Just a simple question:How does VATSIM treats real world controllers (yours truely is among them)? couldn't find a hint on all regulations docs.I am having a real hard time with IVAO "training" staff: they are being very disrespectful (even rude sometimes), while I am offering to share my knowledge and experience (and spare time).Should I expect the same from VATSIM? do I have to pass all kind of exams and evaluations or do you take in acount my real world knowledge?Thanks in advance,Ilan

Ilan,Upon verification that you are a real world controller (I have no idea what they require for verification) you will be issued a Controller rating and bypass the student levels. After that you would still probably have to take a Local Procedures exam for the area you want to work. You would also still have to go through the normal promotion process for the Senior Controller rating. Instructor ratings are based on a recommendation by the Center Chief since an Instructor rating is more of a position rather than a promotion. If you are interested in instructing there are usually positions available.Most, if not all, ARTCCs/FIRs would welcome the experience of a real world controller on their staff. It makes no sense to me why IVAO would not welcome your input.Mike BromleySenior ControllerBoston ARTCC

hello Ilan,I don

Hello Mike and Martin,Thanks a lot for your response.I am located in Israel, and that is why I work(ed?) with IVAO - there is an Israeli division there only.We have a few rl controlers in this division, all with the same opinion. In fact, some fellow controlers are not joining IVAO because of this strict exams policy.Anyway I'll have a talk with some of the serious guys in our division here (we have around 200 active members I think), maybe I'll convince them to defect ;-)Thanks a lot again'Ilan

Ilan,why not thinking about forming an Israeli VACC at VATSIM? Perhaps Kyprianos Biris can surely say more about the necessary steps, but from my (of course limited) viewpoint, you and your colleagues should have the necessary background to do this.We have quite a few pilots flying with El Al callsigns and I

Hi Martin,I agree. I will start working on an Israeli VACC: we have enough serious guys here to raise a project like that. We will need of course to define some positions, like the two Centers of israel (Tel-aviv control and South control), VFR centers etc.BTW I prepared some reference material like charts of Israeli routes and airports and a sector file for CVFR flights in Israel, so we can use it here.One thing I still have to know, being a rookie in VATSIM, whom do I need to contact to raise this project? info will be appreciated!Thanks a lot for the good spirit, hoped it would be so.Ilan

Hi Ilan,I think Kyprianos Biris, our European Region Director would be the right one to talk to. I have already alerted him about our discussion (but I think he reads this forum anyway, right Kyp?) and he should get in contact with you soon. He can be reached at [email protected],Martin Georg/EDDFVACC-SAG PR & Events Coordinator *** mailto:[email protected]http://www.ewgva.de/ewgva/images/ConventionSignature.jpg

And again, Thanks!I can be reached at [email protected] , and I will also drop a note to Mr. Biris directly.Enjoy the rest of the weekend,Ilan

Ilan officially you belong to "Africa - Middle East" Region which is directed by Rob Grant [email protected] is a r.l. ATC as well and I am sure you'll find lots of things in "common language".In VATSIM we have 7 Regions. They have their Divisions inside who have common internal procedures (Training etc.). Further below the Divisions have the vACCs which usually represent a country. Big vACCs can also have multiple FIRs as subdepartments. So perhaps you could direct a new Division of Afr.& ME Region in the virtual Middle East and not just an Israel vACC or perhaps organise both with few more people on board. The important thing is that if everything goes well Rob will trust you and you will decide what comes next.What we can do as VATSIM Europe Region, your neighbors, is generate traffic through our means of communications with pilots from vACCs like Greece, Cyprus, Turkey etc. We have also the means to generate lots of traffic upon your request in few hours for perhaps a controller's test needing traffic.Also we can provide you all necessary custom sector files you may need. All you need to do is contact our sector files guru Ton Out (VATEUD8) [email protected] These are custom sector files done upon request.Under VATSIM you can also gain acccess to the upcoming ASRC radar client. Take a look here http://www.asrc.info/ and checkout the preview on AVSIM. Its due out very soon after a very thorough beta testingit has gone through. Its goind to be available for use only by VATSIM controllers because it interacts deeply with our server code (flightstrip modifications etc.) which has also been enhanced for ASRC use. All you need is make sure Robert upgrades you fast (it can be done in seconds) and then add you and other coallegues in the list he will recommend for ASRC beta entry. A day later you'll end up having the most advanced radar client ever used in online operations.For more general questions on procedures in VATSIM you can contact specific persons specialised in each are called the VPs.Go to http://vatsim.net -> Contact VATSIM -> Board of GovernorsSostep 1 contact Robert about your intentionsstep 2 make sure he recommends to ASRC developers for beta entrystep 3 take a look at our Region, 3 Divisions, 24 vACCs websitesstep 4 start preparing a website to go on air based on previous examplesstep 5 contact me for anything suplementary you may needDo not leave IVAO just because of some personnal issues, the fact that some people may be weird there does not mean that all are like this. Just use both networks and decide what you prefer based on what you get back as a user ;-)Some prefer the one some the other and in the end they dwell there where it suits them best.Regards,Kyprianos Biris :-cool[link:avsim.com/greece/hvacc]Hellenic vACChttp://vatsim-eur.org/images/VATSIM-EURs.gif

Oh now I see the forum replacement made my message disapear...So in brief it was:Thanks A lot sir for the detailed answer. I did try in the meantime to send a mail to Robert Grant, but the address won't work (user unknown).If you or anyone else can be kind enough to reach him and ask him to supply an address or to contact me at [email protected] Thanks again,Ilan

Ilan I'll be contacting you privatelly later today.Kyprianos Biris :-cool[link:avsim.com/greece/hvacc]Hellenic vACChttp://vatsim-eur.org/images/VATSIM-EURs.gif

Thanks, I'll be home and online around 19:30z.(sorry for this ICQ type of post guys :-))Ilan

Great news Ilan. I joined Ivao just for ATC control when I fly to Tel Aviv. I will be great to have this service on Vastim.Mark

Soon enough I hope, we'll be glad to supply the service on VATSIM sir!Thanks for writing, and see you online!Ilan

Excellent news,It might be time for me to start flying ACA886 again .Would be nice to have someone vector me in from SIRON one of these days :-lol ..Will be following this with interest.Ian Elchitz/CYWGOakland ARTCC