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Introduction to pilot exams
Members on IVAO are rated; that means that every member on IVAO network has an ATC and/or pilot rating. It is possible for all members to request exams and get new ratings. This section is available for canadian members of IVAO who are planning to pass pilot exams in the division. If you are planning to study and prepare yourself for an exam, please read the following page to learn more about the exam and the material you should study to be fully ready. Remember that you can use training material as reference during your exams but you should know and understand the important stuff. Do not expect to pass a theoretical exam without studying and trying only to search in manuals for answers. You have limited time during theoretical exams.
About practical exams for advanced ratings: IVAO HQ provides all divisions of IVAO with standards to perform practical exams. That way, all exams are similar in nature and fair to all applicants. IVAO Canada follows these standards for all exams. However, we have local standards and procedures added on the top of worldwide standards. Therefore, in order to pass an exam in Canada, you must have the knowledge of how aviation works in the country, and you need to know correctly our local procedures and use the proper phraseology. Our standards are higher then HQ standards to ensure the high quality of our pilots from coast to coast. Please note how good you are, some events can result in an exam failure: not having the charts, connecting on the runway, applicant not coming to the exam...
The official website for the IVAO (HQ) training and exams is located here: http://www.ivao.aero/training/
To request a pilot exam, click here. For theoretical exams, you can write them immediately if you have the requirements. For practical exams, you need to indicate where you want to do your exam with your availabilities. Your examiner will then contact you via e-mail to arrange the date / time and give you specific indications on your exam.
Practical exams policy
IVAO Canada has implemented a policy to normalize all our ATC and pilot practical exams. It will also increase our rates of success.
Effective July 9th 2010, this is the new procedure for ATC and pilot practical exams on IVAO Canada to be followed.
- All active members will be provided with training upon request. A “training” is considered to be an online session between a training staff member and one or more member of the division, where the staff member will teach the required knowledge to the students and practice their skills;
- (For ATC only): Any member applying for a practical exam in Canada MUST have frequently controlled in Canada before the exam and must continue to frequently control in Canada after the exam (failure or success);
- Any member applying for a practical exam must have received online training at least once in the last three (3) months;
- When the member is ready for the exam, a training staff member must recommend the member for his exam and forward a recommendation letter to the division HQ or the examiner;
- At the examiner’s discretion, a pre-exam check might be required, which will consist of reproducing the exam conditions and member will be evaluated in a similar way as he would be during the actual exam. This will help assess if the member is ready for the exam;
- When all the above conditions are met, member will be allowed to do his practical exam.
- In case of exam failure, in addition to the standard waiting time established by IVAO HQ, member will have to receive additional mandatory training before they can apply for the exam again, and a training staff member will have to issue a new recommendation letter. It might be decided that the member needs a certain number of hours online that exceeds the IVAO HQ requirements before member can apply for the exam. A new pre-exam check could also be required at examiner’s discretion. The minimum additional mandatory training required is the following:
- For controllers: five (5) hours of online training.
- For pilots: two (2) hours of online training.
If a member applies for a practical exam without following this procedure, the exam will not happen until member receives proper training and is ready for the exam.
Basic ratings
Here is a table of the basic pilot ratings on IVAO.
Distinguish |
Title |
Requirements |
|---|---|---|
 |
Basic Flight Student | Rating given when applying for membership. |
 |
Flight Student | Rating automatically achieved after 10 hours online as a pilot. |
 |
Advanced Flight Student | Rating requires at least 25 hours online as a pilot and a successful theoretical IvAp test. |
Basic Flight Student: this rating is automatically given to every new IVAO member interested in flying.
Flight Student: this rating is automatically given when member has been online for 10 hours as a pilot.
Advanced Flight Student: this rating is given when member has been online for 25 hours as a pilot, and has passed the theoretical IvAp test. IvAp is the software used for flying on IVAO network. In order to get this rating, member has to pass the online test to proove he is competent in using the flying software. The test contains questions on the software and the functions that can be used, but also contains general questions about the weather, rules and regulations of IVAO, abbreviations in aviation, and other. Here is a partial list of material you should study to pass the test sucessfully:
- IvAp manual: the manual is available in your IvAp folder on your computer. It contains probably around 70% of the information required to pass the exam.
- IVAO Academy, the Bare basics: this section of IVAO Academy explains the basics of aviation. You should concentrate your studying on Connecting instructions and IvAp functions, the rest for your personal knowledge. The IVAO Academy provides ICAO (International) information. Therefore, be advised that some information might be different in Canada.
- IVAO Academy, METAR and TAF: this section of IVAO Academy explains how to decode weather information.
- Aviation glossary: to be used as reference.
- IVAO Rules and Regulations: all members of IVAO must be familiar with these rules.
Advanced ratings
Here is a table of the advanced pilot ratings on IVAO. See below for detailed information on each rating.
| Rating | Title | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
 |
Private pilot |
|
 |
Senior Private Pilot (SPP) |
|
 |
Commercial Pilot (CP) |
|
Private pilot rating
The private pilot rating is a proof that the member is fully competent to fly VFR. The requirements are shown in the table above.
The theoretical exam
The theoretical exam will ask you questions about basics of flight and VFR flight, and here are some subjects in the exam:
- All the knowledge required for the Advanced Flight Student rating;
- VFR flying;
- Basics of aviation.
Here is a very short and partial list of material you should study to pass the Private Pilot theoretical exam:
- All the material required for the Advanced Flight Student;
- IVAO Academy: read the academy for all subjects related to VFR flights and basics of flight;
- Any other material on VFR flying and aviation basics.
The practical exam
The practical exam will test your capabilities to fly VFR. The exam is approximately 2 hours. The first part is mostly theoretical: your examiner will ask you various questions. This usually takes between 45 minutes and one hour. The second part is the flight itself. Here is what you can expect in the practical exam:
- Theoretical questions on various subjects;
- Demonstrate your ability to use IvAp functions;
- Connecting to network and filing a VFR flight plan;
- Follow ATC instructions at all time and use approved phraseology;
- Taxi to departure runway and taxi from landing runway to the parking;
- Takeoff, landing, touch and go, go around manoeuvres;
- Navigate along prescribed route;
- Follow heading and altitude instructions quickly;
- Estimate ETA;
- VOR and NDB exercises;
- Fly circuit pattern correctly (altitude, distance from airport, shape..).
Therefore, in order to fly VFR correctly, you need to be able to do the above elements, and also you need to:
- Have the knowledge required for the Advanced Flight Student rating in order to be able to use IvAp software appropriately;
- Have the knowledge required to pass the theoretical exam of the Private Pilot rating.
For detailed information about the exam, please read the official exam document available here.
Senior Private Pilot rating
The Senior Private Pilot rating is a proof that the member is fully competent to fly IFR. The requirements are shown in the table above.
The theoretical exam
The theoretical exam will ask you questions about flying IFR:
- All the knowledge required for the Private Pilot rating;
- IFR flying;
- Advanced topics of aviation.
Here is a very short and partial list of material you should study to pass the Senior Private Pilot theoretical exam:
- All the material required for the Private Pilot;
- IVAO Academy: read the academy for all subjects related to IFR flights and advanced topics of flight;
- Any other material on IFR flying and advanced aviation.
The practical exam
The practical exam will test your capabilities to fly IFR. The exam is approximately 2 hours. Here is what you can expect in the practical exam:
- Theoretical questions on various subjects;
- File an IFR flight plan;
- Demonstrate your ability to use IvAp functions;
- Follow ATC instructions at all time and use approved phraseology;
- Taxi to departure runway and taxi from landing runway to the parking;
- Takeoff, landing, touch and go, go around manoeuvres;
- Navigate along prescribed route;
- Follow heading and altitude instructions quickly;
- Estimate ETA, TOD;
- VOR and NDB exercises;
- Follow STAR and fly approach correctly;
- Holding pattern.
Therefore, in order to fly IFR correctly, you need to be able to do the above elements, and also you need to:
- Have the knowledge required for the Private Pilot rating;
- Have the knowledge required to pass the theoretical exam of the Senior Private Pilot rating.
For detailed information about the exam, please read the official exam document available here.
Commercial Pilot rating
The Commercial Pilot rating is a proof that the member is fully competent to fly larger aircraft under IFR rules. You need more advanced knowledge and also need to be able to make more difficult manoeuvres in flight. The requirements are shown in the table above.
The theoretical exam
The theoretical exam will ask you questions about flying commercially. We suggest that you review the advanced sections of IVAO Academy.
The practical exam
The Commercial Pilot practical exam is not provided by IVAO Canada. You will be assigned an examiner from another division or from IVAO Headquarters (HQ). If you have questions about this exam, please ask your examiner directly. For detailed information about the exam, please read the official exam document available here.
High level ratings
High level ratings are very specific and rare on IVAO. To learn more about these ratings, please check the IVAO HQ Training department.