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VATSIM Super Bowl LXI Event Draws Record 4,200 Controllers and Pilots
By Marco Delgado · · 2 min read
VATSIM's annual Super Bowl fly-in attracted a record 4,200 simultaneous connections, with controllers staffing 45 airports across the United States. The event saw a 20% increase in traffic over last year, with over 1,800 aircraft movements at KLAX alone.
VATSIM's annual Super Bowl event, held yesterday in conjunction with Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium, set a new participation record with 4,200 simultaneous connections—a 20% increase over 2025. The event, which ran from 1500z to 0500z, featured full ATC coverage at 45 airports across the United States, including hubs like KLAX, KSFO, KDEN, and KDFW. Over 1,800 aircraft movements were recorded at KLAX alone, with ground stops implemented during peak periods to manage traffic flow.
Controllers reported smooth operations despite the volume, crediting improved coordination between ARTCC and TRACON facilities. The event also saw a notable increase in business aviation traffic, with many pilots flying bizjets like the Cessna Citation and Gulfstream into smaller reliever airports such as KVNY and KSNA. VATSIM's new voice codec, introduced earlier this year, provided clearer communications with fewer dropped transmissions.
For the community, the event underscored the growing realism of online flying. Many participants used advanced add-ons like PMDG's 737 and Fenix's A320 to fly real-world routes, while others flew GA aircraft on short hops between regional airports. The event also highlighted the importance of proper phraseology and adherence to SID/STAR procedures, with supervisors actively monitoring for compliance.
VATSIM plans to release a full debrief and statistics in the coming days. The organization also announced that its next major event, Cross the Pond, will take place in April 2027, with a focus on transatlantic traffic between Europe and North America.
Tags: VATSIM, Super Bowl, Online Flying, ATC, Event