SITL exposes a Python API for managing a SITL instance.
user@workstation:~$ cd ~/Bitol/VirtualDroneSolution/FlightCode/SoftwareInTheLoop/DroneKitSitl/
user@workstation:~/Bitol/VirtualDroneSolution/FlightCode/SoftwareInTheLoop/DroneKitSitl$
DroneKit SITL :: API :: DroneKitSitlApi
user@workstation:~/Bitol/VirtualDroneSolution/FlightCode/SoftwareInTheLoop/DroneKitSitl$ python DroneKitSitlApi.py
[u'solo', u'plane', u'copter', u'rover']
Execute: /home/user/.dronekit/sitl/copter-3.3/apm -S --model quad --home=-20.6207591,-103.3991668,584,353
Started model quad at -20.6207591,-103.3991668,584,353 at speed 1.0
bind port 5760 for 0
Starting sketch 'ArduCopter'
Serial port 0 on TCP port 5760
Starting SITL input
Waiting for connection ....
user@workstation:~/Bitol/VirtualDroneSolution/FlightCode/SoftwareInTheLoop/DroneKitSitl$