[3rd December 2011 1700Z -2200Z] Openskies 2011

[Robbie Garrett]

We look forward to welcoming you to what should be a truly spectacular event, what is set to be one of VATSIM's biggest event ever!



After the success of last year’s event, one of the world's busiest airspaces will come alive again for what is set to be one VATSIM's biggest events ever. Openskies 2011 aims to bring you a better, busier and more enjoyable event than has ever been witnessed on VATSIM before.

Six of our premier airports; Bristol, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, Manchester and Stansted have been selected, and will be fully staffed to provide you with a huge range and variety of over 1100 bookable flights in the space of five hours. There are over 40 airports in the UK alone and Openskies allows you to experience some of these airports fully staffed and full to capacity resulting in you - the pilot; experiencing what it actually feels like to fly real-world in the United Kingdom, showcasing our airports at breaking-point capacity, heavily crowded airspaces and aircraft that are separated by just only 1000ft vertically and 3 miles laterally.

The bookable flights offer an exceptional range of possibilities; from flying some of the biggest airliners in the world, to the occasional private jets and general aviation. These flights also include just over 180 transatlantic flights which is the same amount as our real world counterpart’s experience during the duration of the event. Openskies is truly an event like no other.

To help with the smooth running of the event, we are grateful to the following VATSIM divisions for their support. Belux vACC, Dutch vACC, VATSIM France, VATEIR, Eurocenter vACC & VATSIM Canada.

The sky really is the limit!!

Click here for more information and flight bookings.


Please note our website & bookings opens on the 1st of November 2011 at 1900z, unfortunately due to forecasted high demand some airports may become fully booked before the event. It's strongly recommended that you book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment, we also send out reminders closer to the event of your booking.

Our event trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67x_0N0IggA

[Robbie Garrett]

Make sure you are all following us for the latest updates, We are now promoting VATSIM-UK Openskies 2011 around the VATSIM World.

Our website is now ready, our bookings are ready, our codes have been sent to our Virtual Airlines and tomorrow at 1900z (7pm UK TIME) the website is finally set to open. http://events.vatsim-uk.co.uk/openskies/

[Robbie Garrett]

Our website opens today at 1900z, can't wait to show you guys what we have in store for you this year.

[Robbie Garrett]

The Openskies website is now open, this means all flight bookings are also open. We appreciate any feedback you may have, and hopefully we will see you on the 3rd December 2011 for VATSIMs biggest event ever!!

Thank you to all involved in getting us to where we are today, especially to Chris Doherty and Harry Williams who designed her and now maintain her.

Get bookings now!! @ http://events.vatsim-uk.co.uk/openskies/

[Robbie Garrett]

Dear All,

7 days to go till Openskies 2011 kicks off!! It's been many months of hard thought planning with a lot of people involved in trying to make Openskies the sucess it sets out to be, Openskies 2011 aims to bring you a better, busier and more enjoyable event than what has ever been witnessed on Vatsim before. This can only be possible if you guys the participants (pilots) make your day special and make as many enjoyable flights as you can in/out or around the UK next Saturday.

You can book flights on our website across 6 of our airports, or you can fly without a booking. Most importantly all information you need to know is on the website.

Best of all, good luck and see you next Saturday.

Openskies Planning Team
http://events.vatsim-uk.co.uk/openskies/

[Robbie Garrett]

3 days to go till Openskies 2011 kicks off, and the excitement is never more immense. Spread the word and trend #Openskies2011 worldwide this Saturday. #vatsim #vatsimuk #skyblueradio

[Robbie Garrett]

Tomorrow is VATSIM-UK Openskies 2011, our second event ever and it looks set to become one of the busiest in the history of the network! With over 100 controllers expected to participate, the UK, the North Atlantic and Europe is going to come alive! Thanks to all involved. Don't miss it!!!!

[Robbie Garrett]

Dear All,

Thanks to all the pilots who made it special, through the data we have collected so far - we tracked 900 flights from 1600z-2300z - with movements around about 600-650 throughout the whole event, possibly making us VATSIMs biggest/busiest event ever.

VATSIM-UK Openskies 2011 event feedback form now available at our website. http://events.vatsim-uk.co.uk/openskies/feedback.php

Hope all enjoyed, and we hopefully look to be back bigger, stronger and better next year.