What is IVAO?
IVAO stands for International Virtual Aviation Organization, in other words an international organization for flight simulation. It is a global, non-profit, educational virtual organization that brings together aviation and air traffic control enthusiasts from every country in a realistic simulated network, which recreates real flying conditions remarkably well.
Since it was founded in 1998, IVAO has become a global reference for anyone who wants to learn flight simulation or practice air traffic control realistically. Its curriculum is based on the standards of real aviation organizations such as IATA and ICAO, which keeps the experience very close to reality.
Main goals of the IVAO network
IVAO was created to support three main ideas:
- Providing a realistic flying atmosphere for pilots and controllers, with an added element of fun, while remaining completely free and non-profit.
- Offering a free network infrastructure that connects IVAO’s servers with pilots and controllers around the world.
- Adding realism to exams and practical training through rules that match real life, very much like what real pilots and controllers study.
IVAO's official website
The organization’s official website is www.ivao.aero. There you can register as a member, download the software you need, browse the training courses and join your country’s division.
How do you register for IVAO membership?
Important warning: You may not register more than one IVAO membership. Breaking this rule leads to the deletion of every membership linked to you.
Registration steps:
- Go to the registration link: https://www.ivao.aero/members/person/register.htm
- A welcome message will appear with IVAO’s rules. Read them carefully.
- Click “Next” to see another page with more instructions and rules.
- Fill in your personal details (name, nationality, email and so on), then click “Register”.
- IVAO will automatically add you to your country’s division if one exists.
- Open your email and you will find a welcome message with your login details, your VID, your website password and your network password.
- Go to the login page to view your account, your hours and your full details.
Note: The website password is only for logging in to the IVAO website. The network password is for logging in to IVAP, IVAC and all other IVAO-related software.
Using IVAO: as a pilot or a controller
As a pilot:
To fly on the IVAO network, once you start your simulator (such as Microsoft Flight Simulator, X-Plane or Prepar3D), you need to open the IVAP program (IVAO Pilot Client) and click the icon that connects you to the IVAO network over the internet. Once connected, you will talk to controllers on the assigned frequencies and receive instructions just as in real flying.
As a controller:
If you want to work as an air traffic controller, you need:
- The IVAC program (IVAO ATC Client) for air traffic control.
- The Sector File, which is the navigation map/radar screen you will control from.
- To load the Sector File into IVAC.
- To click the connect button to go online and start your session.
The difference between a division and a virtual airline
Division:
This is the section for a specific country. It always carries that country’s name and contains a number of virtual airlines.
Example, the Egyptian division: This is for the Arab Republic of Egypt only. Link: https://eg.ivao.aero/
It contains a number of virtual airlines, such as:
- Egypt Air (EGY)
- Nile Air (NIA)
- Air Cairo (AIC)
Virtual airline:
This is an independent simulated airline within the division, with its own management, members, crews and procedures. Members fly under this airline’s name and receive its call signs.
VID and call sign
VID:
This is your unique IVAO membership number, used in all official operations on the network. It never changes for as long as you are a member.
Call sign:
This is the code you use in radio communication with ATC. Common examples:
- GFA – Gulf Air
- KAC – Kuwait Airways
- SVA – Saudia
- EGY – Egypt Air
- UAE – Emirates
To get a call sign, you need to register with one of the virtual airlines and request a call sign from it.
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The MTL program (Multiplayer Traffic Library)
MTL is a complete library of liveries for all types of civil, military and even recreational aircraft. You need this library to see other aircraft on the network correctly in your simulator.
Install MTL after installing IVAP for flying, then update the library online regularly so it supports the latest liveries and aircraft types.
The TeamSpeak program
TeamSpeak is the voice link between pilots and controllers on IVAO. Install it alongside IVAP or IVAC so you can:
- Talk to controllers directly.
- Receive spoken instructions just as in real flying.
- Communicate with your fellow pilots.
Using voice adds a lot of realism to the experience and trains you in real radio communication.
Getting a call sign, step by step
Follow these steps to get your call sign:
- Go to the official website, www.ivao.aero.
- From the menu, choose “Divisions”.
- Choose “Active” to see a list of all the countries in the organization.
- Choose the country you want, and a list of its virtual airlines will appear.
- Open the virtual airline you want and request a call sign through its official website.
Do I need a call sign to work as a controller?
No. You log in as an air traffic controller using your VID alone. However, you must be a member of your country’s division, or have special permission from another country’s division if you want to control in a country other than your own.
Ranks in flying and air traffic control
IVAO ranks are a career ladder similar to real life. You move up the levels by passing theory and practical exams and logging a set number of flight or controlling hours.
Pilot ranks:
- Flight Student (FS)
- Basic Flight Student (BFS)
- Private Pilot (PP)
- Senior Private Pilot (SPP)
- Commercial Pilot (CP)
- Airline Transport Pilot (ATP)
- Senior Flight Instructor (SFI)
- Chief Flight Instructor (CFI)
Controller ranks:
- ATC Student (AS)
- Advanced ATC Student (AAS)
- Aerodrome Controller (ADC)
- Approach Controller (APC)
- Centre Controller (ACC)
- Senior Controller (SEC)
- Chief Controller (CC)
To see the requirements and exams for each rank, go to: https://www.ivao.aero/training/
How do you talk to a controller as a pilot (or the other way round)?
You talk to the controller using the standard international phrases (ICAO Phraseology) used in real aviation. Examples:
- Requesting taxi: “Cairo Ground, Egypt 123, requesting taxi”
- Takeoff clearance: “Cleared for takeoff runway 23”
- Confirming instructions: “Roger, Egypt 123”
- Requesting landing: “Requesting landing clearance”
Practicing these phrases is essential, and you can take full courses through IVAO Training.
Why join IVAO?
- Realistic flight simulation training at no cost.
- Excellent preparation before starting real training at an accredited aviation academy like SkyTeam.
- An active international community of aviation enthusiasts.
- Practice in aviation radio communication in English.
- A deeper understanding of global flight procedures.
- The chance to try air traffic control and learn how ATC works.
Conclusion
IVAO is a valuable educational simulation platform for anyone who dreams of flying, as a pilot or as an air traffic controller. Being free, high in quality and realistic in its content makes it an excellent starting point. But always remember: IVAO is simulated training only. To get a real flight license, you must join an accredited aviation academy such as Sky Team Aviation Academy, which qualifies you to ICAO standards and awards you an internationally recognized license.
