Free online ATC simulator: your first KSAN shift
ProjectATC puts you on the controller side of the frequency. At KSAN, you read the weather, choose the active runway, issue instructions, listen to pilot readbacks and keep aircraft separated. You can repeat a short shift in your browser without installing a client.
ProjectATC is built around one continuous airport operation. A departure can begin with Clearance Delivery, push with Ground, use the runway with Tower and then climb through Departure. Arrivals make the opposite trip from Approach to Tower and Ground.
What you control
The five positions divide the work, but every instruction affects the next controller:
| Position | Main job | A first skill to practise |
|---|---|---|
| Clearance Delivery | Build the IFR clearance | Route, altitude, frequency and squawk |
| Ground | Move aircraft between stands and runways | Taxi routes and hold-short instructions |
| Tower | Protect the runway | Landing, takeoff and go-around decisions |
| Departure | Climb and sequence outbound traffic | Headings, altitudes and Center handoffs |
| Approach | Build an orderly arrival sequence | Speed control and final intercepts |
You do not need to work all five at once. Start with one. The other positions can handle their part of the flight while you learn the calls and timing at your desk.
Run your first ten minutes at KSAN
- Use a recent desktop browser and turn on sound.
- Create a free account or sign in, open KSAN and select Tower. If you want prompts for each action, choose Guided Aerodrome.
- Keep the traffic level low and use a short session.
- Read the METAR and confirm which runway is active.
- Answer one aircraft at a time; check every readback before moving on.
Watch the traffic list and runway before transmitting. An arrival may be on final while a departure waits at the holding point. Decide which aircraft gets the runway first; the contextual buttons show valid instructions for the selected aircraft. For example:
The pilot reads the clearance back. If the runway, altitude, heading or squawk is wrong, correct it before issuing another instruction. That listening loop is as important as moving targets on the scope.
What is free
The free version is not a timed demo. A free account is required to start a session. KSAN remains available with Clearance, Ground, Tower, Departure and Approach. It includes live METAR, ATIS entry, current published FAA departures, spoken readbacks, the Daily Challenge, seven Career shifts and the normal session debrief.
Pro adds eleven more airports, the complete 30-shift Career, seeded scenarios, operational events and cloud history. You can decide later; the free airport does not expire.
What you need
- A desktop or laptop screen. The surface map, traffic strips and frequency log need room. A phone is too narrow for a useful controlling session.
- Sound. Pilot readbacks are part of the exercise. Headphones help, but are not required.
- A keyboard or mouse. You type instructions or use contextual buttons. A joystick and microphone are not needed.
- A current browser. Chrome, Edge and Safari provide the web features used by the sim.
How to improve after the first shift
Do not chase a high traffic count immediately. Pick one repeatable objective and compare the debrief after each attempt:
- catch every incorrect readback;
- finish a Tower session without a runway conflict;
- route every Ground movement without an unnecessary runway crossing;
- build an Approach sequence before aircraft reach short final;
- complete every handoff on the correct frequency.
The guides for CRAFT clearances, taxi instructions, Tower operations and ILS vectors give you a focused drill for each desk.
Where browser practice fits
A solo simulator is useful because it lets you pause, repeat a setup and see a debrief. It cannot reproduce coordination with real people or a facility's local procedures. ProjectATC is independent from VATSIM, IVAO and aviation authorities. It is not certified training and must not be used for real-world navigation.
Take the free desk at KSAN
Create a free account, then start with one position and low traffic. No install, card or time limit.