Playing from the control tower?

[Alex-1968]

I was looking into FSX program folders and I discovered that there are many textures of a control tower panel.
They are here: ..\SimObjects\Misc\ControlTower

They are very detailed with instruments, labels, lights and all. Does it mean that we can play ATS? What did I miss?

[pegger]

Only works in multiplayer. You can't control AI aircraft.

However, you can sit and watch the action in single player from the control tower, including monitoring the various ATC frequencies and watching the aircraft on the scope.

This takes a little bit of set up though.

First, Host a multiplayer session and put yourself in the control tower. No need to worry about anybody joining, as that's not required.
Next, save the flight.
Then close the session, and open the saved flight in single player mode.

You should be now sitting in the control tower, and able to watch AI aircraft do their thing. You can't control anything though. Only watch and listen.

The amount of AI traffic will depend on how you have your traffic sliders set, and what airport you are at.

[garymbuska]

If you really want to be able to control aircraft than you need to look into VATSIM there you can train to be a ATC controller where you actually can see and control traffic at a airport and you can even advance to become a Air Traffic Controller and control huge areas and all of the traffic that is in it.
I have to caution you though you have to learn ATC terminology like how to call a aircraft EXAMPLE you have a Aircraft that has a tail sign that reads N12349 You have to call it November 1234Niner. So you need to know the phonetic alphabet you know Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta and so forth. But it is a blast
One other note they really prefer that you have at least two monitors as it makes it easier to do this.
But you will have complete control of every aircraft that is on the ground
There are three stages to ATC
Ground controller
Tower controller
and Air traffic Controller
The ground and tower controllers sit in the control tower at a airport
The Ground controller is the person that will approve flight plans and advise pilots of weather conditions at the airport and will have to know all of the SIDS if any that are used at the airport they are at.
The tower controller is responsible for all movement of aircraft on the ground. They need to know all of the taxi ways and runways and clear all aircraft to land and take off
The ATC controller is usually in a different location and is responsible for all air craft in a huge area.

[Alex-1968]

Only works in multiplayer. You can't control AI aircraft.

I checked it out, thank you. Looks like that nobody is using FSX Multiplayer anymore though. I tried to connect to those servers still available but, whether they're password protected or I can't join, even if there's no password needed.

If you really want to be able to control aircraft than you need to look into VATSIM

I didn't want to go that further with ATC, anyway thank's!