How to play the ATC simulator
Your first task is to get an arrival onto the runway. Start with the tutorial and pause whenever you need time to read the radar: the clock can wait.
Practise at MadridChoose an airport and open its tower
Select an airport on the map or search by city or code. Open its tower and choose a shift with arrivals to follow the tutorial. Madrid lets you practise arrivals on 32L/32R and departures on 36L/36R in the game’s runway configuration.
Prepare an arrival
Select an aircraft on the radar or in the selector. Its panel shows current heading, altitude and speed; your instructions set targets that it reaches gradually. Assign a runway and use Guide to final to steer towards the entry point. This assistance does not set altitude or speed for you. Read the approach checks before issuing clearance.
Approach and landing are separate clearances
Once the conditions are met, clear the approach. You must then clear the landing, checking runway availability. An approach clearance is not permission to land: without landing clearance, the pilot goes around. Wait for the aircraft to physically vacate the runway before using it for another operation.
From stand to take-off
Select a departure and use its taxi instructions. Holding short, lining up and taking off are separate decisions. If an instruction is unavailable, read its condition: the runway may be occupied or separation may be insufficient. You do not need to speed up the game to make progress.
Control the pace
Start at 1× and switch to 3× or 6× when ready. On desktop, Space pauses or resumes and 1, 2 and 3 select speed when you are not using an input or control. On mobile, use the shift controls. Your shift continues until you choose to finish, when you can review the result.
Know what is simulated
ATC7700 is free and requires no account. Positions and trajectories are simulated and procedures are simplified. Traffic can use current schedules, historical samples or practice routes. This guide explains the game, not real air traffic control procedures.