International Virtual Aviation Organisation
Encyclopedia
IVAO or International Virtual Aviation Organisation, is a non-profit organisation that operates a global and free-of-charge online flight-simulation network
.
Following free registration users can connect to the IVAO Network (IVAN) either as a virtual Air traffic controller
or as a virtual pilot
and engage and interact with each other in a massively multiplayer environment utilising real-world aviation procedures, phraseology and techniques.
IVAO relies solely on software developed by its own staff of volunteers. Air Traffic Controllers can connect to the IVAO network using IVAO's radar client, IvAc, that emulates the interface of a modern, real-world air traffic control radar scope. Pilots can connect using their flight simulator and the built-in pilot client, IvAp. All pilots and ATC thereby interact on a dedicated, one-world server environment that tries to simulate world-wide air traffic on an "as real as it gets" basis.
While the greatest part of IVAO's active membership is based on Europe, VATSIM's membership mainly focuses around North America.
IVAO logs all flight and controlling hours and offers its members to obtain virtual pilot and ATC ranks by undergoing training and passing theoretical and practical exams based around real-world aviation regulations and procedures. A fully integrated VA system offers Virtual Airline
s the ability to operate on the IVAO Network even with fictional airline callsigns and liveries. Events and regular gatherings are organized on a daily basis. With approximately 8000 connections per day and an average weekday peak between 600 and 900 simultaneous connections, IVAO reached its current simultaneous connection record during the annual "Crowded Skies" event on January 8, 2011, with 2,303 members flying or controlling at the same time.
Using these programs, SATCO (now VATSIM) was the first large 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 developed within the organization.
In late 2005, another management conflict, this time within the IVAO organization, led to another split. The incumbent president of IVAO continued with IVAO.org, while other members of management continued the organization under IVAO.aero.
In 2007 IVAO officially registered as a non-profit organization under Belgian law.
Computer network
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....
.
Following free registration users can connect to the IVAO Network (IVAN) either as a virtual Air traffic controller
Air traffic controller
Air traffic controllers are the people who expedite and maintain a safe and orderly flow of air traffic in the global air traffic control system. The position of the air traffic controller is one that requires highly specialized skills...
or as a virtual pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
and engage and interact with each other in a massively multiplayer environment utilising real-world aviation procedures, phraseology and techniques.
Overview
IVAO, with more than 130,000 registered members (23,392 of which active in the last three months), together with VATSIM is one of the two largest online flight simulation networks that allow users to act either as a virtual pilot or ATC.IVAO relies solely on software developed by its own staff of volunteers. Air Traffic Controllers can connect to the IVAO network using IVAO's radar client, IvAc, that emulates the interface of a modern, real-world air traffic control radar scope. Pilots can connect using their flight simulator and the built-in pilot client, IvAp. All pilots and ATC thereby interact on a dedicated, one-world server environment that tries to simulate world-wide air traffic on an "as real as it gets" basis.
While the greatest part of IVAO's active membership is based on Europe, VATSIM's membership mainly focuses around North America.
IVAO logs all flight and controlling hours and offers its members to obtain virtual pilot and ATC ranks by undergoing training and passing theoretical and practical exams based around real-world aviation regulations and procedures. A fully integrated VA system offers Virtual Airline
Virtual airline
A virtual airline is a dedicated hobby organization that uses flight simulation to model the operations of an airline. Virtual airlines generally have a presence on the Internet, similar to a real airline...
s the ability to operate on the IVAO Network even with fictional airline callsigns and liveries. Events and regular gatherings are organized on a daily basis. With approximately 8000 connections per day and an average weekday peak between 600 and 900 simultaneous connections, IVAO reached its current simultaneous connection record during the annual "Crowded Skies" event on January 8, 2011, with 2,303 members flying or controlling at the same time.
History
The first steps for setting up flight simulation in a massively-multiplayer online environment were taken with the creation of SquawkBox and ProController in the mid-1990s. These two programs were connected to FSD, a simple flight simulator multiplayer server, which allowed to evolve from a one-to-one (one ATC and one plane) environment to a many-to-many environment.Using these programs, SATCO (now VATSIM) was the first large 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 developed within the organization.
In late 2005, another management conflict, this time within the IVAO organization, led to another split. The incumbent president of IVAO continued with IVAO.org, while other members of management continued the organization under IVAO.aero.
In 2007 IVAO officially registered as a non-profit organization under Belgian law.
See also
- AviationAviationAviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
- Virtual airlineVirtual airlineA virtual airline is a dedicated hobby organization that uses flight simulation to model the operations of an airline. Virtual airlines generally have a presence on the Internet, similar to a real airline...
- Flight SimulatorFlight simulatorA flight simulator is a device that artificially re-creates aircraft flight and various aspects of the flight environment. This includes the equations that govern how aircraft fly, how they react to applications of their controls and other aircraft systems, and how they react to the external...
- Massively multiplayer online gameMassively multiplayer online gameA massively multiplayer online game is a multiplayer video game which is capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of players simultaneously. By necessity, they are played on the Internet, and usually feature at least one persistent world. They are, however, not necessarily games played on...
- Air Traffic ControlAir traffic controlAir traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
External links
- IVAO.aero Home Page - Official IVAO website, provides links to all Services and Software