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Command Guide

This guide gathers the main keyboard shortcuts and command-line commands of EuroScope.

Main shortcuts

Key Parameters Action
F2 Four-letter ICAO code Adds or removes METARs.
F3 Click on the aircraft tag Assumes tracking of the aircraft or accepts a handoff.
F4 Click on the aircraft tag Drops tracking, refuses a handoff or initiates a handoff.
F5 Altitude in hundreds + click on the tag Changes the final altitude, as per the flight plan.
F6 None Displays the flight strip of the current aircraft.
F7 None Cycles through the open radar displays.
F8 Altitude in hundreds + click on the tag Changes the temporary (cleared) altitude.
F9 Click on the tag Automatically assigns a squawk code.
F9 Four-digit code + click on the tag Manually assigns the given squawk code.
F9 V, R or T + click on the tag Sets the communication type: voice, receive only or text.
F11 None Zooms the radar in.
F12 None Zooms the radar out.

Commands accessed with the F1 key

Keys Command Parameters Action
F1 + A .am Click on the aircraft tag Amends the flight plan.
F1 + C .chat Click on the aircraft tag Opens the chat window.
F1 + D .distance Click on one aircraft and then on another aircraft or point Continuously displays the updated distance between an aircraft and another aircraft or point.
F1 + F .find Type an aircraft or fix Displays a line from the center of the screen to the given point.
F1 + P .point Controller identifier + click on the aircraft tag Highlights the aircraft on the specified controller's screen, performing a point out.
F1 + S .sep Click on the tags of two aircraft Continuously displays the predicted point of closest approach between the aircraft.
F1 + 0 - None Closes the current ASR view.
F1 + 1 to F1 + 9 - None Opens the ASR views predefined in the general settings.

Command-line commands

  • .break

Changes the color of your callsign, as displayed to other controllers, to indicate that you need a break or relief.

.break
  • .center

Centers the current radar view on a fix or aircraft.

.center FIX_OR_AIRCRAFT
  • .contactme

Sends a text message to the pilot requesting contact on the current frequency.

.contactme

Shortcut: HOME.

  • .nobreak

Cancels the previous .break command.

.nobreak
  • .qs

Changes the content of the aircraft's scratchpad.

.qs CONTENT

Shortcut: INS.

  • .rings

Displays range rings around a center point, specifying the spacing in miles and the number of rings.

.rings CENTER SPACING COUNT

Running the command without parameters removes the rings:

.rings
  • .showvis

Displays the area in which VATSIM aircraft information is visible.

.showvis
  • .vis

Sets up to four centers for the VATSIM visibility area.

.vis FIX1 FIX2 FIX3 FIX4
  • .vis1, .vis2, .vis3 and .vis4

Individually sets each center of the VATSIM visibility area.

.vis1 FIX
.vis2 FIX
.vis3 FIX
.vis4 FIX
  • .wallop

Sends a message to all connected supervisors.

.wallop MESSAGE

Practise the shortcuts

Six everyday situations. Pick the right shortcut for each one.

The pilot called on your frequency and the traffic is white (related). Which key assumes it?

  1. F4
  2. F3
  3. F9

F3 assumes the traffic or accepts the handoff. F4 goes the other way: it starts or rejects a handoff.

You cleared a climb to FL150. How do you record it on the tag?

  1. F5 + 150 + click the tag
  2. .qs 150
  3. F8 + 150 + click the tag

F8 changes the cleared level (CFL). F5 changes the final level of the flight plan, which is something else.

You want to watch the distance between two crossing aircraft. Which command predicts the point of closest approach?

  1. F1 + S (.sep)
  2. F1 + D (.distance)
  3. F1 + F (.find)

.sep predicts the minimum distance between two aircraft. .distance shows the current distance to another aircraft or point.

An aircraft called on the wrong frequency and you want it to call you. What do you use?

  1. .wallop
  2. .contactme, shortcut HOME
  3. .break

.contactme sends the pilot a text message asking for contact on your frequency. .wallop calls the supervisors.

How do you add the SBKP METAR to the screen?

  1. .metar SBKP
  2. F1 + M and click the aerodrome
  3. F2 + SBKP

F2 followed by the ICAO code adds or removes METARs.

You will need relief soon. How do you tell the other controllers without typing in the chat?

  1. .break
  2. .nobreak
  3. .showvis

.break changes the colour of your callsign for other controllers. .nobreak cancels it.

Reference

For complete explanations, see the EuroScope command-line reference.