Tutorial · the airports

Know the airport before you take a seat.

Seven airports are released. Each one below gets a quick look before you start: its runway layout, what the surface looks like, and whether you can try it straight from the browser or need Microsoft Flight Simulator. The positions guide covers how to actually work a seat — this page is just “what am I looking at.”

Two ways to work these airports. KBNA, KFLL, KPHX, KPHL and KBOS run as web sessions — no simulator, start one from Create and you are on frequency in under a minute. KBWI and KAUS currently need ATC Relay Host running alongside Microsoft Flight Simulator; their web layouts are still being built.

1Nashville

KBNA · the free demo airport

KBNA is where the free 25-minute demo runs, so it is the easiest airport to get a feel for before creating an account. Runways: 2C/20C, 2L/20R, 2R/20L, 13/31.

AccessFree demo + web session
Runways4
ScheduleReal airline timetable
Nashville's own flight board, from a live web session.

2Fort Lauderdale

KFLL · web session

Runways: 10L/28R and 10R/28L, two parallel pairs either side of the terminal complex. A dense concourse layout (A through H plus the satellite gates) makes Ramp a busy, satisfying seat here.

AccessWeb session
Runways2 parallel pairs
ScheduleReal airline timetable
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Ground view: two runway pairs, eight concourses.

3Phoenix

KPHX · web session

Runways: 7L/25R, 7R/25L, and 8/26 — three runways instead of two, which keeps Tower busier than most. The terminal area spans several concourse groups with its own hold bays short of the inner taxiways.

AccessWeb session
Runways3
ScheduleReal airline timetable
Phoenix Sky Harbor, Ground view: three runways, west and center hold bays marked.

4Philadelphia

KPHL · web session

Runways: 8/26, 9L/27R, 9R/27L, and 17/35 — four runways, with a long parallel taxiway system between the terminal and the two main east-west runways, so Ground has plenty of route choices.

AccessWeb session
Runways4
ScheduleReal airline timetable
Philadelphia Intl, Ground view: four runways, with the first departures pushing back from the terminal.

5Boston

KBOS · web session, tester access

KBOS has a web layout ready, but it has no real airline timetable yet, so a session there starts from a saved schedule rather than the daily real-world one. It is currently limited to developer and tester accounts while that gets ironed out. We don't have a screenshot of it on this page yet.

Picture coming. KBOS works for tester accounts today; this page just hasn't been updated with its photo yet.

Boston Logan Intl.

6Baltimore/Washington

KBWI · simulator only, for now

KBWI ships with ATC Relay Host today but its web layout is still planned, not built. To fly or control it you need the desktop app running alongside Microsoft Flight Simulator; see the positions guide and setup guide to get that running.

7Austin

KAUS · simulator only, for now

Like KBWI, KAUS is a desktop-only airport right now; it is not yet in the list of web-capable airports. Use ATC Relay Host with Microsoft Flight Simulator to work it.

Ready to try one? The free Nashville demo needs no account. For the others, create a web session once you have signed in.