Objectives:
In real life, ATC is mostly available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Some aerodromes that are not open permanently will have no TWR and APP controllers at times, but Area Control will always be provided.
On IVAO, when no ATC is online at the airfield or area you have planned to fly , you are on your own.
In order to know what the other traffic around you is doing or has in mind and to warn them about your intentions, in IVAO we have UNICOM.
It is a text mode that allows the pilots to broadcast relevant information on their flight intentions so that pilots around them can read this.
<screenshot in IvAp showing aircraft broadcasting on UNICOM>
Note: UNICOM works only in text mode. The Teamspeak "voice channel" UNICOM is NOT to be used for this or any other purpose!
Since it is only text mode, it has no radio frequency and the use of the expression "122.8" by itself is therefore not correct.
That broadcast will help every one in the neighbourhood to know if there is any other traffic around and what it will do, on the ground or in the air. This is part of what is called Situational Awareness: Be aware of where you are, what is around you and what is happening.
<screenshot in IvAp showing aircraft broadcasting on UNICOM it is about to depart/land...>
With UNICOM, mainly traffic in your area will receive your information and make their transmitted information visible to you.
e.g. if you fly in Brasil, you won't see any info of European traffic. There is a certain distance parameter set for UNICOM.
Use UNICOM to transmit your intentions well in time to warn the other pilots nearby!
See more detailed information on how to use it in the Chapter "Self announcing procedure"
Module Manager e-mail: acm@ivao.aero and acam@ivao.aero
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