This month, we proudly celebrate 25 years since the concept of “Visual Vectoring” was first envisioned by our founder, Ainslie Rowland, as a framework for teaching surveillance ATC.
By 2004, this vision had become a reality with the development of VVApproach, which was officially introduced to the ATC community at the IFATCA conferences in Hong Kong (2004) and Melbourne (2005).
Pictured above in authentically blurry Melbourne are (left to right) Ainslie Rowland, Managing Director Michael Rowland, and Chairman Bob Shaw.
We also extend our sincere thanks to Juri Strante and Sue Keating (pictured below) for providing the voice-overs for the original VVApproach product. Their contribution played an important role in bringing the program to life.
Student Insights and Self-Assessment Through ATC Simulation
Posted: 19 November 2025
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The academic year has wrapped up at the University of South Australia, where 48 Aerospace Management students used our training software as part of their practical ATC coursework. Thanks to Visual Vectoring’s on-demand simulation capability, students were able not only to complete the 24 hours of scheduled simulation but also to continue practising from home. Some of the most dedicated students logged more than forty hours of realistic surveillance simulation.
Course feedback was strongly positive: over 80% of respondents described the training content as engaging and the simulation environment as suitably challenging. Our analysis also shows a clear trend—students who invested additional time in practice achieved stronger outcomes. It was also interesting to see students report that the experience gave them greater clarity about their personal suitability for ATC training. The simulations helped many confirm their interest and aptitude, while also providing others with the valuable insight that this career path may not be the right fit for them.
We look forward to supporting academic staff as they transition to Adelaide University in the new year. Our thanks go to Paul Lee and Hien Ha for their ongoing support and valuable feedback.
Future Aviation Professionals Honored at PATTS 56th Commencement Exercises
Posted: 20 August 2025
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This week, PATTS College of Aeronautics celebrated its 56th Commencement Exercises at the SMX Convention Center in Manila. A remarkable 853 graduates were conferred their degrees in the presence of their families, friends, faculty, and distinguished guests—an audience of over 3,500 attendees.
Visual Vectoring is honored to have been a proud partner of PATTS for more than a decade. Our Managing Director, Michael Rowland, along with other partners of PATTS (below) was privileged to share a message of support and congratulations during the ceremony.
Congratulations to the Class of 2025. Best wishes for wherever life may take you, as your dreams take flight.
UniSA Aviation Students Take Flight with Hands-On ATC Training
Posted: 28 July 2025
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The University of South Australia has launched the latest delivery of its Air Space Management course using Visual Vectoring’s VVSIM simulator. As a popular elective, the course gives students practical exposure to radar-based air traffic control and helps them explore ATC as a potential career path within the aviation sector.
Students gain a realistic understanding of ATC operations through a combination of supervised lab sessions and independent practice via remote access. This is a rich and dynamic learning opportunity that offers a refreshing alternative to conventional academic formats.
Developed in partnership with Visual Vectoring, the courseware is based on the VVEnroute program and includes custom exercises aligned with UniSA’s learning objectives. The 2025 rollout includes an updated simulator version, performance feedback, and integrated assessment tools. Students benefit from expert instruction, flexible access, and exposure to industry-relevant tools and procedures used by air traffic professionals around the world.
The Visual Vectoring development team has released a new version of the VVsimTM ATC Simulator. Version 8.12.80 provides enhancements with support for:
Customised scoring rubrics
Use of AI for phrase recognition
Online Text to Speech and Speech to Text services
Video recording of simulator sessions with playback available through the ControlZone LMS
Optimisation of data transfer to and from the cloud
The latest update strengthens our on-demand ATC simulation platform with improved features, reliability, and true anytime availability. Contact us for more details.
Harnessing GPT and Web Speech for Smarter ATC Simulations
Posted: 2 May 2025
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The Visual Vectoring development team is leveraging AI and web speech technologies in two key projects: the VVSIM ATC simulator and a new app tailored for task-based ATC refresher training.
The new training app uses GPT-based AI to present custom scenarios that prompt controllers to apply checklists and resolve complex situations—ranging from VFR above cloud and instrument failure to engine fires and more. With input from local experts, each scenarios could be completely customisable to enhance outcomes in refresher and recurrent training at low cost.
A working prototype is nearing completion, and early results are promising. Contact us if you would like to see the tool in action.
“More aspiring air traffic controllers than ever trained with Visual Vectoring in 2024—our biggest year yet! Over 2,700 students completed over 64,000 training hours using our on-demand ATC simulation.
In 2025, we’re taking things even further: more advanced sim capabilities, deeper reporting insights, and a new ways for students to practice real-world scenarios.
If you’re training the next generation of ATCs, let’s connect!
Strengthening Partnerships in ATC Training Innovation: Visual Vectoring and CAUC
Posted: 14 January 2025
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It is always a pleasure to meet with our long-standing partners at the Civil Aviation University of China (CAUC), with whom Visual Vectoring has collaborated since 2017. During our recent visit, discussions centered on the innovative new training system, TULIP (Task-based Ultra Learning Intelligent Platform), which is being implemented across universities and operational sites throughout China.
TULIP is the creation of Master Yongxin Liu (pictured above second from left, alongside Teacher Brian Zhao, Visual Vectoring Managing Director Michael Rowland, and Ivy Liu from Beijing Connected Vision Technology). Master Liu shared insights into the platform’s development, explaining how his classroom observations revealed that younger students, accustomed to technology-driven environments, often struggled with traditional learning methods. Determined to address this, he spearheaded the creation of TULIP in collaboration with fellow CAUC academics.
The TULIP platform offers an adaptive community learning environment, leveraging a variety of data collection methods to tailor educational experiences to individual preferences. In the field of ATC training, TULIP’s associated technologies enable students to collaborate effectively and build meaningful connections with experienced air traffic controllers.
At Visual Vectoring, we are exploring opportunities to integrate our standalone training and simulation solutions with the TULIP API. We look forward to collaborating with Master Liu and the experts at CAUC to enhance aviation training experiences further.
Last week, the Visual Vectoring team met with Dean Yang Qichang and Madam Professor Wu at the Civil Aviation Flight University of China (CAFUC) in Guanghan, Sichuan Province. The meeting focused on the continued integration of Visual Vectoring technology into CAFUC’s air traffic control (ATC) training programs.
Pictured below (left to right) are ATC Instructors Mr. Guo and Mr. Zuo Haiqing, Visual Vectoring Managing Director Michael Rowland, and Dean Yang Qichang.
CAFUC is in the process of relocating its ATC training delivery to a new, state-of-the-art campus near Chengdu Tianfu International Airport. This move will involve transferring all simulation and teaching resources to the new facility.
Visual Vectoring has been collaborating with CAFUC since 2011, and this visit is likely our final one to the iconic Guanghan campus (pictured below). We look forward to continuing our partnership and reconnecting with the CAFUC team at their new campus in Tianfu in 2025.
Students at the University of South Australia recently completed their Air Space Management subject, logging 1500+ hours of Air Traffic Control simulation—an average of over 24 hours per student over the semester. The practical component of the subject, based on the VV Enroute (VVE) course, enables students to develop real skills and provides unique insight into the world of ATC decision making. VVE is the ideal offering to enrich University/College modules and is designed as a foundational trainer in ATC training courses.
Most of the simulation activity at UniSA took place in the on-campus computer lab, where an expert ATC instructors would supervise each session, monitoring and guiding up to 18 students at a time. Below, you can see Rod Brown offering personalised feedback to a group of students. Some students took advantage of the remote delivery capability, using their own computers at home. One dedicated student completed more than 50 hours of simulation using this learning mode.
Now in its second year, Visual Vectoring technology has become a valued part of the undergraduate program at UniSA. Special thanks go to Dr. Paul Lee for facilitating the program, and to Don Gyles and Rod Brown, both former controllers, for delivering it. We look forward to working together next year.
