First Login

This guide walks you through logging into Landline for the first time. The login process varies depending on whether you're connecting in Live mode or Training mode.

The Login Screen

When you launch Landline, you'll see the login screen with several controls:

┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│                              [X]    │  ← Close button (top-right)
│           Landline                  │
│    Virtual ATC Coordination         │
│                                     │
│  ┌───────────────────────────────┐  │
│  │ Facility          [Dropdown ▼]│  │  ← Facility selector
│  └───────────────────────────────┘  │
│                                     │
│  ┌───────────────────────────────┐  │
│  │ VATSIM CID                    │  │  ← CID input
│  │ Enter your CID                │  │
│  └───────────────────────────────┘  │
│                                     │
│  ┌───────────────────────────────┐  │
│  │         [ Connect ]           │  │  ← Login button
│  └───────────────────────────────┘  │
│                                     │
│  You must be logged into VATSIM     │
│                                     │
│ [🎓]                         [⚙]   │
│  ↑                            ↑     │
│ Training Mode            FE Access  │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘

Login Screen Elements

Element	Location	Description
Close Button	Top-right (inside form)	X icon to close the application
Facility Dropdown	Top of form	Select your facility (e.g., ZAB - Albuquerque Center)
CID Input	Middle of form	Enter your VATSIM CID (numeric only)
Training Mode Toggle	Bottom-left corner	Graduation cap icon - toggles training mode
FE Access Button	Bottom-right corner	Gear icon - opens FE admin login

Live Mode Login

Live mode connects you to the real Landline network with other controllers.

Prerequisites

You must be connected to VATSIM with your ATC client
Your callsign on VATSIM must match a position configured for your facility

Steps

Select Facility: Choose your facility from the dropdown (e.g., "ZAB - Albuquerque Center")
Enter CID: Type your VATSIM CID in the input field
Click Connect: Press the Connect button

Position Auto-Detection
In Live mode, Landline automatically detects your position based on your VATSIM callsign. If you're logged in as ABQ_TWR, Landline will assign you to the Albuquerque Tower position (if configured).

What Happens Next

If your callsign matches a configured position:

You'll be assigned to that position
The main window opens showing the facility grid
Other controllers can now see you online and call you

Callsign Must Match
If your VATSIM callsign doesn't match any configured position, login will fail with an error. Contact your Facility Engineer if your position isn't set up.

Training Mode

Training mode allows you to use Landline without being connected to VATSIM. This is useful for:

Learning the interface before going live
Practicing coordination procedures
Facility Engineers testing configurations
Training sessions with multiple controllers

Enabling Training Mode

Click the graduation cap icon in the bottom-left corner
The icon turns yellow and "Training Mode" appears below the form
A new Position dropdown appears in the form

Training Mode Login Steps

Enable Training Mode: Click the graduation cap icon
Select Facility: Choose your facility from the dropdown
Enter CID: Enter any CID (not validated in training mode)
Select Position: Choose which position you want to log in as
Click Connect: Press the Connect button

Training Mode Isolation
Training mode users are completely isolated from live users. You can only communicate with other training mode users at the same facility.

FE Access

Facility Engineers can access the administration panel directly from the login screen:

Click the gear icon in the bottom-right corner
The form changes to request the FE password
Select your facility
Enter the FE password (or superadmin password for full access)
Click "Open FE Panel"

A "Back to Controller Login" link appears to return to the normal login screen.

See FE Overview for details on administration features.

Common Login Issues

Error	Cause	Solution
"No facilities available"	Cannot connect to server	Check your internet connection
"Position not found"	Your callsign doesn't match any position	Verify your VATSIM callsign or contact FE
"Not connected to VATSIM"	VATSIM session not detected	Ensure you're online on VATSIM first
"Invalid password"	Wrong FE password	Contact your facility administrator

Next Steps

After logging in:

Quick Start Guide - Make your first call in minutes
The Main Window - Detailed interface documentation