Over the New Year holiday weekend Avsim Managing Editor Maury Pratt had the opportunity to chat with Kevin Pollock, 35, a SATCAN controller with a most unusual story. Here is the conversation in which Kevin not only shares his experiences with flight simulation, but tells us why it's such an important part of his life.

AVSIM: Hi Kevin – and welcome to Avsim OnLine. Please tell us about your 'career' as a Controller at SATCAN. Daniel Boulay, Satcan Director - SATCAN1 and Falcon Airways Chief Executive Officer and Montreal Hub Commander – tells you are SATCAN's VA liaison officer. What are your duties as 'SATCAN20', and as a Controller?

Kevin: Well actually I joined Satcan before Dan took over as SATCAN1. I've been controlling for I believe close to a year and half now. I do the regular controllers duties of Clearance through Centre control, but my main love is the Approach position. For about the past 6-8 months I've also been an assistant instructor helping the newbies through S3 positions. SATCAN has a great team of instructors and its a pleasure to assist them in this way. SATCAN20 was my invented position.

I had scanned the VA web pages and saw who had and had no routes within Canada. So i asked Dan about a Liaison position to represent SATCAN to the VAs. He agreed and I became the latest member on the admin staff. I work with Bill, our very talented events coordinator. He arranges the SATCAN events and I promote them to the VAs. My other duties are to help the VAs organize their flyins within Canada, and to set up new routes and hubs. I also work with the FIR's and help them promote their events; i.e. the YWG Contest. So far its been going well.

AVSIM: We understand you also founded the Can Am VA with Cam Jones. What motivated you to do that, and how has Can Am met your expectations?

Kevin: Well Cam is the main man of this operation. He's one of my students at YYZ and I mentioned that Toronto needs to have its own little VA. The next thing I know Cam had Can Am under way as Toronto Kingdom Air. We weren't getting staff as a commuter airline, so we switched to a full North American company and changed the name. We now have 3 planes in the fleet and just opened our 2nd hub at CYVR with the main Hub at CYYZ. So for an airline that's been in operation less than half a year, we're pleased with the results. Of course staff are always welcome (contact the Can Am VA for information).

AVSIM: You mentioned that these roles have made you many great friendships. If it's not too personal, can you tell us how controlling with ProController has helped you as therapy in reducing anxiety? We'd think the stress of handling approaches to a busy airport would cause most folks more than a little anxiety <g>

Kevin: Yes, I have gained many friends on SATCAN and even met some in person. I'm hoping to meet more in Montreal this month on my vacation. Well, ATC is stressful—and yes, I get it during the flyins at times also. Back in school I was diagnosed as having panic attacks; it even made me finish high school by mail some 10 years later, but I did it.

Unfortunately I can't work due to this condition and I was forced to stay home. I got a computer and found the net. Not being able to work however, I started to feel useless to society. Then one day I discovered PC and SATCAN; I started to learn about ATC procedures and making new friends. As ATC was a job choice as a child, I was pleased and happy. It wasn't real but I felt useful to all the pilots—getting them in safely—and ever since I'm at the scope from 4-10 hours a day in CYYZ. I thank Randy, Harvey and all involved in forming SATCO and keeping it running—you don't know how much your work and efforts mean to me! Thank you all. Now thanks to them I'm useful, doing something I love and have made many great friends with the regulars at YYZ as well. One of them has over 1000 hrs flyin time, so salut mon ami Andre QBA17 on a job well done!

AVSIM: As it's obvious that flight simulation is more than just 'a hobby' with you—we're told you have a record 1000 hours online—so how do you find time for a living? How does spending so much time controlling affect your 'real' life?

Kevin: Well, my living is a disability pension as I mentioned above. To me this is my job and I love each minute; SATCAN and the people I work with here are a 2nd family to me. I think I just decided one day I wanted to try the ATC end of things—so I Joined SATCAN and the rest is history so they say. Yes I'm going to hit the 1000 hours officially by mid month. I may be there now but the count died along with the servers (a special thank you for getting them back online). I do have my other interests as well; I answer phones for a friend's limo firm while he's away and even manage a 15 year old male tenor. The funny thing is if I'm doing that on the phone my eyes are on the radar scope at the same time. I do like to get out when I can and eat out or go to the malls, but mainly I'm online in YYZ.

AVSIM: Kevin, thanks for sharing what makes flight and ATC simulation more than "just a game" for you. We're sure others reading this have found our hobby to be much more than a casual part of their lives—we'd like to hear from you! Please contact Maury Pratt if you or a friend has a story of unusual reasons for simming to share with AVSIM Online's readers.