Creating PERTI Plans

Creating PERTI Plans

This guide walks through creating and managing PERTI event plans for both privileged (editing) and non-privileged (read-only) users.

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Overview

PERTI Plans are comprehensive event planning documents used to coordinate traffic flow management during major VATSIM events. Plans include operational goals, staffing assignments, runway configurations, terminal and en-route initiatives, and advisories.

Access URL: https://perti.vatcscc.org/plan.php?p={plan_id}

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User Roles

Role	Capabilities
Non-Privileged	View all plan sections, read-only access
Privileged (DCC)	Full editing, create goals, manage staffing, publish advisories

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Non-Privileged User Walkthrough

Step 1: Access the Plan

1. Navigate to the plan URL provided (e.g., https://perti.vatcscc.org/plan.php?p=42)
2. Login with your VATSIM account if prompted
3. The plan interface loads with the Overview tab active

Step 2: Navigate Plan Sections

Use the tabbed navigation bar to explore different sections:

Tab	Content
Overview	Event banner, operational goals, key objectives
DCC Staffing	Command Center staffing assignments
Historical	Past event data for reference
Weather	Weather forecast and expected conditions
Terminal Initiatives	Ground stops, GDPs, arrival/departure programs
Terminal Staffing	TRACON and tower position assignments
Field Configs	Runway configurations by airport
Terminal Planning	Detailed terminal procedures and notes
En-Route Initiatives	Miles-in-trail, reroutes, flow constraints
En-Route Staffing	ARTCC sector staffing
En-Route Planning	High-altitude coordination procedures
Group Flights	Coordinated formation or charter flights
Extended Outlook	Long-term event outlook and contingencies
Advisory Builder	Published advisories (view only)
Ops Plan	Structured FAA-format operational plan output (v18)
Splits	Sector split configurations with map visualization (v18)

Step 3: View Operational Goals

On the Overview tab:

1. The event banner displays at the top
2. Below, Operational Goals are listed as cards
3. Each goal shows:
   • Goal title and description
   • Priority level
   • Responsible party
   • Status indicator

Step 4: Review Staffing

On DCC Staffing, Terminal Staffing, or En-Route Staffing tabs:

1. View position assignments by time block
2. See assigned controller CIDs and names
3. Note any gaps or conflicts highlighted

Step 5: Check Field Configurations

On the Field Configs tab:

1. Select an airport from the dropdown
2. View expected runway configuration
3. See associated AAR (Arrival Rate) and ADR (Departure Rate)
4. Note weather category assumptions (VMC, IMC, etc.)

Step 6: Review Initiatives

On Terminal Initiatives or En-Route Initiatives:

1. View planned TMIs (Traffic Management Initiatives)
2. Each initiative shows:
   • Type (Ground Stop, GDP, MIT, Reroute)
   • Affected airports/airspace
   • Start/end times (UTC)
   • Scope and reason

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Privileged User Walkthrough

Privileged users have full editing capabilities. All non-privileged features apply, plus the following.

Creating a New Plan

1. Navigate to https://perti.vatcscc.org/plan.php (no plan ID)
2. Click Create New Plan
3. Fill in the Plan Details form:

Field	Description	Example
Event Name	Official event title	"Cross the Pond Eastbound 2026"
Event Date	Primary event date	2026-03-15
Start Time	Event start (UTC)	18:00Z
End Date	Event end date	2026-03-15
End Time	Event end (UTC)	04:00Z
Op Level	Operational level (1-3)	2

4. Click Create Plan
5. A Plan ID is auto-generated and you're redirected to the new plan's editing interface

Adding Operational Goals

1. Go to the Overview tab
2. Click + Add Goal button
3. In the modal form, enter:
   • Goal Title - Concise objective
   • Description - Detailed explanation
   • Priority - High, Medium, Low
   • Owner - Responsible party/facility
4. Click Save Goal
5. The goal appears in the goals list

Editing Goals

1. Click the Edit (pencil) icon on any goal card
2. Modify fields as needed
3. Click Update Goal

Managing Staffing

DCC Staffing

1. Go to DCC Staffing tab
2. Click + Add Position
3. Enter:
   • Position name
   • Time block (start/end UTC)
   • Assigned CID or "Open"
4. Click Save

Terminal/En-Route Staffing

1. Navigate to the appropriate staffing tab
2. Select facility from dropdown
3. Click + Add Assignment
4. Fill in position, time, and assignee
5. Save the assignment

Configuring Field Configurations

1. Go to Field Configs tab
2. Select airport
3. Click + Add Configuration
4. Enter:
   • Config Name - e.g., "South Flow VMC"
   • Arrival Runways - e.g., "13L, 13R"
   • Departure Runways - e.g., "13L, 13R, 4L"
   • AAR - Arrival rate per hour
   • ADR - Departure rate per hour
   • Weather Category - VMC, LVMC, IMC, LIMC, VLIMC
5. Save configuration

Creating Initiatives

Terminal Initiative (Ground Stop/GDP)

1. Go to Terminal Initiatives tab
2. Click + Add Initiative
3. Select initiative type:
   • Ground Stop - All departures held
   • GDP - Controlled departure times (EDCTs)
   • Arrival Delay Program
   • Departure Delay Program
4. Fill in details:
   • Affected airport(s)
   • Start/end times (UTC)
   • Scope tier (1, 2, 3, or all)
   • Reason/remarks
5. Save initiative

En-Route Initiative (MIT/Reroute)

1. Go to En-Route Initiatives tab
2. Click + Add Initiative
3. Select type:
   • Miles-in-Trail (MIT) - Spacing requirement
   • Minutes-in-Trail (MINIT)
   • Reroute - Alternative routing
   • Ground Delay - En-route induced
4. Enter:
   • Affected fix/airspace
   • Spacing value (for MIT/MINIT)
   • Route string (for reroutes)
   • Effective times
5. Save initiative

Adding Planning Notes

On Terminal Planning or En-Route Planning tabs:

1. Use the Summernote rich text editor
2. Add detailed procedures, coordination notes, and contingencies
3. Format with headers, lists, and tables as needed
4. Click Save to persist changes

Building Advisories

1. Go to Advisory Builder tab
2. Click + Create Advisory
3. Select advisory type:
   • DCC Advisory
   • Facility Advisory
   • Special Advisory
4. Enter:
   • Title - Brief summary
   • Body - Full advisory text
   • Effective Time - Start/end UTC
   • Facilities - Affected facilities
5. Preview the advisory
6. Click Publish to make it live on NOD

Using the Ops Plan Tab (v18)

The Ops Plan tab generates a structured FAA-format operational plan output:

1. Go to the Ops Plan tab
2. The plan auto-generates formatted sections from your plan data:
   • Operational goals
   • Staffing summary (with ARTCC grouping)
   • Airport configurations
   • Initiative timeline
   • Weather/constraints summary
3. Copy the formatted output for Discord or document distribution
4. Facility entries are grouped by ARTCC for multi-facility events

Using the Splits Tab (v18)

The Splits tab shows sector configuration and map visualization:

1. Go to the Splits tab
2. View active and scheduled sector splits for the event's ARTCC(s)
3. The interactive map shows sector boundaries with strata filtering (low/high/superhigh)
4. Personnel tables show assigned controller positions
5. Configurations can be modified or scheduled from this tab

See Splits for detailed splits documentation.

Sortable Columns (v18)

Plan page tables (staffing, configs, initiatives) support column sorting:

• Click a column header to sort ascending
• Click again to sort descending
• A sort indicator shows the active sort column and direction

Publishing the Plan

1. Review all sections for completeness
2. Verify staffing assignments
3. Check initiative times are correct
4. Click Publish Plan on the Overview tab
5. The plan becomes visible to all users
6. Discord notifications are sent automatically

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Best Practices

For Non-Privileged Users

• Bookmark frequently accessed plans
• Check the plan before each event shift
• Note any changes from previous versions
• Contact DCC if you spot errors

For Privileged Users

• Create plans at least 48 hours before events
• Use clear, concise goal descriptions
• Double-check all times are in UTC
• Coordinate with facilities before publishing
• Update the plan as conditions change
• Archive completed plans for historical reference

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Keyboard Shortcuts

Key	Action
Tab	Navigate between sections
Ctrl+S	Save current section (when editing)
Esc	Close modal dialogs

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Troubleshooting

"Access Denied" on Edit

You don't have DCC privileges. Contact administration if you believe you should have editing access.

Changes Not Saving

• Check your internet connection
• Ensure all required fields are filled
• Look for validation errors highlighted in red
• Try refreshing the page and re-entering

Plan Not Appearing on NOD

• Verify the plan is published (not draft)
• Check the event date is current or future
• Ensure at least one initiative is active

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See Also

• GDT Ground Delay Tool - Managing ground stops and GDPs
• NOD Dashboard - Viewing published plans and advisories
• FAQ - Common questions