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Voice commands

Keep this page open while you play. Nothing here is explained — for that, use Learn to control. For the same instructions by mouse, use Mouse and keys.

Applies to VoiceATC Simulator 0.6.1.24 — the current stable release. Anything marked New in … is not in it yet.

  • [brackets] — information you provide (callsign, waypoint, value).
  • (parentheses) — optional words. You may say them or skip them.
  • Italics — an example of what you actually say.

Beginner Start here. No air traffic control knowledge needed.

Standard Everyday controlling. Learn this after the basics.

Advanced Fine control. For experienced controllers.

LevelYou sayExampleWhat happens
Beginner[Callsign], (turn) left/right heading [heading]Iberia one two three four, turn right heading one three zeroTurns onto that heading and holds it.
Beginner[Callsign], continue present/current headingIberia one two three four, continue present headingKeeps its current heading.
Beginner[Callsign], (fly) direct [waypoint]Iberia one two three four, fly direct RULOSFlies straight to the waypoint.
Standard[Callsign], hold over [waypoint] (as published)Iberia one two three four, hold over NEPALFlies the published hold over that fix.
Advanced[Callsign], after [waypoint], (fly/turn) heading [heading]Iberia one two three four, after RULOS, fly heading one three zeroTurns onto the heading after passing the fix.
Advanced[Callsign], after [waypoint], (fly) direct [waypoint]Iberia one two three four, after CASPE, fly direct LOBARProceeds to the second fix after the first.
  • Heading, direct-to and hold are mutually exclusive — a new one replaces the old.
  • after [fix] defers only the next lateral instruction. Everything else in the call applies now.
  • Not in 0.6.1.24 In an after-direct clearance, the first waypoint must be ahead on route. The second can be any known waypoint.
  • Say hold explicitly. “Over NEPAL” alone does not start a holding pattern.

After vectoring, direct-to still recognizes every fix ahead in the aircraft’s stored flight plan. Not in 0.6.1.24

LevelYou sayExampleWhat happens
Beginner[Callsign], climb/descend (flight level/altitude) [value] (feet)Iberia one two three four, climb altitude five thousand feetClimbs or descends to that level. Add unrestricted to cancel altitude restrictions.
Standard[Callsign], expedite (climb/descent) (to) [value] · [Callsign], expedite (climb/descent), climb/descend [value] · [altitude clearance], expedite · expedite (climb/descent)Iberia one two three four, expedite descent, descend five thousand feetIncreases the climb or descent rate until level-off. Naming a level in the same call clears to it as well, whether you name it once or repeat the verb. Not in 0.6.1.24
Standard[Callsign], resume normal rate (of climb/descent) · expedite no longer requiredIberia one two three four, resume normal rate of descentBack to the normal climb or descent rate.
Advanced[Callsign], cross [route fix] at [altitude] · to be level by [route fix]Iberia one two three four, cross BAVAD at flight level one zero zeroReaches that level by the named forward route fix, then holds it.
Standard[Callsign], QNH [value] (hectopascals)Iberia one two three four, QNH one zero one sixPilot sets that QNH.
Standard[Callsign], altimeter [value]Iberia one two three four, altimeter two niner niner twoPilot sets that altimeter value.
  • Give a plain value: the game picks feet or flight level from the transition altitude.
  • A new plain altitude clearance cancels an active expedite.
  • A crossing fix must be ahead on the aircraft’s route, and the crossing must be achievable, or it is refused.
  • QNH for hectopascals, altimeter for inches.
LevelYou sayExampleWhat happens
Beginner[Callsign], speed [value] (knots)Iberia one two three four, speed two two zero knotsFlies that speed until told otherwise.
Standard[Callsign], speed mach decimal [value]Iberia one two three four, speed mach decimal seven eightFlies that Mach number.
Standard[Callsign], resume managed speed · speed at your discretionIberia one two three four, resume managed speedHands speed control back to the aircraft.
  • Say the Mach digits one at a time after mach decimal — “mach decimal seven eight” is Mach 0.78.
  • resume managed speed can make the aircraft speed up or slow down at once.
LevelYou sayExampleWhat happens
Standard[Callsign], cleared [STAR] arrivalIberia one two three four, cleared ADUXO two delta arrivalFlies that arrival route.
Standard[Callsign], cleared [STAR] arrival, expect runway [runway]Korean Air four two six, cleared OLMEN two echo arrival, expect runway three four rightFlies the runway-specific arrival branch and prepares the matching approach. Does not clear the approach.
Standard[Callsign], expect runway [runway]Iberia four nine india november, expect runway three two rightRe-plans the approach ahead only; never clears it.
Advanced Not in 0.6.1.24[Callsign], expect [published visual name] (approach) runway [runway]Iberia one two three four, expect Park Visual runway three oneRemembers the named visual; changes no flight path.
Standard[Callsign], cleared [transition] transitionIberia one two three four, cleared RULOSO one whiskey transitionFlies that feeder toward the approach.
Standard[Callsign], cleared (ILS) approach runway [runway]Iberia one two three four, cleared ILS approach runway two four leftMay join and fly the approach.
Standard[Callsign], cleared RNAV/RNP approach runway [runway]Iberia one two three four, cleared RNAV approach runway two twoFlies the published RNAV approach, curved final segments included.
Advanced[Callsign], cleared RNAV [letter] runway [runway]Iberia one two three four, cleared RNAV zulu runway two twoPicks that chart variant where a runway has more than one RNAV.
Standard Not in 0.6.1.24[Callsign], cleared [GLS/GPS/LOC/LOC back course/LDA/VOR/VOR DME/VORTAC/NDB/NDB DME] approach runway [runway]Iberia one two three four, cleared VOR DME approach runway two five leftFlies that exact published civil approach.
Advanced[Callsign], via [entry fix], cleared (ILS) approach runway [runway]Iberia one two three four, via LESBA, cleared ILS approach runway two four leftFlies the feeder fix, then the approach.
Standard Not in 0.6.1.24[Callsign], report runway [runway] in sightIberia one two three four, report runway two four left in sightRequests the matching visual sight report.
Standard Not in 0.6.1.24[Callsign], report [visual reference] in sight · advise when [visual reference] is in sightIberia one two three four, report the Twin White Tanks in sightTests that source-backed target; otherwise uses the runway.
Standard Not in 0.6.1.24[Callsign], cleared visual approach runway [runway]Iberia one two three four, cleared visual approach runway two four leftClears the generic managed visual path.
Advanced Not in 0.6.1.24[Callsign], cleared [published visual name] approachIberia one two three four, cleared River Visual approachClears the named charted visual route.
Standard Not in 0.6.1.24[Callsign], go around · execute (the) missed approachIberia one two three four, go aroundClimbs and flies the sourced missed route.
Advanced Not in 0.6.1.24[Callsign], go around, (fly) heading [heading], (climb and maintain [altitude])Iberia one two three four, go around, fly heading two six five, climb and maintain three thousandOverrides either missed guidance axis.
Advanced[Callsign], descend via [STAR] (to/except maintain [level]) · climb via [SID] (to [level])Iberia one two three four, descend via ADUXO two delta to flight level one zero zeroFollows the published restrictions, stopping at the level you name.
  • Vectors are not an approach clearance. Say cleared approach runway [runway] to clear it.
  • An arrival stops at its STAR clearance limit until a separate approach clearance is given.
  • expect runway on its own re-plans an arrival at any time. It changes only the route ahead, and leaves a hold, a vector, or an after the fix turn in place.
  • Say arrival for STARs and transition for approach feeders.
  • RNAV and RNP are interchangeable. Variant letters are the NATO words or the bare letter: zulu, yankee, xray, whiskey, victor, uniform.
  • Not in 0.6.1.24 Name the exact civil type when you need it. If that type or suffix is unavailable, the pilot refuses instead of choosing another one.
  • Not in 0.6.1.24 RNP AR needs the full procedure. It rejects vectors to final.
  • A visual clearance has two steps: request the sight report, then clear the visual after the aircraft reports it. A clearance sent first is refused.
  • Not in 0.6.1.24 expect [published visual name] remembers only that named procedure. It changes no route, guidance or altitude and grants no authority.
  • A named expectation can disambiguate a later short reference such as report the airport in sight. Explicit report runway [runway] in sight stays generic.
  • Named sight references are source-backed physical targets. Seeing one airport, runway, landmark or route never counts as seeing another.
  • A short natural reference may label a generic request. It never creates a landmark position or authorizes a named visual procedure.
  • The immediate reply is in sight or will report in sight, followed by the callsign. The pilot never repeats the reference.
  • A named forward-route visual may join a safe published segment ahead after sight is reported. It will not turn backward, skip a required arc or cross protected airspace to make the join.
  • Bare go around follows the selected instrument miss or that visual’s own charted instructions. An unsourced visual needs a heading or altitude.
  • A below-current go-around altitude is unable. The aircraft still climbs on the safe resolved target.
  • Not in 0.6.1.24 Circling/unresolved, TACAN-only, FMS, IGS, MLS and SDF approaches remain unavailable.
LevelYou sayExampleWhat happens
Standard[Callsign], contact tower / center / radarIberia one two three four, contact towerPilot changes frequency and leaves you.
Standard[Callsign], contact [facility] (on/frequency) [frequency]Iberia one two three four, contact approach on one one niner decimal one zero fiveUses the published frequency, reads it back and hands off.
  • A facility-only handoff keeps working as before.
  • If you say a frequency, it must match that facility in the current published radio data. If it was unclear, unpublished, or belongs to another facility, the pilot asks for the frequency and does not perform a facility-only handoff. Other independent instructions in the same call can still be accepted.
LevelYou sayExampleWhat happens
Standard[Callsign], disregard · cancel · negativeIberia one two three four, disregardCancels the last instruction, within about ten seconds.
Standard[Callsign], negative/correction, [new clearance]Iberia one two three four, correction, descend flight level one two zeroApplies the new clearance instead of cancelling.
Advanced[Callsign], negative, that was for [callsign]Iberia one two three four, negative, that was for Air Europa two zero fiveMoves the last clearance to the intended aircraft.
  • The undo window is about ten seconds. After that, give a new clearance instead.
  • negative, that was for [callsign] moves the clearance — the first aircraft does not fly it.

Chains — several instructions in one call

Section titled “Chains — several instructions in one call”

Up to five instructions per transmission, spoken in the order they are flown. The pilot reads the whole chain back.

LevelYou sayExampleWhat happens
Advanced[Callsign], descend [value], (turn) heading [heading], speed [value]Iberia one two three four, descend flight level one zero zero, turn left heading two seven zero, speed two one zeroThree instructions, flown in order.
Advanced[Callsign], (fly) direct [waypoint], cleared (ILS) approach runway [runway]Iberia one two three four, fly direct LESBA, cleared approach runway two four leftDirect to the fix, then cleared for the approach.
Advanced Not in 0.6.1.24[Callsign], (turn) heading [heading], cleared (ILS) approach runway [runway]Iberia one two three four, turn left heading one eight zero, cleared approach runway two four leftFlies the vector first, then arms the approach clearance.
Advanced[Callsign], after [waypoint], (fly) direct [waypoint], cleared (ILS) approach runway [runway]Iberia one two three four, after CASPE, fly direct LOBAR, cleared ILS approach runway two four rightAfter the first fix: direct, then approach clearance.
Advanced[Callsign], after [waypoint], (fly/turn) heading [heading], cleared (ILS) approach runway [runway]Iberia one two three four, after RULOS, turn left heading one eight zero, cleared ILS approach runway two four leftAfter the fix: onto the intercept heading, already cleared.
  • Only one lateral instruction per chain — heading, direct-to and hold exclude each other.
  • after [fix] can also prefix an altitude instruction inside a chain.
  • When a vector and approach clearance share one transmission, the aircraft establishes the vector before it arms the approach. The clearance remains pending rather than turning the aircraft straight toward final. Not in 0.6.1.24
You sayWhen
affirmThe pilot asked you to confirm a waypoint, arrival, transition or runway and was right.
negativeIt was wrong — then say the correct name.
the name againFastest correction: just repeat the waypoint or procedure clearly.
the whole clearance againAlso works — restate it with the right value and it is applied straight away.
NATO spellingIf the pilot asks can you spell that waypoint?, spell it — bravo india sierra bravo alpha for BISBA.

Exact NATO spelling works for real three- and five-character fixes or VORs in the current sector. Unknown identifiers still trigger clarification.

Not in 0.6.1.24

A completely different command also works as an answer — the question steps aside and the new instruction is flown. Each spoken question restarts your answer window.

  1. Callsign first, always, then the instructions.
  2. Spell unfamiliar fixes phoneticallybravo lima four six one for BL461.
  3. Three instructions or fewer per call is the most reliable.
  4. Say “hold” explicitly to start a holding pattern.
  5. Commands only work on assumed aircraft. Otherwise COM answers SYS: The aircraft is not assumed. — middle-click the aircraft first.

Mouse and keys

Everything you can say, you can click. The popups use the same clearance and readback path as voice, and they work with voice recognition turned off.

Applies to VoiceATC Simulator 0.6.1.24 — the current stable release. Anything marked New in … is not in it yet.

ActionControlWhat it does
Talkhold CONTROLHold while speaking, then release after your final word. Tightly released final syllables stay protected.
Assume or release an aircraftmiddle-clickTake or give up control of it.
Pan the map, move a panelleft-dragNot in 0.6.1.24 The radar follows the pointer directly with no inertia and stops on release. Panels move directly.
Move an aircraft labelright-dragRepositions that label.
Zoommouse wheel or precision scrollNot in 0.6.1.24 Zooms toward the pointer. Text and symbols rescale in the same frame.
Zoom from the bottom bar / + beside the NM readoutNot in 0.6.1.24 Changes range around the radar centre; + widens the view. The readout shows your current range. Useful for finding traffic that calls from outside the current view.
Route previewTABShows or hides the selected aircraft’s route. Works while you hold CONTROL to talk. Not in 0.6.1.24
Vertical profileShift+VOpens the selected aircraft’s profile.
Learned voice panelShift+KReview, disable, forget or reset learned pronunciations.
Command panel° or ºOpens the slash-command console.
PauseEscapeOpens the pause menu.

Rebind any of these in Settings → Controls. Both ° and º open the command panel, for Spanish keyboard layouts.

The three popups open from the aircraft’s own label — click its WPT, AFL or IRT cell. The aircraft must be assumed.

  • Single click selects. Double-click or Enter sends a list choice.
  • SEND sends an altitude or contact choice.
  • Esc or CLOSE closes without sending anything.
  • Only one popup is open at a time.
LevelYou doSame as sayingResult
StandardPick from the heading list, or type a heading and L/Rturn left heading two seven zeroTurns onto that heading.
StandardClick Present Headingcontinue present headingKeeps its current heading.
StandardPick from the DCT list — route fixes first, type to searchfly direct RULOSFlies straight to that fix.
StandardPick from the HOLD listhold over NEPALHolds over that fix.
StandardPick from the ROUTE list: SID, STAR, transition or named climbcleared ADUXO two delta arrivalFlies that procedure. A named climb such as JFK5 shows only the aircraft’s assigned climb.
StandardPick from the IAP list, then double-click or Entercleared ILS approach runway two four leftClears the approach with no feeder transition. The list follows the active arrival runway and shows its real approach types.
Standard Not in 0.6.1.24Select VISUAL RWY, then use the visual cardreport runway two four left in sightClick REPORT RUNWAY… IN SIGHT, wait, then click CLEAR VISUAL RWY….
Advanced Not in 0.6.1.24Select a named visual, choose SIGHT REFERENCE, then use the visual cardreport the Twin White Tanks in sightPreselects the charted default; choosing another target sends nothing.
Standard Not in 0.6.1.24Use the go-around card below the selected approachgo aroundClick GO AROUND when the card says PUBLISHED MISSED or CHARTED GO-AROUND. Use CUSTOM… for heading, altitude, or both. An unsourced visual requires one field.
StandardToggle a CONTACT facility (Tower / Center), then Sendcontact towerHands the aircraft off.
AdvancedOpen AFTER, type a fix, then pick a heading or directafter RULOS, fly heading one three zeroDefers the lateral instruction until the fix.
AdvancedClear a heading or direct-to first, then pick from the IAP listturn left heading one eight zero, cleared approach runway two four leftThe two-step approach join.
LevelYou doSame as sayingResult
StandardPick from the altitude list or type a value, then SENDdescend flight level one zero zeroClimbs or descends. Feet or flight level is chosen from the transition altitude.
StandardTick Unrestricted before SENDdescend flight level one zero zero, cancel altitude restrictionsAdds the restriction cancellation.
StandardClick QNHQNH one zero one sixSends the current session altimeter setting.
StandardClick DISREGARDdisregardCancels the last instruction.
AdvancedPick from the VIA list (STAR descend / SID climb), then SENDdescend via ADUXO two delta arrivalCommits a descend-via or climb-via clearance.
LevelYou doSame as sayingResult
StandardPick from the speed listspeed two two zero knotsFlies that speed.
StandardPick a Mach value (.60–.85)speed mach decimal seven eightFlies that Mach number.
StandardClick RESUME NORMAL SPEEDresume managed speedHands speed back to the aircraft.
StandardClick DISREGARDdisregardCancels the last instruction.

Press ° or º. Commands start with /. Tab accepts a suggestion, Up/Down walk the history, Enter submits, Esc closes.

CommandWhat it does
/spawn origin=LEMD destination=LEBL flight_fraction=0.9Adds one flight on that route.
/delete callsign=IBE1234 · /delete IBE1234Removes that aircraft.