Aliases

Aliases provide a way to create shortcuts to save controllers typing lengthy commands to text pilots. An Alias is a short dot command that gets expanded into a longer string of text before it is sent to pilots.

Here's an example of a common Alias:

.dm descend and maintain $1

If this Alias is uploaded and a controller types .dm 6000, the following text would be sent:

descend and maintain 6000

Notice the $1 was replaced with the first parameter typed after the Alias name. Up to nine parameters ($1 through $9) can be used in Alias definitions. Here's an example of an Alias which uses more than one parameter:

.trd turn right heading $1, proceed direct $2 when able

To use this Alias, controllers might type .trd 350 PUT. The resulting text sent on the frequency would be:

turn right heading 350, proceed direct PUT when able

Alias Variables

In addition to substituting parameters using $1, $2, etc., there are also variables and functions available for creating more complex Aliases. A variable is a special word, preceded with a dollar sign, that is replaced with an appropriate value before the text is sent on the frequency. As an example, the variable $squawk, if present in an Alias, will be replaced with the pilot's currently assigned squawk code before the text of the Alias is sent to the pilot. Consider the following Alias:

.sq reset transponder, squawk $squawk and ident

If a controller typed .sq, and the selected aircraft was assigned 3405 as its squawk code, the following text would be sent:

reset transponder, squawk 3405 and ident

The following table lists all of the variables available when constructing Aliases:

Table 1 - Alias variables

Variable	Description
$squawk	Inserts the assigned squawk code for the selected aircraft. Inserts the aircraft's current squawk code if none assigned.
$route	Inserts the aircraft's route not including the departure and destination airfields.
$fullroute	Inserts the aircraft's full route.
$arr	Inserts the aircraft's destination airport.
$dep	Inserts the aircraft's departure airport.
$sid	Inserts the aircraft's filed departure procedure, if any.
$star	Inserts the aircraft's filed arrival procedure, if any.
$cruise	Inserts the aircraft's filed cruise altitude.
$calt	Inserts the aircraft's current altitude.
$callsign	Inserts the controller's callsign.
$aircraft	Inserts the aircraft's callsign.
$userid	Inserts the aircraft's user ID. (The pilot's CID.)
$com1	Inserts the controller's primary frequency.
$myrealname	Inserts the controller's full name.
$winds	Inserts the winds at the aircraft's departure field if the aircraft is not airborne, otherwise inserts the wind at the destination airport.
$time	Inserts the current Zulu time.
$alt	Inserts the aircraft's assigned temporary altitude, if assigned, otherwise the aircraft's filed cruise altitude.
$temp	Inserts the aircraft's assigned temporary altitude.

Alias Functions

vNAS also provides several functions for inserting information into transmitted text. A function differs from a variable in that a function can accept a parameter to alter the text that is inserted in place of the function. The following table lists all of the functions available when constructing an Alias:

Table 2 - Alias functions

Function	Description
$context(aircraft)	Uses the specified aircraft ID for all variable and function substitution for the remainder of the alias. The $context() function must be at the beginning of the alias, separated with at least one space from the rest of the alias.
$metar(airport)	Inserts the last METAR for the specified airport.
$altim(airport)	Inserts the current altimeter setting for the specified airport.
$wind(airport)	Inserts the current winds for the specified airport.
$type(callsign)	Inserts the ICAO aircraft type for the specified aircraft.
$radioname(SectorID)	Inserts the radio name for the specified Controller List entry. If the controller doesn't specify a Sector ID, the controller's Radio Name will be inserted.
$freq(SectorID)	Inserts the primary frequency for the specified Controller List entry. If the controller doesn't specify a Sector ID, the controller's primary frequency will be inserted.
$atccallsign(SectorID)	Inserts the callsign for the specified Controller List entry.
$dist(fix)	Inserts the aircraft's distance to the specified fix in nautical miles. A fix can be an intersection, VOR, NDB or Airport.
$bear(fix)	Inserts the aircraft's bearing to the specified fix, expressed as a cardinal compass direction. A fix can be an intersection, VOR, NDB or Airport.
$oclock(fix)	Inserts the clock direction relative to the aircraft to the specified fix. A fix can be an intersection, VOR, NDB or Airport.
$ftime(offset)	Adds the specified offset (in minutes) to the current Zulu time and inserts the results. If the controller doesn't specify an offset, the current Zulu time will be inserted.
$uc(text)	Converts the specified text to upper case.
$lc(text)	Converts the specified text to lower case.
$urlescape(text)	Converts special characters in the specified text into the URL-safe equivalent.

Here's an example of a function used in an Alias:

.initvec fly heading $1, .dm $2, vectors ILS runway $3 approach, $4 altimeter $altim($4)

To use this example Alias, a controller might type .initvec 070 6000 33L KBOS

This would result in the following text being sent on the frequency:

fly heading 070, descend and maintain 6000, vectors ILS runway 33L approach, KBOS altimeter 2975

Notice that this is a nested Alias. A nested Alias is one which uses additional Aliases in its text. In the above example, the .dm Alias is nested within the .initvec Alias. You can nest as many Aliases as you like within a single Alias.

Uploading and Downloading

Fig. 1 - Alias upload and download

Aliases are typed, one per line, in a .txt file. To upload an Alias file, click the Upload button on the Alias information box on the ARTCC's homepage. This file can later be retrieved by clicking the Download button.