IVAO - International Virtual Aviation Organization - is an Internet community of Flight Simulation enthusiasts from all over the world who meet on-line to practice their common hobby collectively. The IVAO network was founded in December 1998 and has more then 42,000 users worldwide at this moment.

The membership of IVAO and the use of all network facilities are free of charge. Everyone who is interested in participating in the on-line simulation either as a virtual pilot or as a virtual air traffic controller is more then welcome to join. Un-acquaintance with flying on-line in a multi-user environment does not have to be an obstruction because for both pilots and ATC there are courses and beginner session organized on a regular basis.

What exactly is this: Flying on-line with IVAO?

During flying on-line, a large group of people participate as a pilot. They use a flight simulation program (usually Microsoft Flight Simulator) and "IvAp" (IVAO Virtual Pilot Client) a special program developed by the software department of IVAO and available to download for free. After the installation of "IvAp" the pilots finds a new menu called "IVAO" in flight simulator. With this menu-item they can then start the program with one push of a button.

By means of "IvAp" the pilot gets connected to a multi-user on-line simulation through the servers of IVAO. Now he sees the aircraft of the other participants "live" in his screen, no matter if they are stationary or moving. At the same time he can be seen "live" by other pilots, Air Traffic Controllers see him in their radar screens now. If desired, through "IvAp" the real world weather can be adjusted in Flight Simulator automatically in real time. To make the simulation complete, and as real as possible, only voice-communication is missing.. To accomplish this the "Teamspeak" program is used, this program is also available for free.

A second group of people is simulation Air Traffic Control (ATC). They use the program "IvAc" (IVAO virtual ATC client), also developed by the software department of IVAO. This advanced program is released in 2004 and is based on the real radar systems as in use in by Eurocontrol and Amsterdam Radar.

It goes without saying that this program is also available free of charge on the IVAO website. During the on-line simulation both pilots and ATC maintain the procedures and communications as used in reality. Both parties have access to all needed aeronautical information, descriptions of "real-life" procedures and instruction materials through the IVAO websites.

It's self-evident that not everybody is immediately capable to join the simulation at the highest level. This is understandable and certainly no objection. IVAO organizes courses and training sessions for users of all levels. Our largest group of pilots worked their way up to an average level. This way they are capable to make a balanced flight plan and to follow up the instructions of the ATC trouble-free after a short time. Others are completely fascinated by this hobby and by sifting out all available information reach an almost professional level in the end.

The threshold to start flying or controlling is however kept as low as possible. Beginners are more then welcome at IVAO and many IVAO divisions organize special "beginners" sessions on a regular basis.

Participants, who have worked themselves through the first steps and now, are able to join the simulation independently, find the IVAO network available day and night. There are always people on-line somewhere in the virtual world and there are always pilots in the air. In Europe for instance, between 19:00 and 23:00 hours local time, there are always between 400 and 600 people participating.

In IVAO, "Events" are organized on a regular basis, where arrangements are made between certain divisions about special flights and ATC. In the IVAO forums these events are advertised among the users, this way everybody knows that on these evenings an extra amount of people will join the simulation. In a multi-user environment it is attractive when a lot of people are participating, there will be a lot of traffic which will make the experience "as real as it gets". On December 14, 2004, IVAO had the biggest event ever organized, called "Crowded Skies". That day there was a record breaking number of 1112 users simultaneously on-line.
 

Every year a "world tour" is organized on IVAO. During these tours the whole world is covered by a number of predefined stages. This way traffic is generated in places where there normally is hardly any. Also pilots visit airports they never would otherwise. These world tours are very popular and they are flown by thousands of our pilots.

Also fans of "Special Operations" like search and rescue flights, police operations, VIP escorts and of course military flights, are well served by IVAO. For them extended course material and information is available as well. The "SO Department" organizes "SO Events" on a regular basis.

Several pilots are members of a VA (virtual airline). For them a new VA system has been developed recently. By means of this system pilots can submit their reports (PIREPS) to their VA. The VA can use all available saved flight-information of the flight, check the flight-times and have the progress of the flight printed out on a chart. The system does all the "bookkeeping" concerning pilot-hours, times, used fuel and mileage for the VA.

Hopefully this story has made you curious; perhaps you even are interested to try it yourself.

Don’t hesitate then, but visit our website. You can joint immediately for free and start using all facilities instantly.
Did you join us, but you do not feel confident yet to start, visit our forums and feel free to ask whatever you like to know about this fascinating hobby.

We hope to see you soon on-line at the IVAO network.

This is the address of our website : http://www.ivao.org