IVAO

International Virtual Aviation Organization VZW (IVAO) is a non-profit organization which operates a free realistic flight simulation network. Users after registering, can connect to the IVAO Network (IVAN) as a virtual traffic controller or as a virtual pilot and participate in a massively multiplayer environment using real-world aviation procedures, phraseology and techniques.

What is IVAO?

IVAO, with more than 670,000 registered members, is one of the largest online flight simulation networks that allows users to act as a virtual pilot or air traffic controller.

IVAO relies solely on software developed by its own staff of volunteers. Air traffic controllers can connect to the IVAO network using the IVAO radar client, Aurora or IvAc 1, which simulates the interface of a real modern radar with all the bells and whistles of options. Instead, pilots can connect to the network using their integrated flight simulator and client, IvAp or Altitude. In this way, all pilots and ATC interact in a virtual environment in which both play a role, the goal always being to do so in the most realistic way possible. Most of IVAO's members are located in Europe, but new divisions are continually being created around the world to spread aviation culture.

IVAO records all flight and control hours to offer its members the possibility of obtaining virtual pilot and ATC ranks. This is done through theoretical and practical exams based on the regulations and procedures used in real aviation. Also, there is a virtual airline (VA) system which allows simulating the operations that an airline would have in real life, being able to assign pilot ranks to each member of the airline, calling these pilots with the real callsign and using the livery used in the airline. real life. Online events form a large part of the community since this is usually when more pilots gather when flying to a destination. Without a doubt, IVAO's most important event is the annual "Crowded Skies" which reached its peak connections on December 10, 2016 with 3,004 members flying or controlling at the same time.

History

IVAO's first steps in creating a global flight network came with the creation of SquawkBox and ProController in the mid-1990s. These two programs were connected to the FSD network, a simple multiplayer aviation server., which allowed the evolution from a one-to-one environment (one atc and one plane) to a multi-plane environment.

Using these programs, SATCO (now VATSIM), was the first major network to create an online air traffic simulation environment. On December 16, 1998, IVAO was founded when a group of people left SATCO to form a new network after management conflicts arose within the organization.

At the end of 2005, another management conflict, this time within the IVAO organization, led to a new division. The incumbent president of IVAO continued with IVAO.org, while other members of management continued the organization under IVAO.aero. In 2007, IVAO was officially registered as a non-profit organization under Belgian law.

IVAO has also participated in FlightSimCon 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, held in Hartford and Connecticut.

The legal form of IVAO was transformed into an advertising office on September 1, 2015 and, therefore, IVAO has to pay taxes from October 1, 2015.

In December 2019, IVAO released its official BETA of 3 new pieces of software; Altitude – the IVAO pilot client, Aurora – the IVAO ATC client and Artificer – the Connector (formerly IvAI). IVAO used its Virtual Sky media platform for the initial press release.

In September 2020, IVAO launched its VHF voice integration, providing pilots and controllers with much more realistic communications by simulating the effects of a real VHF radio.

Virtual Sky

IVAO has an official online media outlet dedicated to the flight simulation community as a whole. "Virtual Sky". It is a source of high-quality, authenticated news aimed at facilitating and enriching discussions within the flight simulation community.

Production is the responsibility of the Public Relations department, specifically the Virtual Sky Manager. Previously, in 2008, it was published as an online magazine with quarterly updates.

Countries with active divisions

IVAO has 55 active divisions spanning six continents. Active status means that IVAO headquarters has chosen a team of staff who represent it in the respective country and operate the division on its behalf. This ensures that members in each active country are offered up-to-date navigation charts and personalized personal training tailored to local procedures.

Some of the divisions are 'multi-country', meaning that more than one country is within a specific division, such as the Caribbean division which covers several countries in the Americas. Central.

Spanish Division

The Spanish division in IVAO has more than 2800 active members. Elías Herrero is the director of the division. Currently the division has about 60 staff members, who are in charge of managing both the website, the administration of different departments at the divisional level, such as: flight operations, ATC operations, management of control areas (FIR), events, members and training. In addition, the Spanish division has a group of certified pilots who are responsible for providing service in ATC exams and training. This group is led by the flight operations department, together with the division director and internal group coordinators, who should not be part of the staff.

Colombia Division

The Colombian division in IVAO has more than 1000 active members. Juan David González is the director of the division. Currently the division has about 30 staff members, among them Santiago Castellanos, better known as Guitarrin, these are in charge of managing both the website, the administration of different departments at the divisional level, and for example: flight operations, ATC operations, control area management (FIR), events, members and training.