International Virtual Aviation Organisation
| Abbreviation | IVAO VZW |
|---|---|
| Formation | December 1998 |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Purpose | Provide an environment for a realistic Flight and Air Traffic Control simulation via the internet |
|
Members
|
Over 170,000 |
|
President
|
Eric J. Olson |
|
Main organ
|
General Assembly |
|
Staff
|
715 |
| Website | https://ivao.aero |
IVAO or International Virtual Aviation Organisation VZW is a non-profit association which operates a 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, with more than 170,000 registered members, is one of the largest online flight simulation networks that allow users to act as either 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 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 largest part of IVAO's active membership is based in Europe, new divisions are continually being created to spread the network coverage world-wide.
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 airlines the ability to operate on the IVAO Network even with fictional airline callsigns and liveries. Events and regular gatherings are organised on a daily basis by divisions or members. 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 December 13, 2014, with 2,530 members flying or controlling at the same time.
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 the evolution from a one-to-one (one ATC and one plane) environment to a many-to-many environment.
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