controller info to see if they include notes on which covers where, you can look at the ARTCC website to see if they have a published sector map (MSP_11_CTR covers their Sector 11: http://www.minniecenter.org/split) -- or, again, just ring one up and ask.

Note that many Class D towers are not open 24/7, and that most US ARTCCs (in my experience) will consider such fields as non-towered outside of their real-world operating hours. 

Hope that's helpful and not too much info at once.  Us General Aviation enthusiasts have to stick together...  😉

Edited November 16, 2020 at 12:51 AM by Robert Shearman Jr
clarifying

[Tobias Dammers]

Also maybe worth noting that contacting the wrong controller isn't the end of the world - they'll tell you to contact someone else, or monitor UNICOM, and that's that.

[Sebastian Crumpacker]

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Edited April 19, 2021 at 09:54 PM by Sebastian Crumpacker