IVAO ATC Software Configuration[PDF]

Pay attention that this page is under construction.
Information inside can be read but shall not be taken as input for any exam or definite information.

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Introduction

This document describes how to properly configure your IVAO ATC Software the IVAO ATC Software according to your preferences for the version:

• Aurora 1.1.75 BETA

Configure your displayed sector

First time you open up Aurora, the screen where you can find all of the sector files will welcome you:

Here, first column on the left shows available sector files downloaded in your computer and the right column is where you can find all the sector files in the IVAO Download Server

• Here, you can choose your desired sector file and install (right column) via pressing the button on the right.
• You can also use the FIND box (at the bottom right column) to make things easier for you.
• Once your download is finished, you can use the folder icon (left column) to load your sector file.

Sector screen will automatically close after opening sector files. If you wish to keep it open, use the pushpin on the top right.

Main Aurora View

When opening ATC Client, the screen has three (3) main sections: Title Bar, Options, and Main Radar Screen.

TITLE BAR

Here we see the following information:

• ATC Client version
• Callsign, or last used profile (when not online)

OPTIONS

This section is split into two (2) option bars: Preferences and Menu.

• You may open/close these bars by using the right click menu (bold when active):

MENU BAR

This menu has eight (8) options:

• Connect / Disconnect
• ATIS
• COM
• ATC
• TRAFFIC
• AIRPORTS
• PROFILE
• PVD

CONNECT / DISCONNECT

When pressing CONNECT, a new window is displayed; this is where you will insert your station callsign, network credentials, first and last name, and select appropriate network and voice servers.

• If included in the sector file you are using, the recommended frequency for the position you are trying to connect will appear new to the Callsign box and will be automatically set as your MAIN frequency.
• If you wish to connect to the TRAINING SERVER, make sure you have the box selected. For more information on the TRAINING SERVER, check here.

After connecting, the Connect button changes to “Disconnect”. You need to press Disconnect before closing your ATC Client, to ensure that Network Servers do not hold a “Ghost Connection”.

ATIS (AUTOMATIC TERMINAL INFORMATION SERVICE)

In real life, ATIS is a continuous broadcast of automatic or recorded voice, on a specific VHF frequency or via the vocal channel of a radio-navigation beacon. It contains essential information, such as weather information (METAR), active runways, available approaches, NOTAM, and any other information required by pilots.

At IVAO, we have adapted our ATIS information for pilots, due to the current network/technology limitations:

• Each ATC position has its own ATIS
• ATIS is written in text, by the controller, in a predefined form
• Pilots can only read ATIS information as text when tuning the ATC frequency or sending the appropriate command to the server
• ATIS contains the TeamSpeak (voice) server info in the first line.

For more information regarding ATIS, check How to fill out your ATIS documentation.

COM

When pressing the COM button, it opens a new window, where we have our main text communication.

The COM Box may have up to eight (8) tabs:

• The first tab is your MAIN frequency. You can change this frequency using “//xxx.xxx” where the x's will be replaced with your frequency.
• Second and Third optional tab represent other frequencies which you can use to “monitor”. For example, you can set UNICOM (122.800) or another ATC frequency. These additional frequencies can be set in PVD -> Settings -> COM window. Like the primary frequency, you can change these with “//xxx.xxx”.
• GUARD tab represents the emergency frequency, 121.500. When a pilot changes his main frequency (COM1) to 121.500 and sends a text message, this message will be delivered to all near pilots, no matter the main frequency they have tuned, and to nearby online ATC.
• ATC tabs contains the message from ATC for broadcasting information to all ATC (like opening and closing)
• BRDCST tab means Broadcast. Supervisors can send messages to the whole network. These messages arrive in this tab.
• MSG tab means Messages. In this tab, messages arrive from the server; Force Act sent response and COM checks are examples.
• PRIVATE tab. Here you can view and send private messages with different stations (ATC, Pilot, or Observers).

Dialog icon next to the frequency shows which window is currently active.

ATC

When pressing the ATC button, it opens a new window, where we can see ATC or Observers online, near our station (based on Range and Center Point). Here, you have five (5) columns:

• Call, which is the Callsign
• Freq, which is the primary frequency of the station
• R, which means the ATC rating
• Name
• Options
  • C : Controlling: if ATC position is active, it will be white. If observer, it will be grey.
  • T : Transfer List: if marked (white), this station will be available in your transfer list and position's fill color, if present in the sector file, will be shown.
  • M : for creating a chat box
  • A : to request ATIS of the station, as a private message
  • CC : to change the fill color of position. If not visible It might not be included in your sectorfile.

On the title of the window, you can see the total number of connections being displayed. In this case (5).

You can use the filtering options to customize your ATC window.

When using the FIND box:

• If FILTER is selected, It will filter the ATC positions and only display those matching with your search.
  
• If FILTER is not selected, It will highlight ATC positions matching with your search.
  
  • For example, if you wish to only see airport EHAM positions. Then, you should have the FILTER on and write EHAM to the find box. (left picture)

You can filter multiple stations by putting a space between.

• So writing AM BK EH will filter all positions for EHAM, EHBK and EHEH

TRAFFIC

In this window, we have a general/basic flight strip display with information regarding the selected aircraft.

The first column shows UGGG as the destination, I as IFR flight, then 2000 for the transponder code selected by the pilot.

The second column shows F390 as final Flight Level (FL), MD11 H as aircraft type and category, M083 as speed, and UGSB as the alternate airport.

The third column shows CWC552 as the aircraft callsign, and Challenge Cargo as a reminder for the radio callsign, LGKR as the departing airport, and 2150 as the departure time.

The fourth column shows the Flight Plan (FPL) route, and underneath is the other info or remarks section (Item 18 of FPL).

In addition to the above description, at the bottom there is a row where ATC can write information into the aircraft TAG:

• WP as waypoint or text, with a maximum of XX characters.
• ALT as Altitude
• SPD as Speed

Writing information in any of these boxes, and then pressing the “tick” button or just hitting “enter” on the keyboard, will send the information. When pressing the “DEL” button, all information will be removed from the aircraft tag.

There is a SQK box, meaning Squawk (Transponder), where ATC can assign a transponder code, so when selecting a new aircraft, and hitting the REQ SSR button, the client will automatically assign a new transponder code, based on the last one used.

The PM Button will open a private chat tab in the COM window, to talk with the pilot in private.

The TRFC LIST button expands the TRAFFIC window and will display aircraft based on the buttons selected below: DEP for Departures, ARR for Arrivals, OVER for Overfly, and UNCO for uncontrolled (not assumed). All this will be based on what is selected in the AIRPORTS window.

On the Traffic Manager window, you can see three columns. Each representing DEP (Departure), ARR (Arrival) or OVER (Overfly) based on your controlled airports from the Airports Menu.

• For each window, you can use the U button on the right of each section to choose to display or not display Uncontrolled Traffics. Meaning assumed traffics.

If U button is Bold, this means Uncontrolled Traffic will be displayed.

• You can also activate/deactivate each column by pressing the respective button from above or separate them from the TRAFFIC MANAGER window by pressing S.DEP, S.ARR or S.OVER, each meaning Separate Departure, Arrival or Overfly windows.

DEP COLUMN

• DEP COLUMN is divided to 8 sub parts being:
  • CALL : Callsign and Aircraft Type, next to Aircraft Category
  • DEP : Departure Airport and below departure time.
  • ARR : Arrival Airport. This part is NOT VISIBLE when OUTBOUND (DEP) Traffic window is not separated from the Traffic Manager.
  • WP/SPD : Assigned Waypoint and Speed.
  • ALT/SSR : Assigned Altitude and SSR Code.
  • Z : Zoom. Clicking the magnifier icon will zoom to the traffic.
  • M : Private Message. Clicking the text box icon will create a chat window with the traffic.
  • R : Route Visible. Clicking the eye icon will make the route of the traffic visible or invisible.

On the title of the OUTBOUND window you can see the total number of aircrafts being displayed.
In this case (6).

ARR COLUMN

• ARR COLUMN is divided to 8 sub parts being:
  • CALL : Callsign and Aircraft Type, next to Aircraft Category
  • DEP : Departure Airport. This part is NOT VISIBLE when INBOUND (ARR) Traffic window is not separated from the Traffic Manager.
  • ARR : Arrival Airport and below estimated arrival time calculated by Aurora.
  • WP/SPD : Assigned Waypoint and Speed.
  • ALT/SSR : Assigned Altitude and SSR Code.
  • Z : Zoom. Clicking the magnifier icon will zoom to the traffic.
  • M : Private Message. Clicking the text box icon will create a chat window with the traffic.
  • R : Route Visible. Clicking the eye icon will make the route of the traffic visible or invisible.

On the title of the INBOUND window you can see the total number of aircrafts being displayed.
In this case (6).

OVER COLUMN

• OVER COLUMN is divided to 8 sub parts being:
  • CALL : Callsign and Aircraft Type, next to Aircraft Category
  • DEP : Departure Airport.
  • ARR : Arrival Airport and below estimated arrival time calculated by Aurora.
  • WP/SPD : Assigned Waypoint and Speed.
  • ALT/SSR : Assigned Altitude and SSR Code.
  • Z : Zoom. Clicking the magnifier icon will zoom to the traffic.
  • M : Private Message. Clicking the text box icon will create a chat window with the traffic.
  • R : Route Visible. Clicking the eye icon will make the route of the traffic visible or invisible.

On the title of the OVERFLY window you can see the total number of aircrafts being displayed.
In this case (2).

AIRPORTS

The window is split into two main columns, where the one on the left displays airports, based on sector file information. When an airport is selected in the list underneath, full METAR for that station (if available) will be displayed. In addition, for those stations with a valid METAR, QNH and wind information will be shown.

When controlling an airport, or more, first you must select that airport “as controlled” by clicking the funnel in the C column. You can select the “crossed runways” icon (R), to let the system choose the active runway automatically. The magnifying glass icon (Z) will focus the main radar screen over that airport. The V column is for toggling on the VFR waypoints for that airport and the M column for toggling the MRVA.

The right column is split into two sections. The top section refers to runways of the selected airport (on the left). RWY indicates Runway number, CRS indicates Runway course (magnetic). P shows advise on which runway should be selected for the active runway (automatically selected by the system), D is where you can set the departure runways and A to select the arrival runways.

• On the bottom of the screen, you can see 5 buttons and a FIND box:
  • You can use the FIND box to search for airports.
  • CTRL ALL will select all airports controlled, on the C column.
  • CTRL NONE will deselect all controlled airports, on the C column.
  • CTRL FOUND will select the airport in the FIND box and select it as controlled, on the C column.
  • GATES will display the gates of the airport and aircraft on the gates, you can assign gates to traffics by clicking the sign icon.
  • HIDE UNCO will hide uncontrolled airports, so you will see only controlled airports.

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• On the top right window, you can see the runways, there are 6 columns;
  • RWY : Shows the runway identifier.
  • CRS : Shows the runway course.
  • P : Shows which runways are recommended by Aurora. (BOLD) for active.
  • D : You can choose this runway for departures by pressing the departing aircraft icon.
  • A : You can choose this runway for arrivals by pressing the arriving aircraft icon.
  • W : You can choose to display wind information for this runway on your screen by pressing the wind icon.

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• Between the runways and arrival/departure procedures window, you will see 8 buttons:

• • TRANS : Displays TRANSITION procedures when active, for the selected runway.
  • HOLD : Displays HOLDING procedures when active, for the selected runway.
  • IAP : Displays INITIAL APPROACH procedures when active, for selected runway.
  • FAP : Displays FINAL APPROACH procedures when active, for selected runway.
  • GA : Displays GO AROUND procedures when active, for selected runway.

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• AUTO button activates an automatic filtering for the active runways:
• When AUTO filtering is enabled;
  • If the runway is selected for Departure, you will see:
    • SIDs
    • Departure Transitions, if you have TRANS button activated above.
  • If the runway is selected for Arrival, you will see:
    • STARs,
    • Arrival Transitions, if you have the TRANS button activated above.
    • Initial Approach Procedures (IAP), if you have the IAP button activated above.
    • Final Approach Procedures (FAP),if you have the FAP button activated above.
    • Go Around Procedures (GA), if you have the GA button activated above.

When assigning Gates to aircraft, you can remove any gate assignment by deselecting any aircraft that was selected and press the sign icon.

• T column, left of the Gate ID, shows the Type of Gate. L for Light, M for Medium, H for Heavy or S for Super.

PROFILE

Profiles are text files where different settings are saved, to make save setting everything again, the next time you log on. When pressing this menu option, a dropdown list with three (3) options is shown:

• Open, lets you select a profile.
• Save (Key Shortcut: F4), lets you save the current profile (the name of the profile will be the station callsign currently used).
• Supervisor (Key Shortcut: F3), opens the Supervisor module (Appendix to this document).

It’s important to note, that the system will not save the profile when exiting, so make sure to press F4 each time you make an important change (FIX selection, zoom, etc), so the profile will be saved.

PVD

This menu section will let you change different settings, displayed in a dropdown list:

SECTOR (F1)

Opens the Sector File window where you can download (right column) or load (left column) the local sector file by pressing the folder icon.

Sector screen will automatically close after opening sector files. If you wish to keep it open, use the pushpin on the top right.

COLORS (F5)

Opens the Color Scheme editor where you can define different colors, open and save profiles. Remember to press “APPLY” for changes to take effect.

SOUNDS (F6)

Opens the Sound settings where mainly you can mute/unmute sounds. These sounds refer to the files in the Sounds folder, with specific filenames.

SETTINGS (F7)

Here you can change the main settings, all of them are explained below.

RADAR

• PSR Range (Horizontal) :
• PSR Range (Vertical TOP) :
• PSR Range (Vertical FLOOR) :
• Traffic Refresh Rate :
• Zoom Speed :
• Zoom Center :
• Zoom Range :
• On Screen STRIP :
• SSR Range (Horizontal) :
• SSR Range (Vertical TOP) :
• SSR Range (Vertical FLOOR) :
• Traffic history dots :
• Range ring distance :
• Short FIX :
• Ignore DUPE :
• Altitude ALERT : Displays Alert when aircraft leaves It's assigned level on flight strip.

LABELS

• Navdata labels Font :
• Navdata labels font Size :
• Aircraft labels Font :
• QDM labels Font :
• Mouse AREA Range : refers to MA option in Preferences Bar, NAV preferences.
• Mouse AREA include TRAFFIC :
• Background colored :
• Background color filled :
• OS Strip background filled :
• Lock type :
• PSR Callsign on ground :

COM

• Auto accept transfer : YES/NO
• Frequencies : 1 to 3
• Release message : All, None, No voice
• Transfer message : All, None, No voice
• Clear labels on Release : Yes/No

VECTOR

• T Intercept Distance :
• T Intercept Angle :
• T Base Leg Distance :
• Runway center line :
• Traffic vector speed :
• Time spaced vector :
• Space spaced vector :
• Traffic vectors only assumed :

CONFLICT

• Equipped : Yes/No
• Ignore Conflicts Below :
• Vertical Separation :
• Horizontal Separation :

UNITS

• Speed :
• Altitude :

SQK

• ADD SERIE :

OTHER

• Mouse cursor :
• Mouse cursor visible :
• Overlay Mouse :
• Overlay Mouse Visible : Yes/No
• Save profile on exit : Yes/No
• Focus combox :
• Autohide route :
• Popupmenu Transparency :

PREFERENCES BAR

This bar has four (4) main sections where you may also extend these sections by selecting these different buttons.

INSET (CTRL + I)

This button, when enabled (BOLD), lets you open up to 8 new radar windows, so for example when controlling a large area, with multiple airports, you can open an INSET and zoom to each airport. You can use keyboard shortcut Ctrl + 1 to 8.

TRAFFIC (CTRL + T)

This button, when enabled (BOLD), lets you work with labels of aircraft, HALO radius, Range Rings distance and aircraft speed vectors.

• L+ = Moves the aircraft label away from the plane.
• L- = Moves the aircraft label towards the plane.

Also, you can move the aircraft labels using the “Mouse Wheel button” or holding SHIFT.

• H+ = Increase HALO
• H- = Decrease HALO

• R+ = Add Ring
• R- = Remove Ring

• 0 = Set Speedvector off.
• 1 = Set Speedvector to 1 minute.
• 2 = Set Speedvector to 2 minutes.
• 4 = Set Speedvector to 4 minutes.
• 8 = Set Speedvector to 8 minutes.

You can use the Spaced Traffic Vector function to have spaces, indicating 30 seconds, 1 minute or 2 minutes on the speedvector of Traffic.
This can be activated from PVD>SETTINGS>VECTOR>Traffic vector spaced, time spaced vector and space spaced vector.

• GTR = Show or Hide Ground Traffic. When GTR is disabled, if you press SHIFT + GTR, It will display assumed ground traffic.

GEO (CTRL + G)

This button, when enabled (BOLD), lets you display or hide some information of the Sector File (radar screen content) like Airports, Runways, Buildings, etc.

CST (CTRL + SHIFT + C)

• Show or Hide Coast Line

AP (CTRL +A)

• Show or Hide Airport data

RWY

• Show or Hide Runways

RWC

• Show or Hide Runway Centerlines

GTS (CTRL + SHIFT + D)

• Show or Hide Gates

TXL

• Show or Hide Taxiway labels

TXI

• Show or Hide Taxiways

TXC

• Show or Hide Taxiway Centerlines

STP

• Show or Hide Stop lines

APR

• Show or Hide Aprons

PIER

• Show or Hide Piers

BLD

• Show or Hide Buildings

DA (ALT + Q)

• Show or Hide Danger Areas

PA (ALT + W)

• Show or Hide Prohibited Areas

RA (ALT + E)

• Show or Hide Restricted Areas

NAV (CTRL + N)

This button, when enabled (BOLD), lets you display or hide some information of the Sector File (radar screen content) related to Navigation, like VORs, FIXs, Frequencies, Airways, etc.

VOR (CTRL + Q)

Show, Hide or Manage VORs. If you press the shift key and press the VOR button, a list with all the available VOR’s will be displayed, where you can enable or disable each one to be displayed, clicking on the “eye” icon. Also, you can enable or disable all by pressing the buttons at the bottom of the window.

NDB (CTRL + W)

Show, Hide or Manage NDBs. If you press the shift key and press the NDB button, a list with all available NDBs will be displayed, where you can enable or disable each one to be displayed, clicking on the “eye” icon. Also, you can enable or disable all by pressing the buttons at the bottom of the window.

FIX (CTRL + E)======

Show, Hide or Manage FIXs. If you press the shift key and press the FIX button, a list with all available FIXs will be displayed, where you can enable or disable each one to be displayed, clicking on the “eye” icon. Also, you can enable or disable all by pressing the buttons at the bottom of the window.

FRQ (CTRL + F)

• Show or Hide Frequencies.

VFR (CTRL +V)

• Show or Hide VFR Waypoints.

VFRR (CTRL + SHIFT + V)

• Show or Hide VFR Routes.

MRV (CTRL + M)

• Show or Hide Minimum Radar Vectoring Altitudes.

ARTCC

• Show or Hide ARTCC

HS

• Show or Hide High Sectors

LS

• Show or Hide Low Sectors

H (CTRL + H)

• Show or Hide High Airways.

L (CTRL + L)

• Show or Hide Low Airways.

ATC (ALT + A)

• Show or Hide ATC Online.

N (CTRL + S)

• Show or Hide Labels for all objects.

RR (CTRL + R)

• Show or Hide Range Rings.

T (CTRL + T)

• Show or Hide Vectoring Ts.

MA (CTRL + X)

• Show NAVAID Labels only in the area of the mouse.

CLR

• Clears Displayed Routes / SIDs / STARs

Shortcuts

Currently Aurora has the following functional shortcuts:

• F1 : Open Sector Definition List
• F2 : Reset Zoom place to profile's saved zoom
• F3 : Supervisor module
• F4 : Save Profile
• F5 : Open Colorscheme editor
• F6 : Open Soundscheme editor
• F7 : Open Settings editor
• F8 : Show Flightplan window
• + / - : Zoom in / out

• w : Add Waypoint (selected label)
• a : Add Altitude (selected label)
• s : Add Speed (selected label)
• t : Transfer (selected label)
• x : Send Text (selected label)

• CTRL + I : INSET Bar
• CTRL + T : TRAFFIC Bar
• CTRL + G : GEO Bar
• CTRL + N : NAV Bar

• CTRL + Q : Show / Hide VOR's
• CTRL + W : Show / Hide NDB's
• CTRL + E : Show / Hide Fixes
• CTRL + F : Show / Hide Frequencies
• CTRL + V : Show / Hide VFR Fixes
• CTRL + SHIFT + V : Show / Hide VFR Route
• CTRL + M : Show / Hide MRVA
• CTRL + H : Show / Hide High Airway
• CTRL + L : Show / Hide Low Airway
• CTRL + S : Show / Hide All Labels
• CTRL + R : Show / Hide Range Rings
• CTRL + T : Show / Hide Vectoring T
• CTRL + X : Show / Hide Mouse Area
• CTRL + A : Show / Hide Aiports
• CTRL + SHIFT + C : Show / Hide Coastlines
• CTRL + SHIFT + D : Show / Hide Gates

• ALT + A : Show / Hide ATC Online
• ALT + Q : Show / Hide Danger Areas
• ALT + W : Show / Hide Prohibited Areas
• ALT + E : Show / Hide Restricted Areas

• CTRL + 1 : Open INSET 1
• CTRL + SHIFT + 1: Open INSET 1 at Main Screen Zoom level

• CTRL + 2 : Open INSET 2
• CTRL + SHIFT + 2: Open INSET 2 at Main Screen Zoom level

• CTRL + 3 : Open INSET 3
• CTRL + SHIFT + 3: Open INSET 3 at Main Screen Zoom level

• CTRL + 4 : Open INSET 4
• CTRL + SHIFT + 4: Open INSET 4 at Main Screen Zoom level

• CTRL + 5 : Open INSET 5
• CTRL + SHIFT + 5: Open INSET 5 at Main Screen Zoom level

• CTRL + 6 : Open INSET 6
• CTRL + SHIFT + 6: Open INSET 6 at Main Screen Zoom level

• CTRL + 7 : Open INSET 7
• CTRL + SHIFT + 7: Open INSET 7 at Main Screen Zoom level

• CTRL + 8 : Open INSET 8
• CTRL + SHIFT + 8: Open INSET 8 at Main Screen Zoom level

Combox Shortcuts

• .c : Find navaids and airports
• .t : Find traffic

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See also

• None

Reference

• None

Author

• VID 193103 - Creation
• VID 425236 - Update
• VID 150259 - Wiki integration
• VID 274235 - Edits and Updates
• VID 573229 - Reformatting and Updates