KSAN is free · no card

Practice air traffic control on your own.

Choose an airport, the positions you want to work and a traffic level. Type clearances and instructions; pilots answer through the browser. Work Clearance, Ground, Tower, Departure or Approach, then review the session debrief.

▸ Open KSAN free
5 controller positions at KSAN No install or voice credits Typed instructions · spoken readbacks
Radio

Pilots answer. Some readbacks are wrong.

Pilot speech uses the browser's built-in Web Speech API. It does not call a paid voice service or consume credits. About 12% of readbacks contain an error, such as a wrong squawk, runway, altitude or heading. Correct it with "negative", or the aircraft will act on what it read back.

"standby" parks any call "continue" holds the approach
◈ Frequency — 118.300 TWR● REC
Daily challenge The same traffic, weather and objectives for everyone each day. Today's leaderboard
Interface

A JFK session as it appears in the browser.

This screenshot shows the tower view during a session: the JFK surface layout, flight strips, radio log and approach inset. The controls shown here are the controls used in the simulator.

KJFK · TOWER SESSIONSCREENSHOT
Real ProjectATC session at KJFK: ground radar with taxiing traffic on the real taxiway network, approach inset, flight strips and a radio log full of graded SID clearances

You can work one position or several. Unchecked positions are handled automatically.

RADAR POSITIONSAVAILABLE
Departure

Work departures from Tower to Center.

Accept the Tower handoff, identify the aircraft, assign climbs or vectors, return it to the published SID when required and transfer it before the terminal boundary.

01 · IDENTIFYHear the check-in. Establish radar contact.
02 · CLIMBAssign levels and catch incorrect readbacks.
03 · SEPARATEUse headings, direct fixes and 3 NM / 1,000 ft.
04 · HAND OFFTransfer to Center before the sector boundary.
42 NM TRACON scope LIVE SID legs & constraints TWR INSET surface picture
Traffic events

The simulation keeps moving after you transmit.

Aircraft continue to taxi and fly while you work the frequency. A late clearance, missed readback or poor sequence changes what happens next. Pro free-play sessions can also add the events below.

TAXI · WRONG TURNAn aircraft takes the wrong taxiway. Stop it or issue a new route after you notice the deviation.Warn
RWY · INCURSIONTakeoff clearance with traffic on short final, same runway. Crossing an occupied runway. The system sees it.Critical
ARR · MISSED EXITA landing rollout misses its exit and holds the runway longer than you planned. Re-sequence the departure behind it.Warn
ARR · MEDICALAn arrival declares a medical emergency and requests priority handling.Critical
RADIO · STUCK MICA blocked frequency ~8 seconds — a stuck carrier. Your transmissions don't get through. Wait it out.Warn
GO-AROUND · AUTONo landing clearance or an occupied runway and the aircraft goes around, rejoins left traffic, and calls "turning final."Recovered
Routine KSAN traffic is free. Pro adds anomalies. ▸ Open KSAN See pricing
Debrief

See what was wrong, and when it happened.

The input bar flags missing phraseology as you work. The debrief separates phraseology 40%, operations 50% and ATIS 10%, and lists the instructions or events that cost points.

B

SESSION DEBRIEF

KSAN · West flow · 14 movements · 1 go-around
88
Phraseo
82
Ops
100
ATIS

Flagged this session

  • DAL451 crossed 13R while occupied
  • AAL88 — bad readback (squawk) not corrected
  • Takeoff clearance with traffic on short final
  • SWA1290 — missing "runway 27" on taxi
Run a KSAN session and inspect the debrief. ▸ Open KSAN See pricing
Plans

KSAN is free. Unlock the complete simulator once.

The free version does not expire and does not require a card. One payment unlocks all ten airports, every controller position, scenarios, operational events and cloud history.

Free
$0forever
KSAN does not expire.
  • KSAN — all five controller positions
  • Clearance · Ground · Tower · Departure · Approach radar
  • Spoken pilot calls and readbacks
  • PDC datalink clearances
  • Live METAR & write your own ATIS
  • Graded A–F debrief
  • Progress saved on this device
Open KSAN
No card required.
Pro
$14.99one time
Pay once. Pro stays unlocked on your account.
FOUNDING OFFER
Use code FOUNDING20 for 20% off — $11.99
Valid through August 31, 2026.
  • Everything in Free, plus
  • Nine more airports — JFK · SFO · LGA · DCA · MDW · PHX · AUS · SAT · BOI
  • Repeatable scenarios with objectives
  • Wrong turns, blocked frequencies and priority traffic
  • Cloud session history across devices
No subscription. Taxes calculated at checkout.
Secure checkout & VAT invoices by Lemon Squeezy
Questions

What to expect before starting.

What can I use for free?
KSAN and all five positions: Clearance, Ground, Tower, Departure and Approach. Spoken readbacks, live METAR, ATIS entry and the debrief are included. It does not expire and does not require a card.
Is Pro a subscription?
No. Pro is a one-time $14.99 purchase. It permanently unlocks all ten airports, scenarios, operational events and cloud history on your account.
Do I need to download or install anything?
No. ProjectATC runs in the browser. Pilot speech uses the browser's Web Speech API; there are no voice credits or API keys to buy.
How realistic is it?
Runways, frequencies and procedures use published FAA data; surface layouts use OpenStreetMap. Published SIDs come from the FAA CIFP and their clearance form is reviewed against the chart. ProjectATC is a practice simulator, not certified training or a real-world navigation tool.
Will it help me prepare for VATSIM or IVAO controller ratings?
It can provide extra practice between mentored sessions, particularly for phraseology, readbacks and basic sequencing. It does not replace a facility's syllabus or mentor, and it is not affiliated with either network.
Do I type or speak my instructions?
You type instructions or use contextual instruction buttons. Pilots answer out loud. Spoken controller input is not available yet.
Can pilots make mistakes?
Yes. About 1 readback in 8 contains an incorrect item. Pro free-play can also introduce wrong taxi turns, blocked frequencies, priority arrivals and runway changes.
Development

What is available, and what is not.

Open the current development list
● Shipped ● In build ○ Planned · v2 ○ Exploring
Now · v1

Current simulator

LIVE

Clearance, Ground, Tower, Departure and Approach at ten US airports, with spoken readbacks, published SIDs, radar instructions and a session debrief.

Now · v1.1

Approach — APP

LIVE

Radar identification, descents, vectors, speed control, holds with EFC, ILS / RNAV / visual clearances, Tower handoffs and missed approaches.

Now · v1

Departure — DEP

LIVE

Climb departures along their published SIDs, issue headings or direct fixes, maintain 3 NM / 1,000 ft separation and hand them off to Center.

Next

Voice control

IN BUILD

Speak your instructions, push-to-talk — no more typing.

v1.5

Center — CTR

IN BUILD

Work the sector above the terminal area: en-route separation and hand-offs.

v2

Europe pack

PLANNED

European fields, ICAO phraseology, QNH in hectopascals, transition levels.

Later

Exploring

IDEAS

More airports, live multiplayer sessions, and community scenario sharing.

Start with KSAN.

Choose the positions and traffic level. The free airport does not expire.

▸ Open KSAN free