Welcome
Welcome to the Salt Lake City Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZLC)! We are excited to have you on the team.
Here at ZLC we take great pride in our ability to provide a realistic air traffic control (ATC) services to pilots using the real world operating procedures.
Of course, we realize and acknowledge the limitations of the network and different level of users. We attempt to bridge this gap and provide our controllers with an extreme amount of resources to be able to do their job in a timely and accurate manner.
Through your studies with us, you will learn about a system we refer to as an In-Scope Reference (ISR) where most of your data that would normally memorized by the hundreds of controllers in the real world, is only a few keystrokes away from you. This is only one of the many resources we provide as ATC.
To get you set up with ZLC and begin acquiring these skills, please keep this page bookmarked during your onboarding to help guide you through the process.
Onboarding Checklist
Follow every step below in order to expedite your onboarding and training for ZLC ARTCC.
Once you have access to the ZLC website, you have 15 days to complete all of the following prior to requesting to take the ZLC General Knowledge & Directive exams.
Ensure you have completed all of the tasks and reading (in order) within the “Orientation” section of the ZLC CBTs page. These can be found Training Department>Computer Based Training (CBT)>Orientation.
In addition, you should read and become intimately familiar with the following documents under the Controllers menu:
- General Controlling Directives
- Facility Directives
- Alias Command References
Evaluation
Once you have completed ALL of the prior steps (should be less than 15 days), send an email to datm@zlcartcc.com with the following information
SUBJECT LINE: Exam Request (Your CID)
BODY OF EMAIL:
I have completed all onboarding checklist items prior to the “Evaluation” checkpoint on the ZLC Visitor Onboarding Guide.
I am requesting to be assigned the ZLC General Knowledge & Directive exams appropriate to my rating.
My CID is: (your CID)
My Name is: (your first and last name)
My VATSIM controller rating is: (your rating i.e.- S1, S2, etc…)
Within 48 hours, you will be automatically assigned the following exams appropriate for your VATSIM Rating:
S1
- ALL Ratings ZLC Directive & Gen Knowledge
- S1 ZLC Directive & Gen Knowledge
S2
- ALL Ratings ZLC Directive & Gen Knowledge
- S1 ZLC Directive & Gen Knowledge
- S2 ZLC Directive & Gen Knowledge
S3 or higher
- ALL Ratings ZLC Directive & Gen Knowledge
- S1 ZLC Directive & Gen Knowledge
- S2 ZLC Directive & Gen Knowledge
- S3+ ZLC Directive & Gen Knowledge
Once you have been assigned the ZLC-VATUSA exams, you have 7 days from the time it was assigned to take them. **Note: You may have to check your email spam folder for the exam notification.**
To take an exams, you must have completed all of the above required reading. Go to VATUSA.net > My VATUSA > Exam Center. A passing score of 80% or higher is required. Contact datm@zlcartcc.com if you have any questions.
If you fail the exam, you must schedule a training session for “OPS1” as instructed via the Orientation CBTs.
The training request needs to be made within 7 days of failed attempt.
The actual training session needs to be within 30 days of the failed attempt.
If you passed the exam, you must schedule a training session for “OPS2” as instructed via the Orientation CBTs.
The training request needs to be made within 7 days of passing the exam.
The actual training session needs to be within 30 days of passing the exam.
Training
To ensure complete understanding of ZLC procedures and practices, you will need to complete a practical evaluation with an instructor. This evaluation will also be an opportune time to ask questions with real time answers and demonstrations.
Once the instructor determines that you are up to speed with ZLC procedures and concepts, the instructor will certify you to control all VATSIM Non-Designated Airspace within ZLC ARTCC and you may work through your Designated airspace ratings later at your convenience.
This marks the completion of the onboarding stage.