Techniques for message data compression in a live simulation environment are described. A message is compiled at a computing entity in a live simulation environment. The computing entity then determines a position and an orientation of another entity that will received the message through an over-the-air network in the live simulation environment. The computing entity then determines a compression level for the message, based upon the position and orientation of the second entity, and flags the message with the compression level. To preserve the resources of the over-the-air network, such as network bandwidth, the computing entity compresses the message according to the compression level prior to sending the message to its destination in the live simulation environment.