UzScope is an upcoming Windows-based application that simulates an air traffic control radar screen for university training. It connects to Prepar3D through SimConnect, allowing students to practice the duties of a real-world air traffic controller in a private, offline environment.
Many aviation students learn air traffic control only from textbooks and slides. Real controllers, however, work with a live radar display, moving traffic, and constant decisions. UzScope aims to bring that experience into the classroom without needing expensive professional equipment or an internet connection. Professional radar simulators are expensive, and most free tools are designed for online flying networks rather than for teaching. Online networks also require approvals, accounts and a stable connection, and they are unpredictable for training because you cannot control the traffic. I wanted something different:
- Private. Everything runs inside the university. No online network is involved.
- Controlled. The instructor decides what traffic appears and when.
- Repeatable. The same exercise can be run again and again, so students can compare their results.
- Simple to set up. One simulator and one radar application are enough.
How It Works
UzScope and Prepar3D are two separate programs that talk to each other:
Prepar3D.exe (3D visuals, aircraft, weather)
^ SimConnect
v
UzScope.exe (radar screen, controller tools, traffic control)
Prepar3D handles the visual world: aircraft, airports, terrain and weather. It can also display tower or spot views so students can see what is happening outside the radar. UzScope is the controller's workstation. It reads aircraft data from the simulator through SimConnect and draws it on a radar screen. It also sends instructions back to the simulated aircraft.
SimConnect is the official interface Prepar3D provides for external programs. UzScope uses it to read aircraft position, altitude, heading and speed, and to create and manage traffic. Because both programs can run on the same computer or on different computers in a network, one simulator can serve several student workstations.
Planned Features
Radar screen
- A dark, radar-style display with zoom and pan
- Range rings and distance measuring tool
- Aircraft targets with data blocks showing callsign, altitude and speed
- Track history dots and speed vectors
- Airports, navigation fixes and sector boundaries
Controller tools
- A command line for giving instructions, for example heading, altitude and speed changes
- Simulated pilots that respond to commands with realistic climb, descent and turn rates
- Flight progress strips
- Conflict alerts (STCA) that warn when two aircraft get too close
- Handoff between controller positions
Instructor tools
- Create and remove aircraft during an exercise
- Load ready-made scenarios, such as "Tashkent approach with five arrivals"
- Change weather and traffic density
- Record exercises and replay them for debriefing
Who Is It For?
- Students who want hands-on practice with radar control
- Instructors who need a flexible and affordable teaching tool
- Aviation enthusiasts who want to understand how controllers work
- Developers who are interested in SimConnect and simulation software
Development Roadmap
| Version | Planned content |
|---|---|
| v0.1 | Radar window, Prepar3D aircraft shown as targets, data blocks, pan and zoom |
| v0.2 | Creating AI aircraft and a command line (heading, altitude, speed) |
| v0.3 | Pilot behavior model, flight strips, scenario loading |
| v0.4 | Conflict alerts, sector boundaries, handoff |
| v0.5 | Instructor panel, replay, multi-computer use |
This roadmap may change as development continues, and I will update it as features are completed.
Technology Behind It
UzScope is being built with C# and .NET, using SkiaSharp for fast radar graphics. The radar uses a map projection centered on the selected airport or sector, which keeps distances and bearings accurate at the scale controllers work with. Airport and navigation data will come from open data sources.
Platforms
The first version will be for Windows, because Prepar3D itself runs on Windows and its SimConnect interface is designed for it. I am also thinking about Android and iOS versions later, perhaps as a lightweight radar viewer that connects to a computer running the simulator. This is not confirmed yet, and it depends on how the Windows version develops and how much interest there is.
Important Notes
- UzScope is not connected to any online flying network. It is built for private, offline university use.
- UzScope is an independent project. It does not contain Prepar3D code and is not affiliated with Lockheed Martin. A valid Prepar3D license is required to run the simulator.
- UzScope is for training and education only. It is not a certified tool for real-world air traffic operations.
What's Next?
Right now I am working on the first milestone: connecting to Prepar3D and drawing the first moving aircraft on the radar screen. I will share screenshots and progress updates here on the blog.
If you have ideas, feature requests or experience with SimConnect and ATC simulation, please leave a comment below. Feedback from students, instructors and fellow developers will help shape the project.
Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for the next update!
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