Photos from the Radar Display

Howdy all!

I’ve seen some recent topics about ATC videos/screenshots and decided I wanted to share a few of my favorites. I’ll sort them chronologically so hopefully some progress is visible!


Pre 20.1

Pre 20.1 Radar controlling involved typically longer lines due to the lack of STARs. These lines are evident in the photos below.

Airport: PHOG
Date: November 10, 2019
Notes: This was my first ever session as an IFATC Officer (approach qualified). I was completely terrified at the amount of traffic streaming in from the nearby islands. Although my line clearly isn’t perfect, I was pretty happy with myself considering my lack of experience at the time. At this time I was using a phone to control.


Airport: NZAA
Date: February 29, 2020
Notes: The technique used here is called the door method . Since NZAA only has one runway, I had to keep spacing relatively large to allow for departures.


Airport: KAVP
Date: March 03, 2020
Notes: This session wasn’t my favorite session to look back on. I was relieving a controller mid session and barely planned. When I joined I was greeted with a large influx of jets, heavy winds, and no clear line. As a desperate attempt to sort traffic I started taking them over the airport and it actually worked!


Airport: UBBB
Date: April 28, 2020
Notes: I was using a variant of the door method at this airport. I was getting a pretty steady rush of traffic but it worked out alright. The huge gap between Azal 846 and N5858MJ was due to an aircrafts connection loss, and the aircraft up north was really focused on not listening. Not to mention my base was relatively sloppy. Despite this, I really enjoyed this session. I mean just check out that “upwind” line!


Post 20.1

*After the release of 20.1, ATC became surprisingly less crowded. The efficiency of STARs was showing!

Airport: KLAX
Date: June 9, 2020
Notes: This was my first Radar session after the 20.1 update. The STARs were incredible, they significantly reduced my workload. Of course, @tomthetank was my center controller and handed me some great spacing. Just check out this line on the IRNMN2 arrival!


Airport: RJTT
Date: June 11, 2020
Notes: This session was insanely busy. I mean, just look at this photo. I’m so happy I had the STARs to help me. Although this session wasn’t the best, this photo was totally worth sharing,

Here’s the result when I filtered all aircraft on the ASKELL arrival.


Airport: KATL
Date: July 17, 2020
Notes: This was my busiest Center session to date. At one point I had upwards of 50 aircraft on frequency. Although arrivals from the south were quiet, the OZZZI1 STAR was packed! Look at that tightly spaced line.


Thanks for checking out my photos! Please let me know if you have any question, comments, or concerns.

Have a good one and stay safe.

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Wow! That is amazing! And it looks satisfying! 😁

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That’s awesome Will! Hope that I have screenshots like that in the future!

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Wow, always nice to see the screens of the more experienced radar controllers, would love to see these more often. It’s a real benefit and shows how different people deal with different situations and traffic variants. Cheers, Will 🤘

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Nice flex Will 💪😂! I don’t know how you even remember what when down during all those sessions!

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Those all look amazing! Makes me want to become a radar controller so much more. Can not wait for 60 days to be up to start my training.

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Thanks for the warm words y’all!

It truly is satisfying watching the line come together.

Dang you are skilled, I would poop my pants having to control that many planes.

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Love your pics will, they look great!

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How do you get the white lines to show after the aircraft

That’s pretty busy food job

Hey Bryan! I click on the aircraft and select “filter”. I do that for each aircraft.

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Great photos, Will! I knew that post 20.1 radar controllers would have easier lives, but seeing a before and after comparison really helps emphasize the helpfulness of SIDs and STARs. This makes me all the more excited about becoming a radar controller.

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RJTT! I was the Tower controller for that one. Awesome to work with you Will!

If only you were as good at COD as you are at controlling. Still sad about you crashing us into a lightpost. I digress

Cool topic, William!

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If only you weren’t afraid to play against me. I digress.

Thanks you, Tajay!

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