Earlier this week, The Virtual Traffic Simulation Network (VATSIM) announced that pilots participating in Cross the Land Westbound (CTL) will be able to sign up for a departure slot starting at 18:00 UTC, January 22nd. The event, taking place on February 12, will give the flight-sim community an unique opportunity to fly between the Middle East and Europe through busy controlled airspace. 

According to the planning team, a total of 620 slots will be available to the pilots. The first slot will depart at 09:00 UTC while the last one will be departing at 15:05 UTC. The slot booking process will open from 18:00 UTC on January 22nd to 23:59 on February 11th, though previous Vatsim events of a similar scale suggest that slots will likely fill up within the first few days.

Currently, Cross the Land Westbound will take place on February 12th, roughly a month from now. Departure and arrival airports for CTL are as follows:

EUD Airports:

• Flughafen Franz Josef Strauß (EDDM)
• Vienna International Airport (LOWW)
• Brussels-National Airport (EBBR)
• Geneva Airport (LSGG)
• Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport (LEMG)
• Riga International Airport (EVRA)

MENA Airports:

• Dubai International Airport (OMDB)
• Queen Alia International Airport (OJAI)
• Kuwait International Airport (OKBK)
• King Abdulaziz International Airport (OEJN)
• Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (HESH)

For pilots interested in the event, please join Cross the Land Discord and monitor the event page for the latest updates.