Guidelines for ATC

OBJECTIVES:

• Explain what to check before connecting
• How to connect properly?
• What to do once you are connected?
• What should you do before disconnecting?

When you want to take a control position, the first thing to do is: configure IvAc properly for this position.

Step 1- THE SECTOR FILE

If you already have the sector file you need on your computer, just open it before connecting (click the PVD button, then click Load Sector, select the one you need and Open it).

<screenshot showing open PVD window in IvAc here>

If you don't have the relevant sector, you have to download it first:

• from a local division website (most of them have links to their own sector files)

• from the IVAO-HQ database, accessed via http://www.ivao.aero/db/ (click Aeronautical data, and Nav Data Search).

If no sector file is available for your position there, you can create one with our Sector file Creator System. (Select Facility or Area). After creating, download the zip file to your computer and unzip the sector file into the sector file directory of the IvAc folder on your computer.

After having opened the sector file in IvAc, centre your screen on the relevant airport or navaid (right click and click 'set centerpoint'), or select any other place as required.

Step 2 - IvAc CONFIGURATION

Most operations can be done offline.

• Open the COMMbox window by clicking on the COM button. Select the left tab in the COMMBox window. In the text area type: // followed by your working frequency (for example: //125.770 )
  Note: Use a dot in the frequency, thus 125 dot 770

<screenshot showing action in COMMBox window in IvAc here>

• Click the PVD button, than click IO Options... to add the airport(s) you are working into the departure and arrival areas

<screenshot showing open PVD window in IvAc here>

• Adjust the size of each panel and use the zoom in/out function at your convenience

• Select your favourite alias file

• Adjust sounds and colours at your convenience

Note: Most of these settings are saved when closing IvAc; so there is no need to redo all these configuration settings each time you open PC or choose a new sector (most of them need just to be checked in order to be sure everything will be OK when controlling).

Step 3 - CONNECTION

• Click the CONNECT button

Note: DO NOT CONNECT UNLESS YOU ARE SURE YOU CAN STAY CONTROLLING FOR AT LEAST 30 MINS

• Indicate your call sign (should be XXXX_YYY), where XXXX is the ICAO identifier for your Air Traffic Control Unit (this can be found in IVAO databases at www.ivao.aero/db) and YYY is the Air Traffic Control Position (see Air Traffic Control Positions for details)

<screenshot showing callsign being filed in IvAc here>

• When logging in for training purposes, add a T like this: XXXX_T_YYY

• Indicate your real first and last name, your VID, and your actual IVAN password. Choose a nearby (or one with a short ping time as checked in IvAe) IVAN server IP address from the dropdown list

<screenshot illustrating step above in IvAc here>

• Click on the voice box, and pick from a nearby voice server in the dropdown list

<screenshot illustrating step above in IvAc here>

• Leave port with the default setting

<screenshot illustrating step above in IvAc here>

• Click connect

• You should see a connect message in the MSG tab of the COMMBox and a METAR for your airfield on the top of your screen

<screenshot illustrating step above in IvAc here>

Note: see MetarSpeci for details about METAR messages.

Step 4 - ONCE CONNECTED

• Click the ATIS button and set your ATIS information (see ATIS)

<screenshot illustrating step above in IvAc here>

• Adjust your COM frequency, if not already done (see above)

Note: Choose the frequency corresponding to your position as indicated into the IVAO database www.ivao.aero/db or on your local division website. (this should be the same as the real world frequencies. If not, please advise network administrators)

• Advise all controllers you are online via the ATC channel (and not GUARD!): type something like " XXXX_YYY online"

Note: GUARD is only for pilot emergencies and is not an ATC channel, nor a coordination channel.

<screenshot illustrating step above in IvAc here>

• Check which adjacent controllers are available (click ATC button) and open a chat window with those you will have to work with (see Coordinations)

<screenshot illustrating step above in IvAc here>

• TeamSpeak should have opened meanwhile and connected to the IVAO TeamSpeak server selected in your ATIS automatically. If not, do it manually

• In TeamSpeak create a channel. (click Channels in the menu bar and Create Channel):

<screenshot illustrating step above in IvAc here>

• Name: Should be exactly the same as the one used to sign up in IvAc. (for example EBBR_APP)
  Note: If not exactly correct, pilots will not be able to contact you!!

<screenshot illustrating step above in IvAc here>

• Topic: Enter position and frequency (for example Brussels Approach 118.250)

<screenshot illustrating step above in IvAc here>

  

Step 5 - SELECT THE CORRECT FREQUENCY

When you log on to IvAc (controller) you must use the radio frequency corresponding to the position you are activating. The proper radio frequency can be found in the IVAO Database (www.ivao.aero/db, click Aeronautical Data and NavData Search) or on the FIR pages of that division. Set your IvAc COM frequency accordingly and fill in the name of your ATC position in the ATIS.

<screenshot illustrating step above in IvAc here>

In Team-Speak (TS) however, you cannot select frequencies for the channel on IVAO voice servers.

Here is the reason: In real world, the same radio frequency may be used by different radio stations that are located far away from each other. They don’t disturb each other due to the distance in between them. However within IVAO there is a different system in use.

In IVAO we use servers to imitate radio stations. Thus, if you use the same frequency twice, the Team-Speak system cannot make the difference between who is who. Therefore this differentiation based on the ATC position’s name. The names we use for each position in IVAO are all different by default.

Create a channel in Team-Speak and fill in the name of the ATC position you are opening. Pilots will now be able to contact you on this channel by selecting your position in IvAp.

<screenshot illustrating step above in IvAc here>

Step 6 - DISCONNECTION

Before you intend to leave, give all pilot/controllers a warning before closing.

• Transmit your message on your working frequency and via the ATC channel (for example: Brussels Approach closing in 5 minutes)

• Before actually closing your position, handoff all traffic to any applicable controllers
  (for example, if working Brussels Approach, hand all traffic over to Brussels Control or Brussels Tower as appropriate)
  If no other controllers are available, tell the pilots on your frequency that ATC is terminated and they may leave your frequency

• Click the DISCON button to disconnect from the server

• In TeamSpeak click on Connection in the menu bar and select Disconnect.

If during your connection you are disconnected by the server, a reconnect will usually work. If not, try to reconnect to another server.

If there is an error message shown about your call sign, instead of waiting for all servers to consider your former call sign as available again, change your call sign a bit (for instance, choose XXXX_1_YYY) and try to reconnect. Some later you could disconnect to reconnect as XXXX_YYY again. In this case the other server still sees you as logged on.

General remarks

"IVAO airmanship" covers a broad range of desirable behaviour (courtesy) and ablities (skills) while operating online as a Pilot or ATC.

Below is a shortlist of points that should be respected to keep online controlling nice and fun for everyone.

Note: some or all of these points are listed in ivao rules and regs  http://www.ivao.aero/rulregs/

Before connecting

• Make sure you know the IVAO Rules, in particular the User subpart like the General and ATC section
• Read the IVAC user manual
• Be familiar with features of IVAC
• Understand how to deal with communications on TeamSpeak and Text
• Review the IVAO website and check the forum, particularly ATC Ops and Training
• Check FRA <??> for the position you want to open

Online

• If other ATC are online near-by, let them know you have opened an ATC position or when you are about to close it via ATC tab of the Comm Box and co-ordinate via private chat (if applicable)
• Prior to "FORCE ACT" a pilot - assume (if applicable) the target, request the comm.
• If you do "FORCE ACT", check that the pilot is on your comm freq, in case pilot replies on text on a different comm. frequency (hence check their freq by request comm) and if need be have your secondary freq to see pilot text reply <??>.
• Do not SANDBAG <??> (link to IVAO rule and FAQ forum)
• If a conflict arises, request a Supervisor by typing .wallop (dot command wallop) and then your message (state the problem and where you are)
• If applicable, remind Pilots on the use of Transponder  - when to turn it ON, STBY or press IDENT.
• It helps, if you know some of the basic operation of IVAP such as dot commands and F commands - newbies tend to think you're the expert.
• Know the airport environment you're controlling, like runway features such as runway numbers, length, comm / nav frequencies, airspace, etc.
• Realize that pilots have different experiences and skill levels and try accomodate accordingly
• Be aware that pilots use different sceneries and flightsimulators, so your information and views may conflict with theirs therefore accomodate accordingly
• The weather you see (METAR) may differ from what pilots see in their simulator.
• Realize that what the pilot filed for type of aircraft in his flightplan may differ from the model (MTL) that other pilot may see when you provide a traffic information.
• Pilots communicate via text, voice or a combination of both, regardless of the reason, and to the best of your ability provide try to provide the best service equally.

Before going offline

• When you do have to disconnect, warn fellow ATC and pilots in your control (do not forget to release the target)

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Module Manager e-mail: acm@ivao.aero and acam@ivao.aero

Contributing Author(s)/Support:

• Dan Poelman 
• ........................................................

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