Kennedy Approach
| Company type | Video game |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Andy Hollis |
| Products | Air traffic control simulation game |
| Parent | MicroProse |
Kennedy Approach is a simulation game focused on air traffic control, launched by MicroProse in 1985 for the Atari 8-bit and Commodore 64 platforms, with design credited to Andy Hollis. Subsequent versions were released for the Amiga and Atari ST in 1988.
Gameplay
In this simulation, players take on the role of air traffic controllers within a Terminal Radar Approach Control setting, guiding aircraft through landing, takeoff, and proper flight corridor assignments. The primary goal is to coordinate flights smoothly, avoiding delays and routing mistakes. Incoming planes have predetermined exit or landing destinations, while players manage their paths and issue clearances accordingly.
Ensuring adequate separation between aircraft is essential—planes must maintain a minimum distance of three grid units both vertically and horizontally. The game ends after a shift if any collisions, crashes, or incorrect exits occur. Aircraft may be held in position if landing clearance is not granted immediately and can be instructed to hold near VOR towers when required.
Early stages present a limited number of simultaneous flights; as difficulty increases, traffic density grows and weather disturbances such as storms obstruct certain routes. Some airplanes carry limited fuel reserves, necessitating timely landings to prevent accidents.
The game includes five distinct airspaces:
- Atlanta
- Dallas/Fort Worth – with a known mapping error concerning Dallas Love Field’s placement
- Denver – featuring the Rocky Mountains which enforce minimum altitude restrictions
- Washington, D.C. – containing a restricted no-fly zone above the U.S. Capitol
- New York City
Players will encounter three types of aircraft:
- Cessna light planes identified as "November" flights
- Boeing 747 jets traveling at double the speed of Cessnas
- Concorde supersonic jets moving twice as fast as Boeing 747s
Four airlines operate within the simulation:
- American Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- United Airlines
- Air France – flying Concorde aircraft
In the Atari and Commodore 64 editions, communication between controllers and planes is delivered through synthesized speech via television speakers—an impressive technical feat given the limited memory capacity of home computers during that period.
Reception
Compute! commended Kennedy Approach for its authentic challenge and comprehensive manual, describing it as "a captivating, well-crafted simulation" that successfully replicates the experience of an air traffic controller. The title received an engagement score of 9 out of 10.