Display conventions
NB: Colours are customisable; mentioned here are the default colours.
Strips
First text line:
- boldfaced: callsign, or "?" if unknown
- "⚡" prefix (if CPDLC on strips): connected data link (bracketed if expecting acknowledgement/answer or problem to resolve, with ">> ..." if transferring)
- "*" after callsign: comment filled in strip details
- if available: aircraft type
- after "/": wake turbulence category
- "sq=..." (when strip not linked): assigned transponder code
- in parentheses: different value squawked by linked contact
Possible warnings on first line:
- "!!dup": callsign appears on another strip (duplicate)
- "!!XPDR": transponder conflicts (open strip detail sheet for more info)
- "!!CPDLC": problem to resolve in data link dialogue
- "!!vect": unfollowed vectors (see courses and assignments)
- "!!route": unfollowed route (when no heading is assigned)
Second text line:
- enclosed in "[]": approach spacing hint (if activated; see below)
- available route (if linked: remainder only), or destination
Approach spacing hints, in square brackets on second line:
- timing hint: estimated touchdown time difference with preceeding traffic in rack sequence, assuming a path via its position
- ground speed comparison char: "↑" faster than traffic ahead (getting closer); "↓" slower
- "!!seq": negative spacing (overtaking traffic ahead, consider resequencing)
Background colour:
- white: unlinked strip
- blue: radar identified by assistant
- green: linked to radar contact, without conflicts
- yellow: linked to radar contact, with unfollowed vector/route assignments or unanswered CPDLC message
- red: linked to radar contact, with XPDR conflicts or problem detected in CPDLC dialogue
Misc.:
- thick bottom border: flight rules marked "IFR"
- striped bottom border: flight rules marked "VFR"
- handshake icon, with "XXX >>" on first text line: strip received from XXX (click to acknowledge)
- printer icon: strip automatically printed
- recycle icon: strip recovered or recalled from deleted/sent strips
Radar contacts
Target shape:
- regular shape: square if transponder contact, circle if primary target
- regular fill: solid if contact is linked to a strip (you control it)
- "X": ignored contact
- "?": contact was invisible on last radar sweep
- "+": unspawned teacher aircraft
- "=": frozen teacher aircraft
- numerical value: sequence number on rack (if option selected)
Indicators:
- white circle: selected
- triple blue box: radar identification
- red diamond: squawking ident or emergency code
Radar tags
Top text line (shown if contact is selected, linked or hovered):
- "#": radar contact manually flagged
- "⚡": CPDLC connected, in square brackets if expecting acknowledgement/answer or problem to resolve
- callsign, or "?" if unknown
- "!!ident" if squawking ident
- aircraft type designator if known
- WTC if available and on this line (after "/")
FL/speed line (middle or bottom according to chosen setting):
- reported altitude if any, "GND" if squawking ground bit, or "alt?" (*)
- vario char: "↗" climbing, "↘" descending, "=" neither, "-" not available (*)
- assigned alt. if any
- ground speed (units or tens)
- WTC if available and on this line
(*) not shown if no radar mode C capability
Code/waypoint line (one case applies below):
- if contact is unlinked or squawking EMG: received transponder code; "!!EMG" if it is any of the emergency codes
- if on a standard departure/arrival procedure route leg: "SID" or "STAR" as appropriate; exit or entry point, respectively
- otherwise, when available: next waypoint on route, or destination; geodesic heading to it
Style:
- outline: dashed if contact cheated individually
- colour: follows linked rack colour
Aircraft courses and assignments
Course line:
- style: solid if a heading is assigned, dotted otherwise
- colour: red if flying off assigned heading, grey otherwise
Altitude arc, drawn if alt./FL different from assignment:
- solid arc shows point at which the assignment will be reached
- dotted arc means point is beyond arc
Speed marks:
- each mark shows the distance flown in 1 minute at assigned speed, or current speed if none
- colour: grey if reported IAS (or estimated if none) matches the vector or if none is assigned, red otherwise
- shape: chevrons point to either accelerate or decelerate to reach assignment
Dashed route line:
- aircraft selected when route correctly entered: green if route should be followed, dark yellow if overridden by a heading vector
- "show all route assignments" switched on: follows rack colour
- replaced with anticipated path if a conflict is detected (separation circles drawn): red if vectors intersect, brown if it depends on an aircraft's altitude
Runways in depicted airports
Fill:
- solid: paved surface (e.g. concrete)
- outlined only: unpaved (grass, sand, etc.)
Occupation highlighting:
- red: runway incursion, box empty and traffic detected, or runway reserved and more than one detected
- yellow: runway box filled and no more than one traffic detected on the runway (reserved)
Final approach guides:
- line colour: blue if runway has a localiser, purple otherwise
- grouped altitude marks: the sum in each group indicates altitude AMSL along the specified FPA (solid diamond = 5,000 ft, straight mark = 1,000 ft); blue within GS range if present, purple beyond
- interception cone extension: draws up to LOC range
Flight plans
Status colours:
- black: filed online, not yet opened
- grey: outdated (never opened)
- green: open without warnings
- yellow: open with unknown time of arrival
- red: open and past estimated time of arrival
- brown: closed
- no colour: local FPL (not yet published)
ATC phone lines
Phone icons:
- flat vs. lifted: outgoing state (if teaching: line is between ATC and student)
- no icon: no phone line to reach ATC by voice
Icon backgrounds and statuses:
- yellow, flashing: placed call
- yellow, still: call ended (by them) or on hold ("still outgoing")
- orange, flashing: incoming call
- orange, still: call ended (by us) or on hold ("still incoming")
- green, circled: call in progress
- no background: idle phone line