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vacs User Manual

vacs (/vɐks/), the VATSIM ATC Communication System, is a free, open-source voice communication system built specifically for VATSIM air traffic controllers. It provides a fast and easy way to communicate and coordinate with your neighbouring controllers - no extra TeamSpeak servers, no Discord, no extra accounts. Simply install the voice communication client, authenticate with your VATSIM account, and you're ready to go.

Why vacs?​

Whilst VATSIM provides a good radio communication system for controllers and pilots, there is no standardised way for controllers to communicate with each other. Ground-to-ground comms have traditionally relied on workarounds: shared TeamSpeak servers, Discord voice channels or VCS-like functionality built into radar clients.
vacs aims to solve this deficit by providing a purpose-built tool that works out of the box, is easy to use and usable by all controllers regardless of their remaining setup.

  • Low latency, high quality - voice is transmitted using the Opus codec over peer-to-peer WebRTC connections, meaning calls are crisp and clear with minimal delay, directly between you and the other controller without the need for a central server.
  • No extra credentials - you log in with your existing VATSIM account via VATSIM Connect. vacs never sees your password, and you don't need to create yet another account in a new system.
  • Works everywhere - vacs runs on Windows, Linux and macOS, and integrates with popular radio clients such as TrackAudio or Audio for VATSIM.
  • UI inspired by real-life - our interface takes inspiration from real-world ground-to-ground air traffic control coordination panels, so if you've seen the real thing, you'll feel right at home.

What vacs is not​

vacs is a coordination tool, not a replacement for the existing VATSIM radio system. It is also not intended to completely replace your current communication setup, but rather to complement it by providing a dedicated channel for coordination with neighbouring units.

Getting started​

If you're new to vacs, head over to the Installation guide to get up and running in no time.

If you have already installed vacs and want to learn how to use it or need a refresher, check the Interface overview or jump straight to Making a call.

Getting help​

If something isn't working as expected or you have any questions, the best places to go are: