I’m looking for a way to get automatic notifications in my Discord server whenever controllers come online in specific FIR regions for my virtual airline. I know most regional Discord servers already have this feature, but I want to set it up in our own server for easier monitoring.
I’ve tried a few options like VatNotif and similar API tools, but they seem to be broken or discontinued now. Has anyone found any working Discord bots or other integration methods that can pull this data and send alerts when controllers become active?
discord.js is solid if u dont wanna go the Python route. I have a bot that scrapes VATSIM data and sends notifications when ATC is live in certain areas. Set it up in an afternoon and it’s been rock solid for our group. VATSIM’s API is easy once you know the endpoints.
Had the same problem about six months ago setting up group alerts. I ended up using VATSIM Data API v3 with a Python script on a VPS. The script checks the API every few minutes, compares it to stored data, and shoots webhook messages to Discord when controllers pop up in your regions. It’s been rock solid since I got it running, but you’ll need some basic coding skills. VATSIM’s API docs are pretty clear if you want to go custom. Plus you get way more control over which positions trigger alerts and how the notifications look.
I get the frustration with broken tools. Been there when our flight ops team needed similar alerts.
Custom Python scripts work but they’re a pain to maintain and you need server management skills. Automation platforms handle this better since they deal with the infrastructure headaches.
For VATSIM controller monitoring, set up a workflow that polls the VATSIM API, stores the current state, compares it with previous data, and fires Discord webhooks when changes happen. You get error handling, retry logic, and scheduling built in without writing code.
You can add filters for specific FIR regions, controller ratings, or time-based rules like only alerting during your airline’s operating hours. If the VATSIM API changes or goes down, you get automatic notifications instead of silent failures.
I set up something similar for tracking air traffic in busy European hubs and it’s been running flawlessly for months. Much more reliable than maintaining scripts on VPS instances.
Another option is Node-RED if you’re comfortable with visual programming. I set this up for our VA about eight months ago and it’s been rock solid. You create a flow that hits the VATSIM Data API every couple minutes, stores controller states in context variables, and fires Discord webhooks when new controllers pop up in your target regions. What I love about Node-RED is you can tweak the logic without touching code, add filters for specific towers or approach controllers, and integrate it with other airline systems. It’s easier to learn than Python scripting but you still get full control over notifications. I’m running mine on a Raspberry Pi - handles everything we need and costs basically nothing to maintain.