This is one of the best VATSIM events out there.Check out the site and sign up for a flight here --> www.eleventhstreet.com/flyin_all.asp?event_id=1

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8th INSTALLMENT OF CALIFORNIA SCREAMIN' SERIES ANNOUNCEDVATUSA's most popular event gets 'As real as it gets' againApril 6, 2003 - Los Angeles and Oakland, CA - Today, representatives from the Los Angeles and Oakland ARTCC's announced the 8th intallment of the very popular California Screamin' Series to be held Sunday, May 18th, 2003. Popularly known as "CalScream," VATUSA's largest online event hopes to smash previous online records by attracting traffic to the extremely realistic environment CalScream creates.From 1800z to 2330z, aircraft will be travelling across the ZLA and ZOA skies in many directions at once. Unlike most events in VATUSA, this should be called a "Fly-Around" instead of a "Fly-In." CalScream mimmicks real-world traffic to the point that if you're signed up for United Flight 2356 from PSP to LAS and your pushback time is 1235 local, you can bet that the real United 2356 is pushing back at the same time. As a pilot, you can expect to have multiple traffic advisory calls from many different directions enroute to your destination. "We try to bring a little more realism to a virtual environment by offering more than the usual number of origins and destinations," said ZLA Chief David Hendleman. "Following the same con-trail for your entire flight can, at times, be very boring and this event gives the pilots a chance to enjoy many things they wouldn't normally experience in a virtual environment."Pilots can expect to encounter many methods of air traffic management utilized by Air Traffic Controllers to safely guide planes from one place to another. Such methods include: vectors for traffic, altitude and speed restrictions, holding patterns, sequencing, parallel approaches, and land-and-hold-short operations, among others. "We spend a lot of time training our guys to handle events like CalScream and I think the pilots will be pleased with the services provided by our controllers," said ZOA Chief Jim Bartosh. "We look forward to these events as much, if not more, than the pilots do. We're very excited about CalScream 8."Pilots are encouraged to sign up via the "Flight Registration Board" provided by 11'th Street Technologies. There are more than enough flights for everyone and pilots are encouraged to create a shuttle route for themselves. "During CalScream 7, I signed up for and flew four flights starting in PSP and going to destinations LAX, SBA, SFO and ending up in RNO," said pilot Dan Baker. "You just get into it and you want to keep on going. The air traffic services are so realistic."In addition to reserving flights, the flight board serves as a pilot's resource center providing all flight details, routing information and charts. Last minute traffic is also welcome, however, pilots are encouraged to sign up via the flightboard.

In case anyone is having doubts about how "real" this event is, trust me, it can be "TO real"! The last big event in the Oakland and LA areas was the cross the pacific event. Want to know how real that was? I had a 45min delay waiting for an oceanic entry slot on the ground at LAX. Other pilots on the ground were also having long holds. We kept private messaging to each other that this is to bloody realistic. And during CalScream 7, myself and about 6 other aircraft were put into 20+ minute holds coming from SFO/OAK area to LAX. Finally we were all told that it would be another 30min or we could divert to other fields. Needless to say, we found other fields. The only downside I have found is that I know the real world SoCAl could handle the traffic but with Roger Wilco getting so bogged down, I don't think it is possible to get proper sequencing to get a nice "string of pearls" type flows going. That and pilots approaching the OM at 250kts and 2000ft above the GS screwing everything up causing go arounds which causes the inevitable always reliable CalScream signature phrase "DAL483, enter a hold at the XYZ VOR as SoCal has stopped accepting handoffs, expect a 20 to 30min hold".

Eric,A word of advice for you and others - if you don't want "delays", try not to fly into or out of LAX or SFO. Those two fields (although handled by skilled controllers) are jam packed. Try flying Sacramento - Burbank, Ontario - Oakland, or Las Vegas - Reno. I absolutely guarantee you that no matter what route you fly - you will have traffic above you, below you, left to right, etc, etc.As for the cross the pacific event - there were people waiting for 45 minute gate holds at LAX while at SFO the only ammended Oceanic Clearance I gave out all day (The Oceanic controllers were giving out the Pushback times to Delivery) was an altitude change when ACA332 and AAL327 called for clnc at the same time, same altitude.Holding and long waits are actually NOT inevitable. The whole point of the event is to break AWAY from the old school flyin where you fly 2000nm staring up someone else's APU only to hold for 40 minutes before being handed off to Paris approach who is totally in over his head - hey wait this was supposed to be a generic example...Anyhow - take Eric's advice. Show up and fly. I urge you to SIGN UP on the flightboard for one of the flights. You get a full routing package AND links to all the charts you need. Fly whatever callsign and aircraft type you want (767 of course!). Those flights were carefully crafted to create the most realistic flow of traffic possible.http://www.oakartcc.orgI'm scheduled to work NorCal departure for the event, so if you depart out of Oakland or San Francisco you can expect to hear me putting you on course (and expecting you to understand your chart - heh).

Fantastic Event that WILL TEST YOUR SKILLS believe me. Not one for the newbees and certainly not one to check in with approach by giving a 2 minute discription of your position, where you were born, and how you have multi monitors configured.I highly recommend following Ian's advice and giving Sacramento - Burbank, Ontario - Oakland, or Las Vegas - Reno a chance. All are sure to offer plenty of excitment. And if you have never landed there, the approach into San Jose is very interesting, just be careful not to get one dot low and one dot right on the approach.Have fun, I know I will.

Ian, Yes, maybe I will TIPP TOE into SFO this time. :hah Although with Simflyers LAS release, I think there is going to be alot of a/c going to/from there.>>The whole point of the event is to break AWAY from the old school flyin where you fly 2000nm staring up someone else's APU only to hold for 40 minutes before being handed off to Paris approach who is totally in over his head - hey wait this was supposed to be a generic example...<

LAS Traffic? SWEET!For all of you who are going there, you will be talking to me on Vegas Approach. I know you're all PICers, but if you fly something 757 or under, you might find yourself flying right traffic over the strip, just a thought =P. I hope many of you fly into Las Vegas (I promise no holds). See ya thereAndy CleeremansZLA Chief-InstructorFrequent PIC Flyer

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