This briefing is created to help candidates understand the purpose of
this exam. This briefing is also applicable for training sessions.
Before applying for this exam, you shall meet the following
requirements:
- You shall have your Senior Private Pilot rating (SPP) since more
than 60 days and
- You have at least 200 hours of logged time on IVAN as a Pilot (ATC
hours are not taken into account)
The theoretical and practical exam can be requested by directly
accessing your exam status
page. The exam has two
parts which shall be successfully validated in this order:
- Theoretical exam: complete successfully the CP online test
- Practical exam: examiner will check your theoretical knowledge and
your proficiency in IFR flight.
Requests for practical exams are only possible for members of active
divisions. Members of inactive divisions shall have to change to an
active division in order to get higher ratings (R&R 4.6.2.1).
Once your exam has been registered, the examiner will contact you via
your e-mail address given on your personal details page. Before
requesting for the exam, check that this e-mail address is valid since
it is the only way for the examiner to get in touch with you.
We recommend you to do a practical training in your division prior to
applying for this exam.
This manual is dedicated only for IVAO Network activities. This document
must not be used in real aviation or in other networks
All theoretical exams consist of 20 randomly selected multiple-choice
questions (MCQ).
- Each question includes 3 to 5 proposed answers among which only one
is correct.
- You have a maximum of 45 minutes to fill in the examination paper,
and should you exceed this limit, the exam will be automatically
recorded as failed (default failed score = 0/100).
- These MCQ exams are automatically corrected (each question will be
marked 0 for a wrong answer or 5 for a right answer).
- The pass-mark for the exam is 75/100 (corresponding to at least
15 correct answers or a maximum of 5 false answers)
The theoretical questions are mainly extracted from our training
documentation and software manual.
All questions are based on ICAO/EU-OPS Rules and Regulations if not
stated otherwise in the question.
Note that you can submit your answers as often as you want during the 45
minutes of the exam. Only the last submission will be taken into
account. We greatly recommend you submit your examination paper on a
regular basis in order to avoid to be marked 0 if you are disconnected
or if you exceed the 45 minutes limit.
After your successful theoretical exam, you can apply for the practical
part of the exam without delay.
Warning: Our system does not allow the resetting of theoretical exams,
as in this case the same exam will appear again. Consequently, the
Training department will always refuse to reset unfilled or timed out
exams. In order to shorten the time for applying again, members should
save their answers on a regular basis so as to avoid the exam being
marked 0 if a disconnection or a time out occurs.
The CP exam is a series of tasks to appreciate your ability of using the
pilot IVAO software, your basic IFR theoretical knowledge and your
advanced IFR flying skills.
Note that these are our minimum standards. Your local division may have
set additional requirements that should be published on its web site.
The training material is available on the IVAO website following these
links below:
*Commercial Pilot
documentation
Other links are available outside IVAO:
Weather resources:
Aircraft technical data:
Charts and flight plan resources:
¶ IVAO software, connection and communication modes
You shall only use one IVAO pilot client approved by the HQ training
department for the exam. A list of such approved software can be found
here: Approved software for
exams. You shall use real
weather condition enabled. External weather sources are allowed but they
shall generate weather as closed as possible of the IVAO METAR.
You should connect at your departure airfield after the examiner asked
you to do so, using the following call sign: EXM#### where ####
are the last 4 digits of the exam number or TRN#### where ####
are the last 4 digits of the training number .
Your examiner should log on to the IVAO network using:
- His staff call sign and create a private channel on TeamSpeak
community server (cc.ts.ivao.aero)
- An active position on the IVAO network using EXA suffix on
position (example XXXX_EXA_APP)
Your examiner will check your ability to correctly use the main
functions of the software, mainly:
- establish a text and/or voice communication with active ATC
positions,
- retrieve and interpret the ATIS of a controller,
- use the different transponder modes,
- be able to transmit by text on the current ATC frequency and
privately,
- retrieve a distant station ATIS, METAR and TAF
We strongly recommend voice communication for the exam. We do not
recommend a "text-text" or "text-voice" communication method due to the
increased level of difficulty and incompatibilities with certain tasks.
Should a member be unable to use voice or the voice/text method due to a
medical disability or a poor network connection, please contact the HQ
Training Department before requesting the exam in order to establish an
individual procedure.
You will be assessed on your theoretical IFR knowledge as part of the
exam.
During the briefing or at some times during the flight, the examiner
will ask you a few short questions regarding the following items:
- Aircraft knowledge and performance: basic weights, standard take-off
and landing parameters, usual operating cruise speed(s) and flight
levels, altitude and speed limitations, approach/landing
configurations and speeds,
- Chart reading, IFR procedures: IFR charts (SID, STAR, IAP)
interpretation, semi-circular rules, RVSM airspace, routing
restrictions, applicable flight minimum altitudes, precision and
non-precision approach minima, fuel requirements and flight time
estimates,
- Flight instruments and navigation equipment: aircraft flight
instrument systems (altimeter, airspeed indicator, VSI, AI, HSI,
heading indicator, electronic flight systems), altimeter settings,
TAS and GS estimation, aircraft navigation systems (VOR, ADF, DME,
RMI, ILS, FMS), transponders,
- Meteorology: METAR and TAF interpretation, en-route winds and SIGMET
charts.
You should be aware of the following general requirements:
- A medium (M) category twin-engine jet aircraft such as the Boeing
737, Airbus A320, Embraer EJet, Fokker 100 or similar must be used
for the skills test.
- Your aircraft shall be equipped with required IFR, NAV and COM
equipment - this includes at least 2 VOR, 1 ILS, 1 ADF, 1 DME, 1 RMI
and optionally a FMC and/or a GPS. Make sure you choose an aircraft
you know well and are comfortable with.
- You shall inform your examiner of the aircraft you will use for the
exam beforehand.
- You shall use the commercial aviation operation regulations for this
exam.
- The use of the autopilot and GPS system are permitted on the exam.
However, be aware that the autopilot might not be able to fulfil
required manoeuvres exceeding the autopilot capabilities, resulting
in exam failure. You are free to use the autopilot at your own risk.
- Your examiner will advise you of the departure and destination
airports prior to the exam (it is examiner's choice) but you will
have to plan the route yourself. As a general rule, you will be
requested to fly between two airports at least 50 nm apart under
instrument flight rules. The flight will include a standard
instrument departure (SID) and arrival (STAR) and a precision
approach.
- You shall find the necessary IFR charts yourself (check your
country's AIS for online chart availability). If you have
difficulties doing so, contact your examiner prior to the exam. In
all cases, you may have to coordinate with the examiner so as to
determine which charts will be needed.
- Current departing/arrival weather conditions shall be above
applicable minima for the flight to take place. When starting the
exam, you will have to decide if the current weather is acceptable
for the intended IFR flight.
- FS daytime is accepted.
- You should connect at your departure airfield after the examiner
asked you to do so, using the following call sign: EXM#### where
#### are the last 4 digits of the exam number or TRN####
where #### are the last 4 digits of the training number. Your
radiotelephony call sign will be "Exam ####" for exam session or
"Training ####" for training session. Your exam or training
number can be found on the exam status page.
- The examiner may either be connected as an observer and "simulate"
an active ATC position or may connect as an active ATC or
collaborate with another ATC in charge of the airspace where the
exam takes place. In all cases, comply with all instructions
normally.
- Unless you are disconnected from the network, we require you submit
your flight plan only once on the examiner's request while connected
and starting the test flight. You should not change any item and/or
resubmit your flight plan thereafter.
The test flight will mainly assess the following:
- IFR flight plan; we encourage you to carefully learn how to
correctly fill a flight plan
- IFR departure procedure (as published or prescribed by examiner)
- En route IFR navigation (accuracy of navigation based on
radionavigation aids); during the flight, your examiner may ask you
to make some exercises (turns to specified headings, climbs/descents
to assigned altitude, crossing a defined fix at a specified
altitude, intercepting and tracking a navaid radial),
- Standard IFR arrival procedure via a prescribed or published route
(the examiner's choice can be different from the filled flight plan)
- Hold over a fix (using the adequate entry procedure; examiner's
choice),
- ILS precision approach, including initial approach segment (as
published, including any required procedure turn, racetrack
inversion or DME arc or as required by examiner)
- VOR, NDB or localizer only non-precision approach
- Missed approach
- Circling approach.
Certain minimum requirements are expected for some tasks:
- IFR Theoretical knowledge
- Accuracy and validity of the flight plan
- Proper execution of all approach and holding patterns
- Compliance with all clearances
- Phraseology, radio communications
- Advanced English phraseology proficiencies
¶ Evaluation and marking method
The examiner will score separately all required tasks (including both
theoretical questions and practical exercises) on a dedicated marking
sheet.
Each score will reflect the exactness and range of your knowledge (for
theoretical data) and your ability to accurately execute the exercises
(and your performance for doing so).
The maximum score is 100 points. The pass mark is 75/100. In all cases,
your examiner will give you the detailed results during the debriefing,
so as you can identify your errors and correct them in case the exam is
failed.
Failure to perform these tasks at the specified standard will result in
the exam being marked as failed, regardless of your overall performance
and the final exam mark shall be 49/100 or less down to 0/100 depending
on examiner's assessment.
Some special situations may result in an automatic exam failure (maximum
score = 51/100):
- Performing the exam with an inappropriate aircraft class or type
- Radio Communication proficiency failure
- English Communication proficiency failure
- Insufficient theoretical knowledge
- Poor theoretical knowledge
- No charts
- Connection on the runway
- Entering the runway without adequate clearance
- Taking off without clearance
- Landing without clearance
- Landing outside the runway
- 2 tasks marked "0"
- Use of pause mode in the simulator
- Flying inside a prohibited area (P)
- Inability to properly intercept and track a given VOR radial
- Inability to execute holding procedures
- Performing an approach without clearance
- Inability to properly execute IFR precision approach
- Descend below minimum altitude (MSA)
- Crash due to terrain collision
- Crash due to loss of control
- Crash due to aircraft overstress
NOTE: The score for these exams will be 49/100 or less depending on the
total result of the exam. This does not mean that the exam is not
continued until finished.
An exam is considered as failed and the practical part will stop
immediately or will not be performed if:
- Examinee has extremely poor theoretical knowledge (score shall be at
or below 10/100)
- Examinee violates against IVAO Rules and Regulations (score shall be
1/100 or 0/100 depending of examiner)
- Examinee does not turn up for the exam and a valid reason is not
given within 48 hours. This will cause the exam to be considered as
failed (score shall be 1/100 or 0/100 depending of examiner)
- In case you decide to stop the exam at any time after it has begun
(score shall be 1/100 or 0/100 depending of examiner)
- In case of any provable cheating during a practical exam, regardless
if during the theoretical or the practical part, the result will be
0/100 and a blocking of 6 months for exams will be appointed to the
examinee.
If the examinee fails to arrive for the exam at the time organised, the
examiner should wait for 15 minutes. After that period, the examiner can
log off the network. The examinee then has 48 hours to provide a valid
reason for the failure to attend by e-mail. If no e-mail is received in
time the exam will be marked as failed.
Should a PC crash occur which is out of the applicant's control, the
exam will have to start again or will be delayed to take place on
another day, the decision being up to the examiner.
After evaluation, your examiner will send his evaluation to the training
director who will assign a validator.
The validator will verify the marking based on the comments and marking
sheet of the examiner.
If your exam is validated as a success your rating will be updated at
1200z the following day.
The validation process needs a validation delay estimated from one day
minimum to an average maximum of one week.
See also
Reference
Author
- VID 150259 - Wiki integration
- VID 200696 - Update May 2019
- VID 150259 - Update September 2019
- VID 200696 - Update June 2020