Experience what it's like to control aircraft at a busy airport with the new Air Traffic Control simulator at 3Twenty Aviation in Hampshire. A unique aviation experience now available to the public.
Table of contents:
- 1 What Is an Air Traffic Control Simulator Experience?
- 2 Control Aircraft at Major Airports
- 3 Guided by Real Air Traffic Controllers
- 4 Session Length and Prices
- 5 3Twenty Aviation
- 6 A Different Kind of Aviation Experience
- 7 The Perfect Gift for Aviation Enthusiasts
- 8 Where Is 3Twenty Aviation Located?
A brand-new Air Traffic Control (ATC) simulator experience has launched in the UK, giving aviation enthusiasts the rare opportunity to step into the role of a real controller and manage aircraft at a busy airport.
The experience is offered by 3Twenty Aviation, based in Whiteley, Hampshire, and is believed to be one of the first dedicated public ATC simulator experiences in the UK. Instead of flying the aircraft, participants take control from the tower or radar position, coordinating departures, sequencing arrivals and ensuring aircraft remain safely separated.
The simulator has been developed with realism in mind, with 3Twenty Aviation noting its close working relationship with NATS, the UK’s air navigation service provider. This collaboration helped shape an experience designed to replicate real ATC procedures, phraseology and operational workflows.
What Is an Air Traffic Control Simulator Experience?
Most people are familiar with traditional cockpit-based experiences, such as flight simulator experiences in the UK where you sit in the pilot’s seat and fly the aircraft.
This experience flips that perspective.
Participants take the role of the air traffic controller, responsible for managing aircraft movements across the airfield and surrounding airspace.
During the session you will:
Wear a professional headset and communicate with aircraft
Monitor radar displays and tower views of the airport
Manage ground movements, taxi clearances and departures
Sequence arriving aircraft safely into the airport
Handle busy traffic peaks without creating conflicts
The simulator uses authentic ATC hardware, realistic radar interfaces and professional controller workstations, creating a highly immersive environment that replicates real operational workflows.
Control Aircraft at Major Airports
One of the unique aspects of the simulator is the ability to control traffic at different airports.
Participants may find themselves managing traffic at airports such as:
London Gatwick
London Stansted
Southampton
Each airport brings its own airspace challenges and traffic flows, meaning every session can feel different depending on the scenario chosen.
Guided by Real Air Traffic Controllers
Sessions are guided by experienced instructors, including real controllers who have worked in some of the UK’s busiest airspaces.
Your objective during the session is simple in theory but challenging in practice: handle as many arrivals and departures as possible while maintaining safe separation between aircraft.
It’s fast-paced, demanding and surprisingly addictive.
Session Length and Prices
The experience is currently available in two session lengths: a 1-hour ATC simulation priced at £159 and a 2-hour session priced at £299, both guided by experienced controllers and including real radio transmissions and a completion certificate.
The one-hour option provides a high-intensity introduction to radar control and communications, while the two-hour session includes a full operational briefing, handover and the chance to manage a full arrival rush.
You can view the simulator listing on FlightSimExperiences.com here:
3Twenty Aviation
Whiteley, Hampshire (South East)
A Different Kind of Aviation Experience
While cockpit simulators such as Airbus A320 simulator experiences let you experience the role of the pilot, ATC simulators reveal the other side of aviation — the people coordinating aircraft movements and keeping traffic flowing safely across airports.
For many aviation fans, understanding how controllers sequence aircraft, manage spacing and coordinate departures offers a completely new perspective on airport operations.
The Perfect Gift for Aviation Enthusiasts
The ATC simulator also works well as a unique aviation gift experience.
Whether you are buying for:
an aviation enthusiast
someone interested in becoming a controller
a pilot wanting to understand the ATC perspective
or simply someone looking for an unusual day out
this experience offers something different from the typical simulator session.
If you’re looking for other aviation experience gifts across the UK, there are also a wide range of flight simulator experiences available featuring aircraft like the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.
Where Is 3Twenty Aviation Located?
3Twenty Aviation is located in Whiteley, Hampshire, close to the M27 and easily accessible from Southampton, Portsmouth and London.
For those searching for flight simulator experiences near London, the location makes it a convenient option for aviation enthusiasts across the South of England.
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