News Archive

Saturday October 18th
TEST NEWS POSTING
This news post is a test of a new news posting system, please disregard it.

Tuesday October 7th
Sunday Earlybird Special Event

Weekly Pilot Orientation Courses continues this Sunday, October 12th, 2008 @ KSMF. Join in the fun, starting at 10am PDT and prepare yourself for the fast paced world of Virtual Air Traffic! Click here for more info.

Thursday September 18th
Instructors Needed!

The Oakland ARTCC is currently looking for qualified individuals to add to its staff of instructors! ZOA is a challenging and exciting airspace to learn, and teach and offers many procedures featured no where else on VATSIM. In addition to teaching some of the most challenging airspace and procedures on the network, you will also be a part of one of the best, most well respected training departments around.

To apply individuals should hold at least a C3 rating, have a minimum of 3 months experience as a mentor, previous instructor experience is desired, be able to speak and write english fluently and effectively, and have excellent communication skills. Also, real world aviation experience (pilots license, student in a CTI or commercial aviation program, etc.) is a huge plus.

Please send all applications to training (at) oakartcc.com. Included should be a history of your teaching experience (on or off vatsim), other qualifications you feel apply, what you think you would bring to our training department, and anything else you want to include.

Wednesday September 17th
Friday Night Ops

The Oakland ARTCC is pleased to announce Friday Night Ops at San Francisco! The event will take place between 0000Z - 0400Z, September 26th. San Francisco will be fully staffed along with two center, three approach controllers, and other local towers. Please be sure to review charts and procedures before attending the event as traffic levels will be high. We hope to see many pilots attend, don't miss a fun night!

Tuesday August 19th
DVA Fly-Out KSJC August 25th 1700-1900PDT
Delta Virtual Airlines is pleased to announce a new Online Event on VATSIM, "Flight 331." Departure will be from San Jose CA (SJC) to Seattle/Tacoma WA (SEA). The event is scheduled between 08/25/2008 00:00 GMT and 08/25/2008 02:00 GMT. Refer to the Online Events Calendar at http://www.deltava.org/eventcalendar.do for schedule updates. Signups close at 08/24/2008 23:00 GMT.

Tuesday July 22nd
New Mentor
I'd like you all to join me in congratulating Lucas Dziesinski on being selected to join our mentoring staff! He is now available to conduct training session on ground and delivery. I am glad to be able to add him to our prestigious team and I know he will bring new insight and skills to the team. His addition will also go a long way in allowing us to keep up with the growing demand presenting by our increasing number of students, without sacrificing quality. Again, congratulations Lucas, and I look forward to seeing you help bring up our next generations of controllers.

Wednesday June 18th
ZOA Host FNO June 27th

Lucas Dziesinski created this image.

Saturday April 26th
Coastal Range Eruption

This image was created by Gerry Hattendorf from ZLA.

Tuesday April 8th
ZOA Solicits Event Ideas
Whether you are a pilot or a controller, ZOA would be more than happy to hear from you should you have any original or tried-and-true ideas for inter- or intra-ARTCC events. Please email our Events Director at events@oakartcc.com.

Thursday April 3rd
ZOA Staff Changes
ZOA is happy to announce the following staff changes!

David Carman is the new TA!
Greg Marcoux is the new EC!
Greg Marcoux is now a staff instructor!
Matthew Hull is now a staff instructor!

Thursday December 13th
New Runway Operations Tool
The FAB at ZOA has released yet another online tool to help make flying in ZOA as realistic as possible to our pilots. The new runway information tool allows pilots to looks up what runways are in use at KSFO at any given time when no controllers online. However, if there is a controller online, it is his responsibility to determine the runways in use, so the page will inform you to contact the controller for current runways in use.

Runway Information Tool

Friday November 2nd
New Event Notification List!
ZOA is proud to release our new event notification list for pilots! If you love flying in ZOA events but never know when they are this is perfect for you. Fill out the form linked below and you will receive e-mail notifications approximately a week before every major event!

http://www.oakartcc.com/pilotemail.php

Friday September 28th
Air Traffic Corridor Signups Open
The Event Signups are open to sign up go here: http://oakartcc.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2683

Thursday September 27th
Air Traffic Corridor
Controllers: ZOA Hosts the Air Traffic Corridor featuring San Francisco Int. and
Oakland - Metropolitan Airport. The event is a FOUR (4) hour long event on Friday
October 5th, 2007 there will be 2 two hour long shifts. Sign Ups will be posted
tomorrow, Friday September 28, 2007. If you think you have what it takes to handle 40+ Aircraft an hour than sign up.

Click here for the Air Traffic Corridor Events Page

Sunday September 2nd
ZOA Staff Changes
Richard Walls is the new TA
Brian Franklin is a new Instructor
David Carman is a new instructor
Greg Marcoux added to the Mentor Team
Adam Hulse returning as a Mentor

Tuesday June 5th
June New Controllers
Please welcome the following new controllers to ZOA

Kent Orthner
Florian Schupp
Steven Mehlhoff
Keith LaFaver
John Mazzoni

Monday May 7th
May New Controllers
Please welcome the following new controllers to ZOA

William Pau
Charles Ridenor
Kyle Rosenquist
Phillip Stevens
Brent Seus
Matthew Tedesco
Rod Christensen
Luis Cortez

Welcome!

Sunday April 15th
Pilot Feedback Form Available
Now available from the Feedback link on our home page; a quick and easy way to let us know your thoughts on our controllers.

Sunday April 8th
April New Controllers
Please welcome the following controllers to ZOA

Rich Lee - Returning to ZOA
Mark Allen - Academy Graduate
Kevin Kelm - Transfer from ZSE
Greg Marcoux - Academy Graduate

Monday February 26th
Controller Promotions
Brian Franklin - C1 Norcal Combined
Darren Latta - San Francisco Tower
Congrats!

Sunday February 25th
February New Controllers
Please welcome the following new controllers to ZOA!
Chuck Barlow - VATUSA Academy
Aaron Wilson - VATUSA Academy
William Lewis - Returning
Justin Ingersoll - Transfer
Joey Vargo - Returning
Michael Meschi - VATUSA Academy

Friday January 5th
MF, VG, Teamspeak Back up!
Mike Fries passed his C3 and Center OTS tonight, making him the newest C3 in ZOA! Congrats! Victor Gomez passed his BAY TWR OTS and is now a student at Reno Approach! Toby Bucsescu and Lance Hutchinson are both up next for BAY TWR and SFO APP respectively. Wish them luck!

Wednesday December 6th
ZOA is hiring Instructors!
Oakland Center is looking for new instructors! Come enjoy the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains to the San Francisco Bay Area, Oakland has some of the most diverse and complex airspace in the country. Inside our ARTCC, we have 3 major airports, 2 class Charlies and 1 class Bravo all within 10 miles of each other. With 5 underlying Class Deltas just in this area. As if this doesn't make it tough enough, the weather can change from Severe Clear to Fogged in and Rainy within only a few hours. Turning the inbounds from Published Visual Approaches to Cat III ILS.

Oakland has everything from San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno, to Reno, and distinguished terrain features that you don't see in many places. We are looking for active instructors that are willing to dedicate their time to improve the quality and flow of our student controllers. You will be helped by a team of mentors, and a very supportive training system that is one of the most technologically advanced in VATUSA. Our students go through a series of written tests and instruction through our own teamspeak, before they start controlling traffic.

If you're interested, send a brief resume with your reasons on why you wish to be an instructor in Oakland to: Tom Flanary, Oakland's Air Traffic Manager, atm @ oakartcc.com (No spaces). Anyone who hold a Controller Grade of C3 (Sr. Controller) or higher may apply. Applicants must show a strong desire to learn and a strong command of ATC. Applicants will be put through an interview process with the ATM and Training Administrator.

For more information, or to apply, email Tom Flanary at atm@oakartcc.com

Thursday November 30th
New Controller
Please congratulate David Carman on passing his Norcal and C1 OTS last night! Matthew Hull is also Oakland's next C1, being promoted tonight as well!

There was a slight error with Matt's account a few months ago, and he should of been promoted, when he wasn't.

Friday October 13th
Friday Night Ops - Fresno/Reno
Thanks to all the pilots and controllers who came out to support VATUSA's Friday Night Ops at Fresno and Reno. Look for more exciting ZOA events in the future!

Sunday October 1st
New Mentor
Please welcome Brian Franklin (BF) to the Mentor team. Brian is one of the most active controllers at ZOA and his knowledge of real world VFR and IFR opearations and familiarity with the Bay Area will come in handy while teaching new students. Welcome Brian

Sunday September 17th
Tom Flanary New Oakland Air Traffic Manager
VATUSA Staff has selected Tom Flanary (TF) as the new Air Traffic Manager (ATM). Tom has many exciting plans for the Oakland ARTCC on VATSIM and believes that it will thrive and continue to grow under his guidance. Mike Fries will be returning to ZOA to take the position of Deputy Air Traffic Manager with the rest of the staff remaining the same - TA Inigo Markle-Allen, FE Eric Hebert, Webmaster Jim Thompson and Events Coordinator Rey Rey Lopez, undergoing 90 day evaluation.

Sunday August 27th
ZOA and ZLA Announce Nevada Gambler's Run!

Sunday, August 27 at 1100 PDT (1800Z) and ending at 1600 PDT (2300Z)

Come fly the arid skies of the great state of Nevada! ZOA and ZLA are teaming up to bring you the best ATC you'll find along J92. Turboprops and Business Jets are highly recommended!

Monday August 14th
Promotions Galore at ZOA!
Congratulations to the following three controllers on their new Certifications: Richard Anderson for Controller (C1), Chris Waldo for Senior Controller (C3), and Richard Walls for Oakland Center (OAK CTR).

Sunday August 6th
ZOA Forum Upgraded!
As of Sunday morning, August 6th, we have completed a transition from the old forum software to a brand new vBulletin 3.6 installation. All your user settings, posts and private messages should still be intact. Click here to login and check it out. Also be sure to update your forum bookmarks!

Saturday August 5th
Roster Changes and New Features
The ZOA Roster has been setup to include Class C and B Tower certifications, as well as color differentiation for SMT training. Also, a new controller activity log has been setup which tracks all positions worked and the duration of each session. The results can be found on individual user profiles and the Top 10 controllers based on hours and minute plugged-in can be found on the main Roster page.

Friday August 4th
Friday Night Spotlight - Thank You!
ZOA staff would like to thank TGIF for their always spectacular fly-in to KSFO tonight and VATUSA Friday Night Ops for their inaugural event featuring Reno and Sacramento International! Thanks to all pilots, VAs, neighboring ARTCCs and especially the ZOA and visiting controllers who held it all together. Look for more exciting ZOA events this Fall!

Sunday July 30th
New Beacon Allocation Plan
Updated 7/30/06 As per the VATUSA National Beacon Code Allocation Plan put into effect on 11 JULY 2006, please review the changes to SOP-004 Transponder Procedures.

What has basically changed is that we've got a specific allocation of Squawk Codes set aside for us and we've put these INTO the POF file. Both ASRC and VRC will automatically get your Squawk Range from the POF. There is no more Voluntary Beacon Allocation Plan. Just let the POF do all the work.

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY all ZOA Controllers shall use ZOA Position Operations File (POF) v3.2, available on the downloads page.

Monday July 24th
Tom Flanary appointed ZOA_DATM
Congratulations to Tom Flanary, upon his appointment to the post of ZOA Deputy Air Traffic Manager. Tom was chosen from a group of several who applied. All were worthy of the post. Good Luck Tom!

Tom replaces Jim Thompson, who remains with us as a Staff Instructor, our tireless Webmaster and valued member of the Facility Advisory Board.

Mark Dalforno will be handeling the duties of the Event Coordinator on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is selected.

Wednesday April 5th
New CTR and Norcal Sector Maps!
To coincide with recent SOP changes relating to NORCAL Approach airspace, ZOA has published new sector maps created by Eric Hebert.
Available from the Airports/Charts menu

Monday March 27th
Photos from NCT Tour and Dinner
Click here to view a few photos from our last group get together!

Monday March 13th
VATSIM Voice Policy Changes
As of Monday, March 13th, VATSIM controllers will no longer use the "_V_" callsign to designate voice capability. All ATC students are granted voice privileges upon initial training.

ZOA Pilots Online
Callsign	DEP	ARR
AAL100	KSFO	KJFK
ASV694	KLAX	KSFO
BAW285	EGLL	KSFO
CAX321	KJFK	KSFO
CG2131	KACV	KMCC
COA184	KSLC	KSMF
COA618	KOAK	KAUS
PAL104	RPLL	KSFO
UAL4098	KSFO	PHNL
Last Updated: 16:24:04z

Name	Total Time
Pomdeila, Jake	76:41 hours
Virgilio, Chris	37:09 hours
Valdez, Gustavo	30:52 hours
Bertsch, Adam	27:17 hours
Dziesinski, Lucas	23:31 hours
Complete Stats Here

Schedule for Fri November 21st

November Top Controllers

News Archive