¶ Introduction
Welcome to the official Aurora Radar Client user manual. This documentation provides an in-depth reference for all radar features, interface customization, and live traffic management on the IVAO network.
Are you new to Aurora?
If this is your first time using the client, we highly recommend starting with our Aurora First Steps Guide to get your software, audio, and initial connection configured.
Advanced Aurora Functions Manual
There are some features of Aurora that are not explained in this document. For advanced functions, please refer to our Advanced Aurora Functions document.
FAQs
- Check our Frequently Asked Questions in case you encounter any problems.
- For macOS and Linux users, please check our macOS & Linux Manual for platform-specific information.
For Developers
In this manual, you will learn:
Download, Installation, First Steps and Sectorfiles Aurora First Steps
Main Window Aurora's Main Window Explanation
Aurora's Menu Bar Aurora's Menu Bar
Preferences Bar Learn about all the options in the Preferences Bar
Aircraft Context Menu What happens when you right-click a traffic?
Session Recorder Aurora's Built-in Function to Record ATC Sessions
Shortcuts Learn useful shortcuts for Aurora ATC Client
¶ Download, Installation, First Steps and Sectorfiles
Before diving into advanced options, you need to complete the initial software setup. Please visit our Aurora First Steps Guide, where you will find step-by-step instructions on:
- 📥 Downloading and installing Aurora.
- 🗺️ Loading your local division's sector files.
- 🎙️ Configuring your audio devices and Push-To-Talk (PTT).
- 📡 Establishing your first network connection.
¶ 
Aurora Main Window
The Aurora Air Traffic Control client interface is divided into three core operational zones: the Title Bar, the Navigation Bar (incorporating both Menu and Preference Bars), and the primary Plan View Display (PVD) radar screen.
You can easily show or hide the navigation bar (including PREF BAR and MENU BAR) at any time by right-clicking anywhere on the empty radar background (PVD).
Active bars will appear in bold text.
¶ 
Title Bar
The Title Bar manages global application behaviors, connection triggers, and window placement utilities.
- Aurora Version: Displays the currently compiled software build.
- Profile Identifier: Shows your connected ATC callsign or your last utilized local profile name (when operating offline).
- Login Settings: Opens the conection settings.
- Connect / Disconnect Button: Network connection toggle.
- Profile Menu: Shows the logged in account, ranks and staff positions (if any).
- Changelog: Displays development updates and software patch notes.
- Reorder Screens Tool: This is highly useful if floating modules (such as the COMBOX or Traffic manager) accidentally slide behind the primary PVD radar background.
- Fullscreen (Taskbar Hidden): Maximizes the client to cover your operating system's entire screen real estate.
- Minimize to Tray: Minimizes the active software process down into your system tray icon.
- Minimize to Taskbar: Standard window minimization link.
- Fullscreen (Windowed Mode): Toggles a bordered windowed maximization view.
- Close: Exits Aurora.
¶ Title Bar (When Connected)
Once you successfully log on to the network, the Title Bar will be shown as follows:
- Active Position Callsign: Confirms your validated online network position.
- Countdown Timer: Useful for aircraft separation. Check this section for more information.
- Intercom: Audio tool for adjacent sector voice lines. Check this section for more information.
- Disconnect: Click to disconnect from the network.
In compliance with IVAO Network Rule 2.2.1, all air traffic control units must remain actively connected to their station for a minimum continuous duration of 30 minutes. If you trigger a network disconnection prior to this threshold, Aurora will show the following warning.
¶ 
Timer
The countdown timer is a useful tool for procedural separations during high-volume sequencing.
- Timer Duration Wheel: Use your mouse scroll wheel over the timer to adjust its duration. You can add or subtract intervals of 10 seconds, up to a maximum of 10 minutes.
- Pop-out Button: Click the pop-out button to detach the timer. Once detached, you can move the timer window by clicking and dragging the dark grey handle section on the left side of the window.
- Timer Sound Configuration: To customize the timer's beep frequency, duration, and volume, please check the sounds configuration panel in the sounds section of this manual.
The timer is an essential tool for calculating separation intervals between departing aircraft (e.g., wake turbulence separation). For more information on separation standards, please check out this article.
¶ 
Intercom
The intercom allows you to establish direct voice communications with other online ATC positions. You can adjust the Intercom volume at any time using the dedicated volume knob.
There are two methods to initiate an intercom call:
-
Method 1: Using the Callsign Box
Type the desired ATC position directly into the callsign input field and press the green phone icon.
-
Method 2: Using the ATC Window
Locate the adjacent controller in the ATC list window and click the phone icon.
Intercom Transmission & PTT Behavior
- PTT Configuration: You can configure a dedicated Push-To-Talk (PTT) key for the intercom or choose to keep the voice line continuously open. To customize this behavior, please refer to the VHF Settings section of this manual.
- Frequency Priority Muting: Whenever you press your primary VHF radio PTT, you will be automatically muted on the intercom call.
¶ 
VHF Window
The VHF window only appears when you are connected to the network.
¶ 1. Auto Zoom Options (Magnifying Glass)
This feature automatically identifies or focuses on the aircraft that is currently transmitting on your frequency. You can cycle through its modes by clicking the icon:
- ⬜ Grey: Auto Zoom is deactivated.
- 🌫️ White: Places visual rings around the transmitting aircraft on the radar screen.
- 🟩 Green: Automatically selects the transmitting aircraft.
- 🟨 Amber: Automatically selects and zooms in on the transmitting aircraft.
¶ 2. Frequency Status Indicators
- TX (Transmit): Indicates you are actively transmitting voice audio on the frequency.
- RX (Receive): Indicates you are receiving incoming voice audio.
- CA (Channel Admin): Assigned to the controller who initialized the frequency channel. The Channel Admin can kick, mute, or grant admin privileges to other users in the channel list by right-clicking their callsign.
¶ 3. Connection and User Management
- Voice Server Reconnection: Double-click the radar icon
to force a reconnection if you are facing voice server issues. - Detachable User List: You can click the pushpin icon on the user list to unpin and separate it from the main VHF window, allowing you to place it anywhere on your screen.
¶ 4. User Lists Matrix
| Observer View | ATC View |
|---|---|
 |
 |
Observer Station Range
When online as an Observer, you may see the Station Name instead of the frequency. If this occurs, it indicates that the specific station is currently outside your software's reception range.
To configure the VHF, refer to this section of the manual.
¶ 
MENU BAR
The Menu Bar contains the primary windows required to manage your air traffic control session.
- 🛄 ATIS Opens the Automatic Terminal Information Service configuration panel.
- 💬 COMBOX Manages radio frequencies, text messages, and guard channels.
- 👥 ATC Displays the list of adjacent online air traffic control sectors.
- 📋 TRAFFIC Opens the electronic flight strip.
- 🛫 AIRPORTS Manages airport-specific settings, procedures, and local views.
- 💾 PROFILE Handles layout saves, color presets, and custom radar configurations.
- ⚙️ PVD Grants access to core client preferences, settings, and configurations.
¶ ATIS
ATIS Fundamentals & System Priority
- Purpose: The ATIS is used to continuously broadcast crucial airfield and meteorological data to pilots. To learn more about it, refer to the IVAO ATIS Training Documentation.
- Pilot Retrieval: Pilots can access your published ATIS via the Altitude pilot client (text/audio) or IVAO Webeye.
- Airfield Ownership Sequence: Only one ATIS can be active per aerodrome. Ownership is determined automatically by network hierarchy following this sequence: TWR > APP > GND > DEL.
- Example: If all four positions are online, Tower (TWR) manages the ATIS. If Tower goes offline, ownership automatically transfers to Approach (APP).
- Approach Delegation: Approach positions have the option to manually join or leave the automated airfield ATIS sequence.
- Training Override: Staff members can utilize the BLOCK ATIS feature during official training sessions or practical exams.
¶ The ATIS Window
- ATIS Active: Toggle this switch to activate or deactivate your station's ATIS broadcast on the network.
- ATIS Letter: Starts automatically at info 'A' (Alpha) and increments sequentially each time you modify the data or when a new METAR weather report updates.
- STATIC: Enable this option to manually lock a specific ATIS letter. The system will stop auto-incrementing.
- ATC Radio Callsign: Automatically fetched from the IVAO database based on your connection profile.
- TMA ATIS: Terminal Maneuvering Area option. This can only be enabled by APP/DEP positions. It is used when a single sector services multiple airports simultaneously, automatically disabling individual runway lines.
- ICAO Airport Code: Automatically matches your callsign, but can be manually overridden to fetch specific airport weather reports.
- Arrival Runways: Enter the active arrival runways, separated by spaces.
- Departure Runways: Enter the active departure runways, separated by spaces.
- Transition Level (TL): Toggle on/off. Specify the value explicitly in Flight Levels (e.g.,
FL060). - Transition Altitude (TA): Toggle on/off. Specify the value explicitly in feet (e.g.,
5000). - Remarks: Located at the bottom right. Enter local division procedures, restricted airspaces, or custom operational notes here.
- Preview Area: Located at the top right. Displays a real-time layout of the raw text broadcast that pilots will receive.
- Cancel: Closes the window immediately without saving any modifications.
- Send: Saves, publishes, and broadcasts the completed ATIS information live to the network.
¶ Voice ATIS & Text-to-Speech
TWR, GND and DEL positions have the option to either manually record an airfield voice ATIS using their microphone or utilize the automated Text-to-Speech (TTS) engine. For a deep dive into voice ATIS, please refer to the Aurora Voice ATIS Manual.
¶ 
COM
The COM Box manages all text-based communications. It is highly recommended to keep this window open and visible at all times during your control session.
A yellow flashing speech bubble on the COM button indicates that you have received unread text messages in one of your channels.
The COM Box supports up to eight tabs:
- MAIN (Tab 1): Your primary active ATC frequency. Aurora automatically assigns this based on your chosen sector file position. You can manually override or change it at any time by typing the frequency with two slashes (e.g.
//123.400) anywhere within the COM entry box. - MONITOR (Tabs 2 & 3): Optional auxiliary tabs used to monitor text communications on adjacent frequencies (e.g., keeping UNICOM
122.800or an adjacent Center frequency in view). You can configure these extra channels via PVD ➔ SETTINGS ➔ COM. - D-LINK: Telex and CPDLC (Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications) interface. This tab is exclusive to active ATC connections and remains hidden for Observers. For details, refer to the Hoppie Aurora Guide.
- GUARD: The international emergency frequency (
121.500 MHz). When a pilot tunes 121.500 as their primary frequency and sends a text message, it is automatically broadcast to all nearby aircraft and ATC stations, regardless of their active frequencies.
Avoid using the GUARD channel for routine communications. If you need to contact a specific pilot who has gone offline or lost contact, always attempt to send a Private Message (MSG) first.
- ATC: A dedicated internal chat exclusive to online nearby Air Traffic Controllers. Should only be used to announce when you start or end your control session.
- BRDCST: Network-wide broadcast channel. This is used by Supervisors and Administrators to send important announcements.
- MSG: Private server notifications.
- PRIVATE: Direct, one-on-one private messages between you and specific pilots or other controllers.
¶ 
ATC
Clicking the ATC button opens a new window showing all active controllers and observers operating within your station's range and center-point settings.
Connection Counter
The title bar of the ATC window displays the total number of stations currently visible within your range in parentheses (e.g.,ATC (5)).
¶ 1. Column Directory
The list is broken down into five primary columns:
- Call: The network callsign of the station (e.g.,
LECB_CTR,EGLL_TWR). - Freq: The frequency assigned to that position.
- R: The controller's ATC Rating.
- Name: The real name of the user.
- Options:
- C - Controlling: Illuminates in white if the position is active, indicating that the Intercom voice link is available. It appears in grey if the user is logged in as an Observer.
- T - Transfer List: Toggling this white includes the station in your quick radar handoff menu and shows their sector boundary lines onto your radar display (if defined in the sector file).
- M - Message: Instantly initializes a dedicated private chatbox with that station inside your COM window.
- A - ATIS Request: Automatically requests the station's current text ATIS data, which will be delivered directly to your
MSGtab.
¶ 2. Advanced Search & Filtering Controls
You can customize your ATC list using the input filter bar at the bottom of the window:
- FILTER Mode Enabled: The window isolates the directory, displaying only the ATC stations that match your search phrase.
- Example: To view only Amsterdam positions, check FILTER and type
EHAMinto the search box (as shown in the left reference image).
- Example: To view only Amsterdam positions, check FILTER and type
- FILTER Mode Disabled: The window retains the full list of online controllers but dynamically highlights the rows that match your search phrase (as shown in the right reference image).
Multi-Station Filtering
You can filter multiple distinct airports simultaneously by adding a space between search terms. For instance, typingAM BK EHwill instantly isolate all active positions for EHAM, EHBK, and EHEH. Note that multi-filtering requires the FILTER checkbox to be active; otherwise, the system will only look for exact sequential phrases.
¶ 
TRAFFIC
The Traffic Manager serves as Aurora's digital flight strip display, providing a comprehensive breakdown of the currently selected aircraft.
¶ 1. Flight Plan Data
The main display panel decodes the filed flight plan into four columns:
- Column 1: Displays the destination airport (e.g.,
EGPE), the flight rules indicator (Ifor IFR /Vfor VFR), and the current Transponder code selected by the pilot (e.g.,4301). - Column 2: Shows the requested cruise Flight Level (e.g.,
F260), the aircraft type and wake turbulence category (e.g.,B738 M), the filed true airspeed (e.g.,N0454knots), and the alternate airfield (e.g.,EGPK). - Column 3: Displays the aircraft callsign (e.g.,
VAF771), its registered phonetic telephony designator (e.g.,Skyfriend), the departure origin airport (e.g.,EGFF), and the estimated off-block time (EOBT) (e.g.,1455UTC). - Column 4: Shows the full filed flight plan route and the Item 18 (Other Information/Remarks).
¶ 2. Tag Editing
The bottom row allows to introduce the instructions given to the pilot directly into the aircraft's radar label (TAG):
- WP (Waypoint): Enter a cleared direct-to fix, heading or procedure (SID/STAR...).
- ALT (Altitude): Input the cleared altitude or flight level.
- SPD (Speed): Input assigned speed restrictions or mach numbers.
Applying Changes
To transmit and save changes to the network, press the checkmark (✓) button or simply hit Enter on your keyboard. Clicking the DEL button will instantly wipe all active custom annotations from the aircraft's tag.
- SQK (Squawk / SSR Management): Manually type a code here, or press the REQ SSR button. Aurora will automatically fetch and allocate a new, conflict-free transponder code based on your local division's automated squawk code assignment profile.
- PM (Private Message): Instantly initializes a private text chat tab inside your COM window to communicate directly with the pilot.
It is crucial to utilize these data fields to keep track of your issued clearances, ensuring adjacent ATC units can easily verify the traffic's profile.
¶ 
STRIPS
Clicking the STRIPS button expands the Traffic Manager window into an electronic flight strip bay. The system categorizes and populates aircraft profiles based on the aerodromes selected within your Airports Window (explained below).
The strip bay is divided into three columns: DEP (Departures), ARR (Arrivals), and OVER (Overflights).
¶ 1. Column Management and Customization
- The [ U ] Toggle (Uncontrolled Traffic): Located at the top right of each individual column. Toggling this button switches the visibility of aircraft that are not assumed by your station.
If the [ U ] button appears in bold/white, unassumed (uncontrolled) traffic within that category will be rendered in the strip list. If disabled, only the aircraft actively assumed by your position will be listed.
- Window Separation (S.DEP / S.ARR / S.OVER): Click these header buttons to detach and undock any specific column. This allows you to position individual departure or arrival strip bays independently across multiple monitors.
¶ 2. Strip Layout Reference
Each digital strip provides a real-time snapshot of the aircraft's current profile:
¶ 🛫 DEP Column (Outbound Flight Strips)
Displays departing aircraft originating from your managed airports.
The header title displays the total number of outbound strips currently rendered inside parentheses—for example,
DEPARTURES (6).
¶ 🛬 ARR Column (Inbound Flight Strips)
Displays arriving aircraft descending into your managed airports.
The header title displays the total number of inbound strips currently rendered inside parentheses—for example,
ARRIVALS (3).
¶ ✈️ OVER Column (Overfly Flight Strips)
Displays en-route traffic transiting through your designated sector boundaries without landing at your primary airports.
The header title displays the total number of overflying strips currently rendered inside parentheses—for example,
OVERFLY (2).
¶ AIRPORTS
The Airports window provides airfield meteorological data and automates runway and gate management. The interface is divided into two primary columns.
¶ 1. Left Column: Airfield Directory & Weather Data
This column lists all airports loaded in your sector file.
The sub-columns allow you to toggle overlays for each airport:
- [ C ] Controlled: Toggles the controlled status of the airfield (represented by a funnel icon).
Activating the Controlled [ C ] status and selecting the active runway (explained below), allows Aurora to auto-fill procedures (such as SIDs and STARs) when typing inside the WP input box of the Traffic Manager.
- [ R ] Runway: Toggles the automated runway assignment engine. When active (crossed runways icon), Aurora will suggest active runways based on real-time METAR wind parameters.
- [ Z ] Zoom: Click the magnifying glass icon to instantly center and focus your primary PVD radar view onto that specific airport layout.
- [ V ] VFR Waypoints: Toggles the visual display of local VFR reporting points.
- [ M ] MRVA: Toggles the Minimum Radar Vectoring Altitude (MRVA/MVA) terrain safety contour lines on your map.
- [ N ] NOTAMs: Instantly fetch active NOTAM data, sending the raw text report directly into the MSG tab of your COM Box.
¶ 2. Right Column: Runway Configurations & Gates
¶ Runway Selection Matrix (Top Section)
This panel displays the physical attributes of the runways belonging to the airport selected on the left:
- RWY: The official runway designator number.
- CRS: The magnetic heading course of the runway centerline.
- P (Preferred): Displays system-generated advice pointing out the most mathematically favorable runway based on current headwind components.
- D (Departure): Check this box to manually designate the runway as active for departures.
- A (Arrival): Check this box to manually designate the runway as active for arrivals.
Selecting your active runways is essential, as it allows Aurora to automatically suggest the correct SIDs and STARs when editing the WP field in the Traffic Manager.
¶ Ground Management & Operational Toggles (Bottom Section)
The bottom action bar features a FIND input box alongside seven primary buttons:
- FIND Box: Type an ICAO code to quickly search through large sector files.
- CTRL ALL: Instantly flags every airport listed in the sector file as controlled [ C ].
- CTRL NONE: Deselects and removes controlled status from all airfields.
- CTRL FOUND: Automatically selects the airport typed in the FIND box and flags it as controlled [ C ].
- GATES: Opens the interactive terminal gate manager, displaying parking layouts and aircraft currently parked on the ground.
- Assigning Gates: To assign a gate to a specific target, select the aircraft and click the sign icon. To clear a gate assignment, click on an empty space to deselect all aircraft, then press the sign icon again.
- The [ T ] Column: Located to the left of the Gate ID, this field defines the gate size constraints: L (Light), M (Medium), H (Heavy), or S (Super).
- HIDE UNCO: Filters the directory to hide uncontrolled airfields, displaying only the airports you have manually flagged as controlled.
- INVERT VFR: Inverts your current selection; hides active VFR overlays and reveals previously hidden ones.
- INVERT MVA: Inverts your current selection; hides active Minimum Vectoring Altitude contours and reveals previously hidden ones.
¶ 🅿️ Gates Window
The Gates window allows you to monitor ground parking configurations and manage gate assignments for ground and tower operations.
Aurora automatically detects when an aircraft occupies a specific gate and updates the display in real time. Additionally, you can pre-assign an arriving aircraft to a specific gate, which will register its status as reserved.
To streamline ground management, use the four filter buttons located at the bottom of the window:
- ALL: Displays every single gate defined in the sector file.
- FREE: Filters the list to display only vacant parking positions.
- OCCU: Filters the list to show gates currently occupied by active aircraft tracks.
- RESERV: Displays gates that have been manually pre-allocated to arriving traffic.
¶ 🗺️ Procedures Window
The Procedures panel is the terminal control center of Aurora. It features a versatile matrix of buttons divided into two specialized rows designed to control SID/STAR, Holdings, Transitions...
¶ First Row: Geometrical & Approach Overlays
- TRANS: Toggles En-route Transition procedures for the selected runway.
- HOLD: Displays published Holding Patterns on the radar screen.
- IAP: Toggles Initial Approach Procedures (initial segments of an instrument approach).
- FAP: Toggles Final Approach Procedures (ILS, RNAV, or VOR final approach tracks).
- GA: Displays the published Go-Around / Missed Approach ground tracks.
- [ X ] Undock: Detaches the procedures tab into an independent, free-floating window.
¶ Second Row: Departures, Arrivals, and Global Filters
- COLOR: Toggles custom color coding for procedural tracks on your display.
The COLOR function mimics real-world Eurocat/TopSky ATC systems, helping controllers instantly differentiate between overlapping procedures or procedures belonging to different nearby airports. To assign or display these custom colors, hold the
SHIFTkey while clicking the COLOR button.
- SID: Displays Standard Instrument Departures for the selected runway.
- STAR: Displays Standard Terminal Arrival Routes for the selected runway.
- AUTO: Activates automated, dynamic procedure filtering based on active runway configurations.
- RNAV: Toggles and filters exclusively between RNAV-only or conventional (non-RNAV) procedures.
- ALL: Overrides localized selections to display all matching procedures globally. For example, if SID is active and you press ALL, every single SID defined for that runway will render simultaneously on your map.
¶ 🔄 The AUTO Button
The AUTO filtering button dynamically filters procedures based on whether a runway is set for departures or arrivals:
- Runway set for Departures [ D ]: Aurora will automatically display only the SIDs, Transitions, and Departure paths mapped to that specific runway, hiding arrival procedures.
- Runway set for Arrivals [ A ]: Aurora will automatically filter your view to project only STARs, IAPs, holdings, and Go-Around profiles tailored to that landing runway.
¶ 
PROFILE
Profiles are configuration files that store your radar environment preferences, layout bounds, window locations, and custom display settings. Utilizing profiles ensures you do not have to manually reconfigure your radar workspace each time you log on to the network.
Clicking this menu button displays a dropdown list with three primary options:
- Open: Opens a file browser to locate and load a previously saved custom radar profile.
- Save (Shortcut:
F4): Saves your current radar configuration. By default, Aurora automatically names the profile file to match the active station callsign you are currently using. - Supervisor (Shortcut:
F3): Opens the specialized Supervisor Module panel. (Only SUPs).
You can easily customize how Aurora handles profile updates by navigating to PVD ➔ SETTIGNS ➔ OTHER and toggling the Save profile on exit option.
If you prefer to manage your layouts manually, you can disable this feature and use the
F4shortcut at any time to save specific modifications (such as zoom levels or custom fix selections).
¶ 
PVD
The PVD menu acts as the core settings engine for Aurora, allowing you to manage color profiles, custom audio warnings among many other settings.
- 🌐 SECTOR Manages sector file loading, map definitions, and geographic data fixes.
- 🎨 COLORS Opens the scheme editor to customize radar targets, text, and workspace themes.
- 🔊 SOUNDS Controls audio notification alerts, voice channel levels, and radio effects.
- ⌨️ SHORTCUTS Accesses the keybinding manager to customize keyboard shortcuts and macro commands.
- 🛠️ SETTINGS Grants access to primary client preferences, miscellaneous options, and system tweaks.
¶ 
SECTOR (Shortcut: F1)
The Sector File panel controls the loading, updating, and removal of your radar airspace files.
For complete instructions on how to search, download, and activate radar sector maps using Aurora's integrated downloader, please refer to Step 2 of our Aurora First Steps Guide.
- Interface Behavior: The sector management window automatically closes once a file is successfully loaded. If you need to keep this index visible while performing modifications, click the pushpin icon located in the top-right corner.
¶ 
COLORS (Shortcut: F5)
Aurora offers a highly adaptable visual engine, allowing you to customize your radar environment to match local real-world Air Traffic Control facilities or optimize contrast for personal visibility.
- Applying Changes: Remember to click the APPLY button at the bottom of the window for your custom configurations to take effect on the primary radar screen.
Displaying Aircraft Icons on Ground Radar
To enhance situational awareness on airport surface layouts, you can display ground traffic using realistic aircraft hull profiles that track real heading changes. To activate this, navigate to PVD ➔ Color Scheme (F5) ➔ TRAFFIC ➔ A-Column, and modify the designated plot icon for each target status tier (Assumed, Normal, Selected).
¶ 
SOUNDS (Shortcut: F6)
The Sound panel manages all system alerts, incoming text sound notifications, and coordination buzzers.
- Hardware & Volume: Select your primary hardware Output Device for alerts and adjust the slider to balance the notification volume.
- Timer beep Customization: You can adjust both the tone pitch (frequency configured in Hz) and the audible duration of the primary countdown timer.
- Audio Library Mapping: These system alerts correspond directly to the physical files stored within your local Aurora installation directory (
/Soundsfolder), mapping directly to their respective filenames.
¶ SHORTCUTS (Shortcut: F9)
The Shortcuts manager allows you to remap standard system functions to custom keyboard layouts.
This customization panel is accessed by navigating to PVD ➔ SETTINGS and selecting the SHORTCUTS sub-tab.
The configuration interface is divided into different categories:
- MENU: Includes shortcuts to open and close internal PVD menus and system screens.
- TRAFFIC: Manages traffic functions, such as routing paths, target vectors, and flight plan windows.
- NAVIGATION: Controls navigation display layouts, including fixes, airways, and high/low altitude structures.
- GEO: Toggles geographic radar overlays like coastlines, borders, danger airspaces, and safety grids.
- RADAR: Customizes core radar performance tools, range rings, zoom controls, and tracking filters.
¶ ⚡ Overriding PTT Modifier Conflicts (The Asterisk * Feature)
If you use modifier keys like SHIFT, CTRL, or ALT for your radio Push-To-Talk (PTT), they will conflict when you try to press another hotkey at the same time (e.g., holding SHIFT to talk and pressing TAB to see a route registers as SHIFT + TAB, blocking the command).
To make Aurora ignore your active PTT modifiers for a specific shortcut:
- ⚡ How to Activate: Double-click the action name on the far-left column (e.g., double-click on "Show / Hide traffic route").
- 🔍 Visual Indicator: An asterisk (
*) will appear next to the key (e.g.,TAB*orF1*), confirming it will now work while talking. - 🔄 How to Deactivate: Reassign the shortcut key normally to clear the asterisk state.
¶ SETTINGS (Shortcut: F7)
The Settings environment manages global client parameters, automation logic, radar sweep behaviors, and conflict alerts.
¶ 📡 1. RADAR Settings
These configurations define the core behavior of Aurora's radar screen.
¶ 1.1 Range Limits (PSR & SSR)
- Range PSR (Horizontal): Sets the maximum horizontal distance (in Nautical Miles) of the Primary Surveillance Radar.
- Range PSR (Vertical TOP / FLOOR): Defines the ceiling and floor altitude block limits (in feet) for raw PSR tracking.
- Range SSR (Horizontal): Sets the maximum horizontal distance (in Nautical Miles) for transponder-equipped aircraft tracking.
- Range SSR (Vertical TOP / FLOOR): Defines the ceiling and floor altitude block limits (in feet) for Secondary Surveillance Radar tracking.
¶ 1.2 System Icons & Target History
- Symbol for Extrapolated Track: Specifies the radar icon used when aircraft positions are temporarily calculated via mathematical extrapolation instead of direct updates.
- Symbol for CPDLC: Defines the digital icon overlaid on target blocks when a stable data link connection is active.
- Traffic Refresh Rate: Sets the automatic data transmission update cycle interval (in seconds).
- Traffic History (Type / Size / Time / Space): Configures how older radar target return trails are painted (shapes, sizing scales, overall trail lifetime duration, and individual plot spacing intervals).
- Traffic History Shrink / Factor: Toggle whether target return plots progressively diminish in size over time, alongside their exact percentage scale steps.
- Auto Hide Route: Automatically clears the active track line projection of your previously selected aircraft the moment you click on a new target.
- Ignore DUPE / Auto SSR on DUPE: Manages how the software handles duplicate transponder codes. Turning on Auto SSR automatically allocates a clean code to resolve the conflict.
¶ 1.3 Screen
- Lock Radar Zoom / Move: Locks your current panning and scaling adjustments to prevent accidental mouse movements from changing your view.
- Zoom Speed: Customizes the mouse wheel scaling responsiveness multiplier (scalable from 1x up to 20x).
- Zoom Center: Forces the zoom axis to anchor strictly on the physical radar origin center point.
- Zoom Range / Range Ring Distance: Displays current range circles and controls their geometric spacing intervals in Nautical Miles.
- Map Rotation: Rotates the entire radar grid layout.
💡 When a radar map is rotated (highly useful for Ground Control layouts), the QDM function automatically adapts its relative headings to align with your new orientation.
¶ 1.4 On-Screen Strip (OS Strip)
- On Screen Strip Position / Visible: Toggles an isolated, floating electronic flight strip profile on your main radar screen, and sets its layout docking side (Left or Right).
¶ 🏷️ 2. LABELS Settings
Controls the size, data presentation layout, and structural automation of the electronic target text boxes tethered to aircraft plots.
- Defined Labels / Static Editor: Check the information posted on the Advanced Aurora's Functions Manual regarding the label editor
¶ STRUCTURE
- Type: Toggles between Dynamic or Static. Static labels are highly customizable.
- Lock Type: Configures how aircraft labels behave when zooming in or out on the radar display:
- Distance: Keeps the label at a fixed relative distance from the aircraft.
- Position: Freezes the label at its current screen coordinate, remaining exactly where you placed it.
- Auto: Automatically switches between Distance and Position modes based on your current zoom level.
- Start Type: Determines how new aircraft labels are initially spawned on the radar screen, choosing between Corner (fixed angle) or Random positioning.
- Start Corner: Defines the specific bearing (0° to 360°) where the label will spawn relative to the aircraft target when Start Type is set to Corner.
¶ FONTS
- Fonts: each font type and size for NAV, aircrafts, QDM and UI text.
¶ MOUSE AREA
- Mouse AREA Range / Filter: Customizes the behavior of the MA toggle in the Preferences Bar. It sets the mouse hover query radius and filters exactly what sector data displays when your cursor skims the map.
¶ MOUSE OPTIONS
- Middle mouse move: Enables or disables the ability to move an aircraft's radar label by clicking and dragging it with the middle mouse button (scroll wheel).
- Middle mouse highlight: Allows you to highlight a specific data field inside the aircraft's radar label by clicking it with the middle mouse button (scroll wheel).
¶ SHORT LABELS
- Short Labels: Optimizes space by compressing 5-character FIX/Airport/FL/Speed into 3 characters (e.g.,
AMVEScondenses intoAMV;N250intoN25).
¶ BACKGROUND
- State Color / Background Filled: Toggles whether status alerts (Arrival, Departure, Overfly) paint the text fonts or fill the solid background tile of the callsign block.
- On Screen Strip Filled: Applies the status tier color code directly to your on-screen floating flight strip panel.
- COO XFL label filled:
¶ S-MODE
- S-Mode Equipment (On-Ground / Airborne): Forces active secondary transponder tracking for ground operations (essential for GND/TWR controllers managing aircraft that have not initialized their squawk code) or airborne phases.
¶ MISC
- Wake color assumed: Configures whether the Wake Turbulence Category (WTC) letter in the label matches your station's standard assumed color or adopts its specific category profile (Red for Super, Yellow for Heavy, Green for Medium, and White for Light, as defined in your color scheme settings).
- QNH auto highlight: Automatically highlights the altimeter setting (QNH) field in the Airports window when an update occurs.
- Altitude alert: Triggers a flashing yellow alert on the aircraft label if its Actual Flight Level (AFL) deviates from its Cleared Flight Level (CFL) based on the following logic:
- Level Flight: Alerts if .
- Climbing Traffic: Alerts if (unless a climb restriction like CFL+ is assigned, which suppresses the alert unless ).
- Descending Traffic: Alerts if (unless a descent restriction like CFL- is assigned, which suppresses the alert unless ).
- Blink on TRANSFER: Causes the label to flash continuously when a target is being handed over. This can be customized to trigger on inbound transfers, outbound transfers, or both.
- Assign gate on RADAR: Enables the ability to manually assign or modify an aircraft's arrival parking stand directly from its radar tag, bypassing the need to open the full ground movement menus.
- Auto assign GATE: Automatically allocates an available parking gate to the aircraft once it transitions from Outbound to Inbound status (or upon track assumption, whichever occurs later) based on your sector's active
.GTSfilter presets.
¶ 💬 3. COM Settings
Manages the communication between ATCs and pilots, including automated text messaging handoffs, clearance scripts, and channel audio notification alerts.
¶ 3.1 Operations & Automated Messages
- Auto Accept Transfer: When enabled, handoffs from adjacent ATC units are accepted by your station automatically. If turned off, you should accept it manually.
- Auto Accept CPDLC: Automatically acknowledges and accepts incoming electronic datalink connection requests.
- Clear Labels on Release: Automatically wipes out annotations (such as assigned altitude, speeds, or custom waypoints) from the radar tag the moment you release the traffic to UNICOM.
- Release / Transfer / Transfer Accept Messages: Automatically sends predefined text to the frequency text channel when transferring or releasing control (e.g., "CALLSIGN, contact EDDF_GND on 121.975, good day"). Options include: All / None / No Voice.
- Frequencies: Sets how many active communication channels (1 to 3) render concurrently inside your main COM panel view.
¶ 3.2 Message Alerts
Select which specific communication channels trigger flashing visual cues upon receiving a new incoming transmission:
Frequency 1 | Frequency 2 | Frequency 3 | Guard (121.500) | ATC Chat | Network Broadcast | System Messages | Private Messages
¶ 
4. VHF Settings
The VHF Radio settings allow you to configure your microphone, speakers, and push-to-talk (PTT) setup for voice communications in Aurora.
- MIC Input: Select your primary microphone hardware.
- MIC Amplifier: Increases microphone gain. The value is configured in decibels (dB).
- Speaker Output: Select your primary output hardware device (headphones or speakers) for pilot communications.
- Intercom Output: Select the dedicated output device specifically for ATC-to-ATC intercom voice communication.
- Equipment: Specify the type of radio hardware filter to simulate how pilots hear your voice. Detailed technical specifications are available below.
- Elevation: Simulates a higher antenna altitude to mathematically adjust your transmission and reception coverage range.
- Push to Transmit (PTT): Click to bind your designated Push-To-Talk key. Standard keys such as Left/Right Control or Shift are highly recommended.
- Local Test: Toggle this function ON and press your PTT to hear your own voice loopback. A dynamic green audio bar will indicate your real-time microphone input volume levels.
- Intercom Transmit Type: Toggle between Open (continuous hot-mic communication with the adjacent sector) or PTT (voice transmission only occurs when the intercom key is pressed).
- Intercom PTT: Click to bind a dedicated Push-To-Talk key exclusively for intercom coordination. This key will only function if the transmit type above is set to PTT.
Audio Troubleshooting
If you perform a Local Test and experience issues, verify the following indicators:
- No audio loopback AND no green volume bar: Your input device (microphone) is not capturing audio.
- No audio loopback BUT the green volume bar moves: Your microphone works perfectly, but your output device (headphones/speakers) is misconfigured.
¶ Equipment Types (Voice Filters)
Operational Filters
Each hardware simulation features unique digital audio filters that alter how your voice sounds to pilots. You can experiment with different options or select the specific system utilized by your real-world local aviation authority.
-
GAREX
- Developed by Indra, GAREX is a voice communications control system widely implemented across Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa.
- It is predominantly utilized within Area Control Centers (ACC) and Ground control stations. For a comprehensive deployment overview, refer to the Indra Navia Installations List.
-
General Dynamics
- Developed under the NEXCOM program, General Dynamics Air Traffic Control Radios are the primary hardware standard utilized across civil and military facilities in the United States.
-
JOTRON
- Developed by Jotron, this represents one of the most widely deployed radio systems globally.
- It is standard equipment for Aerodrome Control Towers (TWR) and Approach Control (APP) units. A detailed breakdown of active locations can be found on the Jotron Airport Installations Registry.
-
PAE
- Manufactured by Park Air Systems, PAE radio equipment operates in over 180 countries worldwide, primarily servicing Tower and Approach control environments.
¶ 📐 5. VECTOR Settings
Configures the geometric projection lines, approach intercept patterns, and intercept gates utilized for terminal radar vectoring.
¶ 5.1 Runway Intercept Profiles (Runway T)
- Runway T Settings (Intercept Distance / Angle / Base Leg / Start Distance): Defines the mathematical dimensions (in Nautical Miles and Degrees) for generating standard T-bar approach pattern helpers onto active runways.
- Runway Center Line: Projects an extended centerline track from the runway threshold out onto the map, complete with 1-NM progressive tick marks.
- Approach Gates: Sets visual stabilization gate crosshairs at defined distance marks along the final approach corridor.
¶ 5.2 Tactical Vector Rules
- Traffic Vector Spaced / Time / Space: Sets up progressive prediction leader lines stretching out from aircraft tracks based on time scales (minutes ahead) or explicit distance metrics.
- Traffic Vectors Only Assumed: Only shows the vectors for assumed traffic.
- Traffic Default Show Vector: Forces the client to display directional vectors for all tracked aircraft by default.
- Middle Mouse Vector Option: Enables quick vector heading assignments directly from the radar screen via middle-mouse button clicks.
- Traffic Heading Indicator on Ground: Overlays directional heading arrows on ground traffic targets to monitor taxi orientations.
¶ ⚠️ 6. CONFLICT Settings (Safety Alerts)
Manages the parameters of the automated safety logic: Conflict Alert (CA) and Short Term Collision Alert (STCA).
¶ 6.1 CONFLICT Column (Real-time Separation Auditing)
- Equipped: Activates or deactivates the Conflict Alert engine.
- Ignore Conflicts Above / Below: Sets safety threshold bounds (e.g., disabling warnings below 2,000 feet to prevent false alerts caused by VFR aircraft performing standard traffic patterns).
- Layer Editor (TOP / Vertical / Horizontal): Creates layered altitude blocks, allowing you to define distinct horizontal (NM) and vertical (feet) separation minimums tailored to different airspace classes (e.g., tighter spacing in terminal areas vs. standard en-route sectors).
- Layer Visualization: Projects a graphic representation of your active vertical safety layers.
You must assign layer values sequentially starting from 1 upwards. Aurora processes Layer 1 as the lowest layer, meaning it cannot function as the top layer of your stack.
¶ 6.2 STCA Column (Predictive Collision Auditing)
- Equipped: Toggles the Short Term Collision Alert predictive scanning engine on or off.
- Warning Time: Sets the look-ahead safety buffer (in seconds). The system calculates the aircraft's current track, speed, and altitude profiles to predict a loss of separation before it occurs.
- HALO Distance: Defines the protective radius zone centered around aircraft plots to audit for upcoming airspace violations.
- Layer Editor & Visualization: Configures vertical and horizontal predictive separation thresholds across custom altitude layers.
¶ 🔢 7. SQK Settings (Squawk Allocation)
Configures how Aurora manages transponder code distribution. You can choose between automated network indexing or custom local ranges.
- VFR: Input the national or regional standard transponder code for VFR flights (typically
1200in North America or7000across Europe). - SQK From IVAO Server:
- YES (Highly Recommended): Aurora syncs directly with IVAO's centralized server pool to deliver conflict-free squawk allocations across adjacent sectors automatically.
- NO: Unlocks the local SERIES engine tool.
- ADD SERIE / Randomize Multi Hits: Allows you to define localized squawk ranges manually. If randomized mode is checked, Aurora will randomly select a code from within your custom range rather than issuing them sequentially.
For more detailled information about CUSTOM mode, refer to Aurora's Advanced Functions Manual.
¶ 🎨 8. SYMBOLS Settings
This tab allows you to remap standard radar markers to custom icon profiles provided by your local division's ATC Operations staff.
- Remapping Icons: Click any symbol's bounding box to open the asset directory and select an alternate visual marker layout.
The availability and integration of realistic or custom symbols depend entirely on your local division's active sector file configurations.
¶ ⚙️ 9. OTHER Settings (System & Miscellaneous)
Manages general client utilities, radar drawing methods, target measurement units, and third-party integration parameters.
- Show Hint: Toggles informative tooltip overlays when hovering your cursor over interface buttons.
- Save Profile on Exit: Automatically saves your current screen layout, open windows, and sector configurations upon closing the software.
- Focus Combox: When active, centers system input priority onto the COM text line. Any typing on your keyboard will instantly feed into the text box, even if you are interacting with the radar screen.
- Mouse Cursor / Visible / Overlay Mouse / Visible: Fully customizes your main cursor styling parameters, color tracks, and secondary precision line sights.
- Popupmenu Transparency: Adjusts the alpha-blend opacity sliders for contextual menus.
- Show DMS Info Line: Toggles real-time coordinate position data lines on your main screen.
- Copy Coordinates: Selects between Decimal or DMS format. Pressing
CTRL + Con your keyboard will instantly copy the precise coordinates of your mouse cursor's position to your clipboard. - Altitude Use Leading Zero (0): Forces single or double-digit altitudes to display full leading zeroes (e.g., FL70 renders as
070). - USE NATs: Integrates and maps North Atlantic Tracks directly onto your radar display. Refer to Aurora's Advanced Functions Manual for more info.
- Speed / Altitude / FL Unit: Sets the primary units of measurement.
- Session Recorder: Toggles Aurora's internal background flight tracking recorder for playback evaluations.
- Streamer Mode: Instantly masks and replaces real member names across the ATC directory and Flight Plan windows to safeguard user privacy during live broadcasts.
When broadcasting or recording your air traffic control sessions publicly, you must remain fully compliant with IVAO Network Policy, specifically Rule 2.1.12. For details, review the Official IVAO Rules Registry.
- 3rd Party Software Access: Enables an internal API connection port. This checkbox must be enabled if you operate external plugins.
- Software Version: Permits switching between Public, Beta, or Alpha software client builds (restricted to authorized testing personnel).
- QDM Turn / Traffic QDM Turn Calculation: Enables predictive turn path modeling when drawing a QDM line relative to an active target.
- QDM when distance is less than 2 NM: Toggles specific proximity line handling for close-range separation checks.
- Assign Heading from QDM: Automatically rounds off QDM vector tracks and imports that heading text value directly into the WP box of the target's Traffic profile upon selection.
- CLEAR FILTER (CLR): Master reset switches to purge display overlays for Routes, SIDs, STARs, Holdings, and Approach paths with a single click.
- Smooth Drawing: Unlocks advanced alpha-blending and anti-aliasing rendering options across map layers (GEO, NAV, ATC, Airfields). Note: This feature provides fluid panning but requires a modern dedicated graphics card.
- Orthodromic / Spherical Drawing: Forces long-distance routing lines (such as NATs or long tracks) to calculate using true great-circle spherical curvature instead of flat planar lines, preventing geometric distortion over oceanic airspaces.
¶ 
PREF BAR
The Preferences Bar controls the real-time visual clutter and advanced display overlays on your radar. It is divided into four primary categories.
- 🔳 INSET Configures auxiliary viewports, including Vertical Profile (VPROFILE) and Precision Approach Radar (PAR).
- ✈️ TRAFFIC Manages label positioning, halos, range rings, speed vectors, altitude prediction, and ground filtering.
- 🗺️ GEO Toggles geography layers: Coastline, Airspace Restrictions, Special Areas and Weather Radar.
- 🛰️ NAV Controls aviation layers: Navigation & Airway display toggles, NAVAIDs, and airspace grids.
¶ 
INSET (Shortcuts: CTRL + 1 - 8)
When active (Bold), this module allows you to initialize up to eight independent, secondary radar windows. This is highly effective when managing sectors with multiple active terminal areas, enabling you to keep dedicated, zoomed-in views of specific airfields simultaneously.
¶ 1. Inset Contextual Preferences
Each individual INSET window possesses its own independent Preferences Bar split into three sub-tabs:
- GEO Tab: Toggles localized geographical features, coastlines, and boundary lines inside that specific window.
- NAV Tab: Toggles radio navigation aids, intersection fixes, and airway structures within the inset boundary.
- OTHER Tab: Controls advanced tracking filters and window-specific behaviors:
- Traffic Filtering: Cycle through this button to filter what traffic renders inside the Inset window: ALL ➔ AIR ➔ GROUND ➔ OFF.
- Display Rotation: Use the rotation sliders to twist the inset map view—ideal for aligning runway layouts on ground control setups.
- Multi-Monitor Layouts: You can click, unpin, and drag any active INSET window outside the main client frame to position them across separate physical monitors.
- Inside an INSET window, you can select V. PROF or PAR from the PREF BAR to use that window as vertical profile or Precision Approach Radar.
To safeguard your custom terminal views, check the Lock Zoom or Lock Move options inside the inset header to prevent accidental mouse inputs from altering your tracking scale.
¶ 📈 2. Vertical Profile View (V. PROF)
Activating the V. PROF toggle transforms an Inset window into a dynamic, cross-sectional vertical profile display. This tool plots tracked aircraft across their relative vertical planes based on their real-time mode-C altitude versus their cleared flight levels.
- NAV Filtering: Click the internal NAV button to filter and track only the aircraft flying along selected airways or over defined fixes/navaids.
- Scale Restrictions: You can restrict the layout bounds based on explicit horizontal range boundaries or defined vertical altitude blocks.
- Step Interval: Defines the exact mathematical distance gap rendered between perpendicular grid cross-sections.
¶ 📐 3. Precision Approach Radar (PAR)
Toggling the PAR function adapts the Inset window into a military and specialized civil recovery radar layout, providing concurrent azimuth and elevation glidepath tracking.
For detailed configuration rules, radar alignment steps, and operational guidelines on how to conduct a Precision Approach Radar talkdown, please consult our dedicated chapter in the Advanced Aurora Functions Manual.
¶ TRAFFIC (Shortcut: CTRL + T)
When active (Bold), this module expands your Preferences Bar to manage radar label positioning, proximity rings, vector separation, and advanced target filtering rules.
¶ 🏷️ 1. Label Position & Customization (L+ / L-)
These controls adjust the visual separation between the physical aircraft plot symbol and its text data block to prevent overlapping clutter.
- L+ (Label Distance Plus): Extends and moves the aircraft text label further away from the plot target.
- L- (Label Distance Minus): Retracts and draws the aircraft text label closer to the plot target.
Manual Label Dragging
You can instantly click, drag, and manually reposition any aircraft radar label on your screen by holding down theSHIFTkey or by clicking and holding your Mouse Wheel / Middle Click button.
¶ ⭕ 2. Proximity Overlays: HALO & Range Rings
¶ 2.1 HALO Rings (Proximity Buffer) (H+ / H-)
- H+ / H-: Increments or decrements the radius of the protective HALO circle centered around aircraft targets. This is highly useful for visually monitoring separation minimums in high-density sectors.
¶ 2.2 Range Rings (Distance Grids) (R+ / R-)
- R+ / R-: Generates or removes concentric distance rings centered around your primary sector origin or specific aircraft targets.
¶ 📐 3. Speed Vectors (Prediction Lines)
The Speed Vector lines project the aircraft's future path based on its current tracking parameters. You can cycle through these buttons to set the prediction timeline index:
-
t/dToggle: Cycles the vector calculations between Time (t) mode or Distance (d) mode. -
0➔ Deactivates the speed vector line display.- Time Mode: Allows you to adjust the tracking timeline from 0 to 9 minutes.
- Distance Mode: Allows you to adjust the navigation scale from 0 to 30 NM.
Advanced Vector Customization
Navigate to PVD ➔ SETTINGS ➔ VECTOR to further customize these lines. More info
¶ 🏔️ 4. Altitude Prediction (vAlt & rAlt)
These toggles allow you to display the aircraft's projected altitude during climbs or descents based on its current vertical speed:
vAlt(Vector Altitude): Displays the predicted altitude at the end of the speed vector line.rAlt(Route Altitude): Displays the estimated altitude next to each waypoint along the aircraft's route path.
To avoid screen clutter, altitude predictions will automatically hide if the aircraft's vertical speed is stable or below 200 ft/min. You can globally enable/disable these markers in PVD ➔ SETTINGS ➔ VECTOR ➔ Traffic.
¶ 🛄 5. Advanced Ground & Filter Toggles
- GTR (Ground Traffic Radar): Toggles the overall visibility of airport surface movements.
If your ground display is cluttered with parked aircraft, press
SHIFT+ click GTR to instantly hide all generic ground tracks and display ONLY the airport traffic actively assumed by your station.
-
FLTR (Traffic Filter Manager): Permits separate filtering of PSR or SSR radar targets based on customized airport inbound and outbound profiles. See the Advanced Aurora Functions Manual for more info.
-
LIST (Custom Traffic Lists Window): Toggles floating, customized data lists onto your radar screen. For a full tutorial, check the Advanced Aurora Functions Manual.
-
eSSR (Enhanced SSR Squawk Filtering): Toggles automated label-hiding rules based on matched transponder parameters. More information available in the Advanced Aurora Functions Manual.
¶ 
GEO (Shortcut: CTRL + G)
When active (Bold), this module controls the visibility of geographical mapping, physical airport structures, ground taxiway layouts, and localized airspace restrictions defined within your sector file.
Pressing
SHIFT+ GEO opens the Advanced Geo Manager. If configured by your local division's ATC Operations department, this panel allows you to selectively enable, disable, or custom color-code independent mapping elements.
¶ 🗺️ 1. Airfield & Coastline Display Toggles
To optimize your radar screen and reduce visual clutter, use these quick toggles or their mapped keyboard shortcuts:
| Button | Key Shortcut | Operational Action | Preview |
|---|---|---|---|
| CST | CTRL + SHIFT + C |
Shows or hides physical Coastlines and geographical borders. |  |
| ELEV | — | Shows or hides Elevation Terrain Profiles (where supported). 💡 Press SHIFT + click ELEV to select individual profile layers. |
 |
| AP | CTRL + A |
Shows or hides Airport ICAO Names and labels on the map. |  |
| RWY | — | Shows or hides physical Runway Outlines. |  |
| RWC | — | Toggles extended Runway Approach Centerlines (active runways only). 💡 When the button text is underlined, the physical runway centerline is enabled. |
 |
| GTS | CTRL + SHIFT + D |
Shows or hides airport terminal parking Gates. |  |
| TXL | — | Shows or hides alphanumeric Taxiway Designator Labels. |  |
| TXI | — | Shows or hides Taxiway Outlines. |  |
| TXC | — | Shows or hides tactical Taxiway Centerlines. |  |
| STP | — | Shows or hides physical runway Stopbars / Holding Points. |  |
| APR | — | Shows or hides airport Apron / Ramp boundaries. |  |
| PIER | — | Shows or hides airport Terminal Piers. |  |
| BLD | — | Shows or hides airport Buildings and Hangars. |  |
¶ ⚠️ 2. Airspace Restrictions: DA, PA, and RA
Manages the visibility of regulated airspaces, specifically Danger (DA), Prohibited (PA), and Restricted (RA) areas.
You can press
SHIFT+ click on any of these three buttons (DA / PA / RA) to open an isolated selection window. This allows you to check or uncheck specific airspace cells individually.
¶ 2.1 DA — Danger Areas (Shortcut: ALT + Q)
- Shows or hides designated Danger Areas on your radar sweep.
¶ 2.2 PA — Prohibited Areas (Shortcut: ALT + W)
- Shows or hides regulatory Prohibited Areas (completely closed to civil traffic).
¶ 2.3 RA — Restricted Areas (Shortcut: ALT + E)
- Shows or hides special Restricted Areas requiring explicit ATC coordination or military clearance.
¶ 🛰️ 3. WXR — Weather Radar & Satellite Overlay
The WXR engine provides real-time meteorological overlays directly on your primary PVD display. The core button cycles through three standalone system states:
- 🔲 WXR Deactivated (Grey): Clears all meteorological overlays from the screen.
- 🟩 WXR Mode Active (White): Projects live convective Precipitation and rain cells.
- ⬜ SAT Mode Active (White): Switches the tracking source to display satellite Cloud Coverage.
The dynamic Weather Radar overlay engine will temporarily fail to render if active Map Rotation is enabled inside your client settings. Keep your radar grid unrotated when tracking weather.
¶ 3.1 Managing the Advanced Weather Overlay Panel
Press SHIFT + WXR to access the advanced environmental overlay customization control board:
- Set Overlay Area: Click this option, then hold down
SHIFTand left-click drag a bounding rectangle over your targeted region. Aurora will download localized meteorological radar tiles to cover that exact airspace grid.
- Color Theme: Select different meteorological overlay visual rendering schemes or radar data sources.
- Opacity: Adjusts the alpha-blend transparency slider to balance weather visibility with crisp target label tracking.
- Snow: Toggles specialized winter precipitation tracking layers.
- SAT Button: Quick-click to instantly swap the tracking profile into live satellite cloud density maps.
- Max Zoom Level Visibility: Sets an automated layout cutoff point; the weather overlay will automatically drop out of view if you zoom in past this specific scale threshold to keep your airport layouts clean.
¶ 🛡️ 4. S AR — Special Areas Management
The S AR function handles live, conditional airspace restrictions broadcast over the network.
To view active Special Areas, your client must be connected online to the network. Once online, ensure the S AR button illuminates in white to project active zones onto your map.
¶ 4.1 Reviewing Restricted Airspace Profiles
Press SHIFT + S AR to pull up the master Special Areas Data Menu:
This ledger categorizes active zones, detailing their real-world names, vertical altitude ceilings/floors, operational date/time validity blocks, and strict regulatory classifications (Danger, Prohibited, or Restricted).
¶ 4.2 Display Configurations
You can alternate how these hazard cells render on your radar screen by clicking the L/N toggle button on the right side of the S AR entry list:
- Name View Mode: Projects the raw airspace designation identifier directly inside the block tracking grid.
- Label View Mode: Appends a floating data block showing current vertical ceiling/floor limits.
To maintain rapid visual sorting, you can assign separate RGB colors for Danger, Prohibited, and Restricted categories inside the COLORS (F5) options panel.
¶ 
NAV (Shortcut: CTRL + N)
When active (Bold), this module controls the visibility of radio navigation aids, intersection fixes, airway structures, sector boundaries, and dynamic airspace alerts compiled within your sector file.
¶ 🗺️ 1. Navigation & Airway Display Toggles
To keep your radar display uncluttered, use these quick buttons or their mapped keyboard shortcuts to toggle essential navigation layers:
| Button | Key Shortcut | Operational Action | Individual List Panel |
|---|---|---|---|
| VOR | CTRL + Q |
Shows, hides, or manages VOR stations. 💡 Press SHIFT + VOR to toggle individual stations via the eye icon. The adjacent L button toggles the name labels for each VOR. |
 |
| NDB | CTRL + W |
Shows, hides, or manages NDBs. 💡 Press SHIFT + NDB to toggle individual beacons via the eye icon. The adjacent L button toggles the name labels for each NDB. |
 |
| FIX | CTRL + E |
Shows, hides, or manages Intersection Fixes. 💡 Press SHIFT + FIX to filter fixes by TERM (Terminal), ENR (En-route), or BND (Boundary). The adjacent L button toggles the name labels for each FIX. |
 |
| FRQ | CTRL + F |
Shows or hides the operational frequencies next to VOR/NDB labels. |  |
| VFR | CTRL + V |
Shows or hides VFR Reporting Points on the map. (Note: The specific airport VFR points must be enabled first from the Airports window). |  |
| VFRR | CTRL + SHIFT + V |
Shows or hides terminal VFR Arrival and Departure corridors. |  |
| VFRENR | — | Shows or hides VFR En-route paths. 💡 Press SHIFT + VFRENR to isolate and hide specific VFR tracks. |
— |
| MRV | CTRL + M |
Shows or hides Minimum Radar Vectoring Altitude (MRVA) contours. (Note: The specific airport MRVA must be enabled first from the Airports window). The adjacent L button toggles the altitude text labels for the active MRVA blocks. |
 |
| ACC | — | Shows or hides ARTCC / FIR Boundary Lines. 💡 Press SHIFT + ACC to filter and show individual center boundaries. |
 |
| HS | — | Shows or hides High Sector airspace grids. 💡 Press SHIFT + HS to filter upper sector cells one by one. |
 |
| LS | — | Shows or hides Low Sector airspace grids. 💡 Press SHIFT + LS to filter lower sector cells one by one. |
 |
| AH | CTRL + H |
Shows or hides upper airspace High Airways. | — |
| AL | CTRL + L |
Shows or hides lower airspace Low Airways. |  |
| AWL | ALT + L |
Shows or hides airways labels. |  |
| ATC | ALT + A |
Shows or hides visual boundary of nearby Online ATC units. | — |
| RR | CTRL + R |
Shows or hides the sector Range Rings, centered on the sector file's origin point. Holding SHIFT while clicking this button toggles the visibility of the distance text labels. |
 |
| T | ALT + T |
Shows or hides extended Vectoring T-bars for vectoring. |  |
| MA | CTRL + X |
Activates Mouse Area Mode. Navaid labels will remain hidden and only illuminate when your cursor hovers directly over them. |  |
| CLR | — | Master Reset Switch: Instantly clears all manually drawn flight routes, SIDs, STARs, and vectors from the PVD background. | — |
| VERA | — | Toggles the Visual Conflict Resolution Assistant (VERA) tool, used to predict and prevent separation conflicts. For more details, see the Advanced Aurora Functions Manual. | — |
| N | — | Master toggle: Shows or hides alphanumeric Name Labels for all navigation objects. | — |
| HOLD | — | Shows or hides published En-Route Holding Patterns. | — |
¶ 
Aircraft Context Menu
Aurora features an adaptive, context-sensitive right-click engine. The options presented to you will automatically change depending on whether you click empty airspace, an unassumed track, or an aircraft actively under your jurisdiction.
¶ 🛠️ Types of Context Menus
¶ 1. Primary Radar Grid Context Menu
Appears when you right-click anywhere on the empty radar background (PVD). It manages global display options, radar range center points, and custom text annotations.
- QDM: Projects a dynamic vector line from the target to your mouse cursor. For more details, see the Advanced Aurora Functions Manual.
- Multi-QDM: Unlocks the capability to plot and lock multiple simultaneous QDM vector lines across your sector map. Toggling this option off instantly clears all pinned lines. For more details, see the Advanced Aurora Functions Manual.
- Anchor: Pins a permanent spatial reference lock onto the selected track. For more details, see the Advanced Aurora Functions Manual.
- Set Centerpoint: Re-allocates your station's center point, which is used as the calculation source for the PSR/SSR range, Range Rings, and other distance-dependent overlays.
- Automatic Profiles: Aurora automatically locks this focus onto the airport ARP for Tower, Ground, and Departure/Approach positions. Area Control Centers (CTR) utilize a default coordinate hardcoded into their
.iscsector files. - AWACS Mode Activation: Selecting Set Centerpoint directly on an airborne aircraft locks your station's range center to that moving target. This allows you to simulate AWACS radar operations.
- Automatic Profiles: Aurora automatically locks this focus onto the airport ARP for Tower, Ground, and Departure/Approach positions. Area Control Centers (CTR) utilize a default coordinate hardcoded into their
- Reset Centerpoint: Instantly resets the custom center point, snapping your primary surveillance range center back to its original default position.
- Bay List: Accesses the Electronic Strip Bay Request directory to review pending traffic handoffs. For more details, see the Advanced Aurora Functions Manual.
- DEFA TXT (Default Text Tool): Launches the overlay text editor, allowing you to place permanent, custom alphanumeric labels anywhere across your PVD workspace layout. For more details, see the Advanced Aurora Functions Manual.
- Pref Bar / Menu Bar Toggles: Shows or hides the Preferences Bar or the Main Menu Bar.
¶ 2. Unassumed Aircraft Context Menu
Appears when you right-click an aircraft not controlled by your station. Its primary function is to assume control or force the contact.
- Assume: Logs your station on the network as the active controller managing the selected aircraft. The target's radar label changes color to match your assumed profile.
- Force ACT: Transmits an automated text message commanding the pilot to contact your primary frequency.
If your station has initialized a data link connection, your active CPDLC ID is appended to the message automatically:
Good day, please contact CZQX_CTR on 199.999 CPDLC ID CZQX
- Highlight: Allows a controller to dynamically illuminate a specific data field within an aircraft's radar label.
| Field Option | Telemetry Parameter Highlighted |
|---|---|
| ALT | Current mode-C Pressure Altitude |
| ALT A | Assigned / Cleared Altitude |
| ALT C | Filed Cruising Flight Level |
| SPD | Current Ground Speed |
| SPD A | Assigned Speed / Mach Restriction |
| VS | Vertical Speed (Rate of Climb or Descent) |
| DEST | Destination Airport ICAO |
| WP | Cleared Tactical Waypoint or Heading Fix |
| AIRCR | Aircraft Type Designator |
- GHOST: Generates real-time positioning predictions based on the real-world Converging Runway Display Aid (CRDA) protocol. It is specifically designed to help approach and terminal controllers manually sequence traffic arriving on converging or parallel runway configurations. For more details, see the Advanced Aurora Functions Manual.
- VCT+ (Vectoring Route Paths): Initializes the custom waypoint vectoring routing path tool directly onto your active radar screen. This allows you to sketch tactical route deviations around weather or traffic. Full options are detailed in the Advanced Aurora Functions Manual.
- Route (Shortcut:
TAB): Projects the complete filed flight plan airway track line across your radar display. - FL.PLAN (Shortcut:
F8): Shows a pop-up window containing the complete ICAO Flight Plan filed by the pilot. - Vector: Toggles the projection of the aircraft's speed vector prediction leader lines manually for the selected target, bypassing the global parameters set on your Preferences Bar.
- Send PM: Instantly opens an isolated direct Private Message text tab targeting that specific aircraft inside your COM window.
- Send TXT: Accesses a directory of predefined text message macros. These macros automatically harvest flight data from the aircraft's label to transmit rapid, pre-formatted instructions via the active COM box frequency without manual typing.
- Voice: Toggles the pilot's connection status indicator flags (VOICE / TEXT / RECEIVE) manually, altering how their radio capability icon displays on the radar.
- COM1: Queries the radio frequency currently selected by the pilot. The frequency will be delivered as a private message inside your COM Box.
¶ 3. Assumed Aircraft Context Menu
Appears when you right-click a target actively assumed by your station.
- Transfer: Opens a secondary index of online adjacent ATC units to initiate a handoff.
- Handoff Process: Double-click an ATC position callsign to send the transfer request.
- If the receiving controller has Auto-Accept enabled, control transfers instantly. If they operate in manual mode, the target will be "pending" until accepted.
- Release: Automatically releases active control of the aircraft, sending the pilot back to UNICOM frequency (
122.800 MHz).- 💡 Default Message: The system will simultaneously transmit an automated text macro on your frequency:
[CALLSIGN], switch to UNICOM 122.800, good day.
- 💡 Default Message: The system will simultaneously transmit an automated text macro on your frequency:
¶ Session Recorder
Aurora includes an integrated recorder that allows Air Traffic Controllers and Observers to record their entire radar session for training, evaluation, or traffic analysis.
¶ 1. Activating the Recorder
You can enable or disable this feature by navigating to PVD ➔ SETTINGS ➔ Other and toggling the Session recorder option.
Each active control session is automatically compiled and saved locally the moment you disconnect your station from the network or close the Aurora client software.
¶ 🕹️ 2. Operating the Replay Interface
To review and playback your recorded data logs, look at the primary top Title Bar of the client launcher (before connecting online) and click the REPLAY button.
¶ 2.1 Selecting a Recorded Session
Click the drop-down menu to view your local archive. Aurora automatically labels session files using a chronological format: YYYYMMDDHHMMSS (Year, Month, Day, Hour, Minute, Second).
- Example:
20261020180422represents a session recorded on October 20, 2026, at 18:04:22 UTC.
Once selected, click REPLAY to initialize the playback session:
¶ 2.2 Playback Control Desk Breakdown
The control overlay features the following parameters (from left to right):
- Calendar Index: Displays the recording's original date.
- Transport Controls: Standard Play, Pause, and adjustable speed multipliers.
- Timeline Scrubbing Slider: Interactive slider to fast-forward or rewind through the session.
- UTC Timepiece: Projects the precise historical Zulu time of the active playback frame.
Whenever you scrub or jump to a new time position using the timeline slider, please allow up to 5 seconds for Aurora's data engine to re-cache and cleanly refresh the radar tracks on your screen.
¶ Keyboard Shortcuts
Aurora features a fully customizable Keyboard Shortcut Manager that allows controllers to remap keys and assign custom macros, maximizing operational efficiency during high-traffic sessions.
Master Cheat Sheet: For a detailed list of all default keybindings, sub-menu toggles, traffic shortcuts, and COM Box command-line macros, please refer to the Advanced Aurora Functions Manual.
¶ 
Additional Resources
If you encounter technical issues, configuration bugs, or require further operational guidance regarding Aurora, please utilize the official support channels:
- Bug Reporting & Technical Support: Open a support ticket inside the official IVAO Family Discord server.
- Feature Requests: Submit and vote on software development proposals directly via features.ivao.aero.
- Manual Feedback: If you spot a typo, an outdated screenshot, or an incorrect explanation within this manual, please report it via the technical support channels so the documentation team can update it.
- Sector File Updates: Contact your local division's ATC Operations Department.
- Advanced Training: Review the complete catalog of ATC training material inside the IVAO HQ Training Documentation.
Documentation Note: Aurora is an evolving software client. Always ensure your client is updated to the latest stable Public release via the IVAO Software Launcher to maintain full compatibility with network features and sector file structures.