The Special Operations Department of IVAO is pleased to offer all active virtual Squadrons, Air Forces or Special Operations Units the opportunity to register as IVAO-CERTIFIED Special Operations Groups. (SOG's).

Registering a virtual military or special operations unit will give access to the IVAO-SOG system, which is a unique facility designed to assist senior officers of those groups to administer the activities of their own virtual military and special operations units on the IVAO network. Additional benefits include weather and online tracking displays on the group's website and of course there is a considerable prestige of having your group registered as an approved IVAO-SOG.

IVAO defines virtual Military and Special Operations Groups as those who take part in at least 2 of the following activities:

Military Operations Units:
Formation flights, Air-to-Air Refuelling, Shipborne and Aircraft Carrier Practices, Low-level Flights, AWACs simulations, Reconnaissance flights, Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground Operations.

General Operations Units:
Fire-fighting, Police, Coastguard, Shipwreck and SAR, Medical and Casualty Evacuation, VIP flights with escorts, Humanitarian flights, fly-ins with military aircraft.

IVAO recognises that occasionally special operations and military operations may be closely allied and occasionally cross between the SO definitions.

To register your group you must satisfy the following criteria:

  • Your VA should be a freeware, non commercial, non profit, organization (view the VA requirements).
  • No commercial advertising is allowed.
  • Be active in IVAO.
  • Be operational. If not operational, your request will be removed.
  • Have at least 10 pilots active members of IVAO.
  • Have a fully functional website. If the VA is under construction your application will be rejected automatically.
  • IVAO deserves the right to remove the VA from VA System and/or our databases without any advise neither explanation if HQ decide it.
  • Only IVAO member VAs will have the right to mantain a registered ICAO code.
  • The CEO of the VA must be:
    • at least 18 years old.
    • have an IVAO account for at least 6 months.
    • no suspension record in the last 3 months.
    • at least ADC or PP rating and
    • maximum of 1 VA (per IVAO member).
    • the CEO must be active on the IVAO network at all time.

    All the above is valid not only for the CEO/Owner at the time of registration, but also for all future CEOs. The VA itself should not be using free hosting.

  • VA applicant must receive an approval from the Division HQ before submitting VA application. In case the country of the VA registration does not have an active division, the approval/denial depends on the DIV-HQ the CEO belongs if the division is active, otherwise the approval/denial depends on the FOD/FOAD.
  • The Division HQ can request anytime to remove a VA from the system. The same rules apply for military and civil VAs
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    Note
    Only member SOG's will assume the right to maintain a registered ICAO code.

    IVAO reserves that right to reject applications or remove any SOG from the IVAO-SOG System and/or databases without explanation.

    ICAO Code Validation

    IVAO requires all SOG's to use a unique 3-letter ICAO code which is used to track it on the network. During your application we will check our database to ensure that there is no duplication of these codes in order to avoid conflict with codes used by other SOG's or airlines. If your desired code has already been assigned to another group, try to think of another one.

    Access to the IVAO-SOG System

    If you want to use the services of the SOG-System, your IVAO Forum Nick Name will be required. If you do not have a forum Nick Name already, you can get one here.

    Before you proceed with your application, please make sure you have 3 logos ready.

    • One for the Online Flights page you need a logo that is exactly 85 x 18 pixels in GIF format. Anything else will be rejected.
    • One for the database page a GIF logo with a maximum size of 450 x 150 pixels. Anything larger will be rejected, smaller logos are always welcomed.
    • If you want to use the SOG-System a logo of exactly 60 x 40 pixels in GIF format.

     You will be required to link to IVAO using the logo sent to you via e-mail.

    IVAO HQ and the Special Operations Department staff are always pleased to help member organisations or applicants with any difficulties or queries, but please be patient as it may take some time for staff to provide an answer.

    IVAO will NOT be held responsible under any circumstances for any copyright violations and all prospective applicants for IVAO-SOG status are advised to check such copyrights prior to use of logos or acronyms.