The IVAO Headquarters ATC Group is a group of experienced ATCs, available to participate with divisons and outside divisions as ATC during events and other activities. HQ QTC Group is a tool to ensure ATC coverage when local members are not available. Exceptionally for training related sessions.This group aims to assist divisions and extend global activity footprint while maintaining a realistic and friendly environment.
What was this group created for?
The service provided by the ATC Group is available by request for events and other activites. Excepcionally for ATC training related activities.
- What if local members from my division become available after I requested HQ ATC Group?
You are always free to make changes to the schedule.
- Do HQ ATC Group members have any kind of priority to fill ATC positions?
No, events will always be made public before HQ ATC Group members are called in. IVAO´s ATC scheduling system and/or your division´s ATC roster will always be respected.
- Where can HQ ATC Members connect?
HQ ATC Members follow the same rules as everyone else: They can only connect on their home division, on those places for which they have a GCA and at places not part of any division.
You will need to grant temporary GCAs if you would like the HQ ATC Group to connect on your divisions´ stations.
- Can I trust the HQ ATC Group with my ATC positions?
After you request participation of the HQ ATC Group, we will get back to you with our proposed line up. From that moment on, it is up to the division requesting our presence to issue temporary GCAs. You might apply extra requisites or reject our proposal.
While the group is free for anyone to join, current requirements start at APC rank +500h.
For events (Divisional and HQ): HQ ATC group can only be requested by divisional events department or divisional HQ. Or HQ Events department hosting the event. You can request a particular position or a backup ATCO for the event.
Private activites: HQ ATC Group can also be requested to find ATC to cover areas outside divisions by private entities:
IVAO certified VAs can contact HQ ATC Operations directly (atcops@ivao.aero).
Platinium Verified Content Creators should contact PR and ATC Ops (pr@ivao.aero).For trainings and exams: The HQ ATC group can only be requested by the Training HQ mentor responsible for the concerned division. Divisional trainer/examiner will formulate a request to mentor (After agreement with the concerned trainee/examinee).
Requests are processed on a first come first served basis.
-- We might not be able to accomodate requests made on too short a notice or with too strict requisites --
HQ ATC Group participation request outline:
You can use the following form to structure your request(s)
- Example of what you could request:
- Dear HQ ATC Group, we need your help to fill the following positions during our 16th of February Atlantis fly-in:
POTS_TWR 18 - 20 UTC
PIFC_CTR 16 - 22 UTC, Only ACC rating with French language.
A backup ATCO for any positions during the whole event 15 - 21 UTC
To be part of HQ ATC Group, the member should send an application to the following adress: atcops@ivao.aero
These are the steps to become a member of HQ ATC Group:
To be part of the group, the candidate must meet the following requirements:
Please, when you send your application, let us know about additional ICAO languages you are proficient on and your knowledge of procedural/time based control.
Each member shall follow the general rules presented below:
Immediately after a succesful application proccess, members will join the HQ ATC Group as aspiring HQ ATCOs (Blue badge). After 5 participations within 1 year, full membership (White badge) is attained. Once the next calendar year starts, member participation will determine their status:
HQ ATC Group members who have a number of participations above Participation Factor x 1.25 will retain full status. Participation factor:
Total participations requested to group in a year / number of members = Participation factor.
A participation is defined as every 2 hours (Or subdivision for shorter requests) of connection on a requested position.
E.g.: 4h as LMMM_CTR = 2 participations. 1½ h as SLVR_APP to cover for an ADC exam = 1 participation.
Other activities or online days organised internally by the HQ ATC Group contribute participation points for you but don´t raise the requested participation factor = Free points.
Marshaller (Follow Me) connections on airports where this service is offered will also increase participations without raising the factor.
Let´s see an example:
During 2023, 72 participations have been requested to HQ ATC Group. If we have 36 members in the group, participation factor would equal 2. Any members who have more than 2 x 1.25 = 2.5 participations will retain their full member (White badge) status.
Members below that target will go back to the aspiring status.
After 1 year without at least 3 participations member will loose aspiring ATCO status (blue badge). User can still try to join as an ATCO and regain their status.
Awards will remain on member´s profile after leaving the group.
Requests and participations from members´ own division (Or where member is a GCA holder) will not be taken into account. This is because members should be scheduled under divisional procedures before any HQ ATC Group requests are created. At the same time, if you are not able to participate in a request because you will be connected as an ATC in your home division/ guest division, please let us know: Nobody will be penalized for this.
When a HQ ATC Group is connected on their scheduled position, if a local member expresses they would like to take up the position; the HQ ATC member will be free to decide whether to disconenct or not. In any case, participation will be counted.
The following awards are available for our crème de la crème:
Regional:
Assigned to every HQ ATC Group member who has participated in at least one session in every ICAO region: N.Ame, C.Ame + Caribben; S.Ame, Eur, Middle East, Africa, Asia, Oceania:
Veteran:
Assigned to every HQ ATC Group member who has more than 25 participations, at least 3 years of full membership:
HQ ATC of the year (Yearly):
Assigned to the HQ ATC Group member with the most participations that year:
.
You can achive Bronze -Silver - Gold - Diamond awards after completing 25/50/100/300 sessions respectively:
Whenever 2 or more members have simultaneously requested to participate on the same ATC position and timeframe, scheduling decision will be taken as follows:
1st Most adequate ATCO according to session requisites: ICAO languages ; procedural control experience…
2nd Member experience as an ATC.
3rd Seniority.
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