EuroScope

Info

If you’re seeking a video tutorial on setting up Euroscope, installing our sector files, and getting ready to observe, check out our video here!

What is EuroScope?

EuroScope is a software application that allows members to provide air traffic control on the VATSIM network. It is the primary ATC client used by controllers worldwide.

How to Download Euroscope

Download EuroScope
- Visit the official EuroScope website: https://www.euroscope.hu/.
- Download the latest public release version 3.2.9.
Optional: Beta Version
- You may install the latest beta version at your discretion. Be aware that some beta builds may contain bugs that could affect controlling. Follow the recommendations in this guide to determine which beta version to use.

Setting up Euroscope

Initial Setup

Initial Setup (First Launch)
- Open EuroScope for the first time without loading any profiles.
- Navigate to Other Set (next to the Zulu clock).
- Untick the following options:
  - Auto load last profile on startup
  - Auto save profile on exit
- This ensures you can select a profile each time you start EuroScope instead of defaulting to the Hungary profile. You may now close Euroscope and proceed to the Sector File Installation.

Euroscope: Disabling Automatic Profile Loading & Saving

Sector File Installation

Download the Sector Files
- Sector files for the Arabian vACC are hosted on the AeroNav Association website (files.aero-nav.com):
- OMAE - U.A.E (files.aero-nav.com/OMAE)
- OTDF - Doha (files.aero-nav.com/OTDF)
- OOMM - Muscat (files.aero-nav.com/OOMM)
Install the Sector Files
- For first-time installation, download the Install-Package.
- Extract the files to a dedicated sector file folder (e.g., Documents/Euroscope/Sector Files).
- Create a new folder inside that directory with the FIR code (e.g., OMAE).

Explore the Extracted Files
- Profile Files (.prf): Found for each aerodrome, terminal, and enroute sector.
- Alias.txt File: Located in FIR CODE/Alias, containing shortcut commands for text communication.
- vATIS Profiles: Located in FIR CODE/Plugins/vATIS for the specific FIR.

Using the Sector Files

Load a Profile
- The sector file is "plug and play." Once extracted, open the desired profile to start observing.
- Profiles are organized by position:
  - Aerodrome Profiles: For Delivery, Ground, and Tower controllers. Includes AIR Radar and GMC Surface Movement Guidance and Control (SMGCS) displays.
  - Terminal Profiles: For Departure and Arrival controllers. Includes radar views for the terminal area and SMGCS displays for relevant aerodromes.
  - Area Profiles: For enroute controllers. Covers the entire FIR and SMGCS displays for all aerodromes.
  - Military Profiles: For military aerodromes in the FIR.
Switch Between Views
- Upon loading a profile, you will see the AIR Aerodrome View centered on the aerodrome you selected.
- To open the SMGCS Ground Display, press F1+2. This view shows the airport’s ground layout.
- To return to the AIR Aerodrome View, press F1+1.

Euroscope: SMGCS Aerodrome View — Euroscope: SMGCS Ground View F1+2

You’re now ready to start using EuroScope for observing or controlling on the VATSIM network. For further assistance, ask your questions in the Arabian vACC Discord in the Training-Text channel or the mentoring/instructor team.

Observing on the VATSIM Network with EuroScope

Before starting, ensure you have installed and set up an Audio for VATSIM client. Refer to the Audio Section in the Controller Software Setup section for details.

Connecting to the Network

Load a Profile
- Open the EuroScope profile for the position you want to observe (e.g., Aerodrome Dubai, Aerodrome Abu Dhabi, or Aerodrome Doha).
Connect to the Network
- Click the Connect button in the top-left corner of the screen.
- Fill out the connection dialog:
  - Replace <INITIALS> with your own initials (e.g., "CK" for Chriss Klosowski). Keep the _OBS suffix to indicate observer status.
  - Enter your Real Name as per the VATSIM Code of Conduct A4(b).
  - Input your VATSIM Certificate and Password.
  - Set Facility & Rating to Observer.
  - Select Server as Automatic.
- Click the Connect button at the bottom-left of the dialog.

Post-Connection
- Once connected, the connection dialog will disappear, and the Voice Communication Setup window will open. Close this window.
- If there is traffic in the area, aircraft will begin populating on your screen. You are now connected!
- If no traffic is visible despite activity in the area you're observing, type .vis <ICAO> (e.g., .vis OMDB) in the command line at the bottom and press Enter. This will center your visibility point on the selected aerodrome.
- To populate the different lists, select the active runways at the aerodrome you are observing using the runway selection dialog.
- If the full taxiways, intermediate holding points, runway holding points, or stands are not visible (as intended), follow these steps in order to see them. You may need to zoom in to "activate" their display:
  - Open the grey Ground Radar Plugin menu.
  - Navigate to FUNCTIONS -> Maps.
  - Select the aerodrome you are observing.
  - Change the items you want from AUTO to ON.

Ground Radar Plugin: Turning on Taxiways, Intermediate holding points, runway holding points, and stands

Listening to Active Frequencies

To listen to an active position, you must connect to the Audio for VATSIM service using either Audio for VATSIM or Track Audio.

Using Audio for VATSIM

Open Audio for VATSIM and click Connect.
Your active callsign (e.g., CK_OBS) will appear above the + button with a frequency of 199.998.
To select a frequency:
- Click the + button below your active callsign.
- Enter the callsign of the station you want to listen to (e.g., OMDB_1_GND) and press Enter.
- The frequency will appear below your active callsign.
Press the RX button to start listening to the selected frequency.
When a transmission occurs:
- The RX button will turn orange.
- The last transmitting callsign will display at the top of your window.
To add another frequency, click the + button and repeat the process.

Audio for VATSIM Client: Connecting Online

Audio for VATSIM Client: Adding a Position

Audio for VATSIM Client: Receiving on a Frequency

Using Track Audio

Open Track Audio and click Connect.
Your active callsign (e.g., CK_OBS) will display at the top of the window.
To listen to a frequency:
- Under Add a Station, enter the callsign of the station you want to monitor (e.g., OMDB_1_GND) and click Add.
- The frequency will appear in the list.
- Press the RX button to begin listening.
When a transmission occurs:
- The RX button will turn orange.
- The last transmitting callsign will display at the top of the window.
To monitor another frequency, click the + button in the top-left corner and repeat the process.

Track Audio Client: Receiving on a Frequency

Important

Ensure the station you wish to monitor is active and online.
If you do not hear transmissions, it may mean there are no active transmissions on the frequency at that time.

You’re now set up to observe and listen to live ATC on the VATSIM network!

Euroscope Functionalities

Comprehensive functionality and documentation are available at EuroScope Documentation.

In this menu, you'll find options to modify the core EuroScope sector file and displays. Clicking OPEN allows you to choose from a variety of pre-configured ASR Displays located in the FIR CODE/ASR folder. Load Sector File will reload the .sct file, which contains all navigation and airspace data for the FIR.

In this menu, you'll find options to save the profile (.prf), save your settings, and access various configuration options.

General Settings: Page 1: Here, you can adjust options like the display, tags, and miscellaneous settings.
General Settings: Page 2: This allows you to edit the ASR display fast keys (e.g., F1+1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9).
Display Settings: Choose what to display on the screen and control the display rotation. However, if everything is drawn via TopSky Maps, you can only adjust the rotation, not the content displayed.
Symbology Settings: Customize the colors seen on the screen, though note that some symbology is controlled by plugins, not EuroScope.
Plugins Dialog: View the currently active plugins.
Active Airport/Runway Selection: Select the active runway(s) for departure and arrival. You can also open this menu by clicking the Runway icon next to the Quick Set menu.

In this menu, you can choose which lists are displayed on your screen and customize their setup.

Runway Selection Dialog

Select the active runway(s) for departure and arrival. You can also open this menu by clicking the Runway icon next to the Quick Set menu.

Window Positioning

Right-clicking the maximize button lets you adjust the window positioning of EuroScope.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Keys	Parameters	Action
F2	+ 4 letter ICAO Code(s)	Add/Remove METARs
F3	+ Click Aircraft Tag OR Hover Aircraft Tag	Track Aircraft/Accept Handoff
F4	+ Click Aircraft Tag OR Hover Aircraft Tag	Drop Aircraft/Reject Handoff/Initiate Handoff
F5	+ Altitude (hundreds) + Click Aircraft Tag	Change Final Altitude (Flight plan altitude)
F6		Show Flight Strip for current aircraft
F7		Cycle through open Radar Views
F8	+ Altitude (hundreds) + Click Aircraft Tag	Change Temporary Assigned Altitude
F9	+ V/R/T + Click Aircraft Tag	Set the Communication Type (Voice/Receive/Text)
F11		Zoom In Radar
F12		Zoom Out Radar

Keys	Command	Parameters	Action
F1 + A	.am	+ Click Aircraft Tag	Amend Flight Plan
F1 + C	.chat	+ Click Aircraft Tag	Open Chat Window
F1 + D	.distance	+ Click Aircraft Tag + Click Aircraft Tag/Point	Displays a continually updated distance between aircraft and/or point
F1 + F	.find	+ Type any Aircraft/Fix	Display line from center of screen to that point
F1 + P	.point	+ Controller ID + Click Aircraft Tag	Highlights the specified aircraft on the specified controllers screen
F1 + S	.sep	+ Click Aircraft Tag + Click Aircraft Tag	Displays continually updated prediction of closest point between aircraft
F1 + 0			Close the current ASR view
F1 + 1 to 9			Opens the pre-defined ASR views defined in General Settings, Page 2

Frequently Asked Questions

I don't see any aircraft

EuroScope cannot automatically determine the aerodrome you want to observe. Set a visibility center for your desired airfield by typing .vis <ICAO> (e.g., .vis OMDB).

I don't see any data in the lists

When observing, EuroScope cannot identify your area of interest. You must manually select the active runways using the runway selection dialog.

I don't see tags for aircraft on the ground

This is an intended feature. Tags will appear once an aircraft's ground status is set to "ON FREQ" and it is squawking its code. If you wish to view all tags (though unrealistic), go to the Ground Radar Plugin menu (grey bar), click on Settings -> Labels, and untick NoState.

I accidently closed my METAR, how do I get it back?

type in .qd or press F2 followed by the ICAO of the airport