Categorization of Military and Special Operations:
All military and special operations in VATSAF are broken down into four fundamental categories, A and B, 1 and 2. These categories have been established to allow simple definition of what constitutes military and special operations and further establishes the rules and regulations that govern the manner in which they may be undertaken. Further statements within these rules and regulations also establish departmental and divisional conventions for creation, overseeing, regulation and clearance of military/specops events, exercises and training.
Category A and B defines all military/special operations activities in VATSim as follows, although VATSim recognises that activities may occasionally cross between these definitions:
Category A (Cat A) General Operations:
Fire-fighting, Police, Coastguard, Shipwreck and SAR, Medical and Casualty Evacuation, VIP flights with escorts, Humanitarian flights, Fly-Ins with military aircraft.
Category B (Cat B) Military Operations:
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.
Category 1 and 2 defines the way in which these activities take place, who is responsible for them, together with the rules and guidelines that are applicable:
Category 1 (Cat 1) Events:
This definition applies to those formal occasions where a division or group of divisions invites members or groups of members to participate in SO events, for which participation the members will receive SO points towards the granting of SO Pilot or SO Controller Awards. Clearances for these events must be sought from the Special Operations Department at VATSIM and details of how to obtain these clearances can be found below:
How to Obtain Clearance for Cat 1 Events
To create a SO event, you need to follow some steps, to make your event well organized.
1. What kind of event are you going to create?
First decide on the type of event. Is it defined in Category A or Category B?
2. When you have made your choice, select an appropriate airspace.
Does your division has specified airspace such as TRA’s where your mission can take place?
If not, contact your FIR chief and ask him if you can reserve some airspace for your mission. Remember, events must not interfere with GAT traffic.
3. Setting up your event.
When you have arranged point 1 to 3 it’s time to set up your event.
You need to build up your event, the way you think your event should be.
Think about airspace, routing, mission you want to create, area’s etc etc.
4. What information is needed for participants? And where do I think about?
While you are setting up your event, keep in mind that an event will be more successful if you provide as much information and details such as :
- Charts of the airbase and maps of the area. (if available)
- Flight route (what route to fly*)
- Flight plan
- Scenery (if available)
- Sector files for ATC (including all mission information)
* You could make a flight route by VOR, NDB, Intersections or coordinates
Always look if you can provide such as this, makes your event look good by pilots and controllers.
5. Testing your event.
When you have setup your event, you need to overlook all issues again.
What did I forgot? Where can I do better? What can I do more?
Always know exactly were your mission is about, and how you want to be it going later on.
Try to create a image in your head, about how you want your event to look like!
When you are done, you need to fly your event alone, to see if there a no problems.
6. Set time and date.
When you are ready you must set a event date and time, when you want to let your event take place.
Notify your division DIR when you have selected a date, and ask for approval.
7. Ask VATSAF clearance for your event
When your received approval from your DIR, you need to send a message to the Events
You will send a as detailed possible message regarding your event concerning :
- Event date and time (GMT)
- Type of event (Cat A or Cat B)
- Kind of event (detailed as possible)
- Types of aircraft
- ATC stations
- Airports you intend to use (arrival, departure and alterative)
- Webpage for more information.
When this message is sent, you will need to wait for reply from the Events Department.
If your event requires overflights of other countries and/or divisions, you will need to contact the FIR Chief or DIR of that country including your clearance number given by VATSAF, and ask for permission to over fly their country.
Also you need to ask for landing and take-off permissions from the country/division where you scheduled a technical stop. (such as refuelling)
They will take a look at your scheduled mission and issue (or not), according their division DIR, a permit for the overflight or landing.
Of course in the case of a negative response the Events Manager will be expected to state reasons the reasons for refusal. In case of justified reason, Event may have to reroute the mission according received permits
8. Announce your event.
When you have received clearance you need to announce your event.
Try to announce your event to your fellow staff VATSAF members.
Place it on the SO forum and mail the VATSIM to let your event put on the even calendar.
9. What services are required for a good event?
This is your final step in your creation.
- ATC
- Pilots
When you have all information and your event is ready, you will need to get ATC positions manned. Airbase controllers (GND, TWR, APP), Radar controller(s) (CTR) or a AWACS controller when required.
You must try to arrange ATC controllers within your division first to set all positions.
When unable to get enough ATC within your division, you could ask fellow staff SOC (Special Operations Coordinator) if they could help you with ATC.
10. Send a event report.
When your event is finished, you need to send a detailed message about your event to the SOD(Special Operations Director).
In this message you need to include:
- Flight report of your event.
- Names and VATSim VID of all participants including position (pilot or ATC) so that they can be awarded a Certificate.
The SOC.
During the event, the SOC is fully responsible for the good progress of the operations as cleared and for the correct adherence to VATSim SO rules and regulations
The SOC may refuse any participant from joining his event under very good reasons only.
When he does, he needs to contact the SOD and tell him exactly why refused a participant.
The SOC may decide if he wants to use specified callsigns during his event.
That can be given by subscription, but must be mentioned on the event webpage.
Extra Information:
VATSAF will give a batch to each pilot or controller that has at least 10 SO points as pilot or controller taken part in an event.
VATSAF will only give 1 point to each event only.
To create a good list of participants that took part in your event, you could let participants subscribe to your event.
This way they need to contact you with their subscription including:
- Full name
- VATSim VID
- Aircraft type
- Callsign
- Mission type
This way you only need to overlook the callsigns during your event, if they actually take part.
Pilots or controllers that are disconnected during your event, and do not reconnect will not receive points. It’s the job of the SOC to carefully monitor this issue.
Category 2 (Cat 2) Training Exercises:
This definition was brought into being to allow a framework to be set in place under which semi-formal and informal training exercises may be undertaken at Divisional level by members or groups of members without having to seek clearances from the Special Operations Department at VATSIM. These activities are not regarded as "formal events" as defined in Category 1 and therefore members will not receive SO points for participation in Category 2 training/exercises. In order to prevent abuse or misuse of this new freedom, divisional officers are required to undertake and adhere to the following rules and regulations:
Rule 1: All Cat 2 training flights/exercises MUST take place inside a training area set aside in the division for that purpose.
Rule 2: The divisions should research and establish permanent training areas.
Rule 3: The training areas MUST be agreed in advance between the divisional director, the divisional SOC, the divisional AOC/FOC and any other relevant divisional officers and set out in a divisional document. A copy of the document must be sent to the SO Department
Rule 4: Divisions may also establish temporary restricted areas (TRA) for specific exercises, but the details of the TRA must be placed in the NOTAMS section of the divisional website. Please see the definitions and uses of temporary airspaces below.
Rule 5: The details of the permanent training areas must be published on the SO page of the division website.
Rule 6: Where possible, the training areas should be the same as in the real-world in respect of location, geographical limits, altitudes and regulations for crossing by GAT aircraft.
Rule 7: Sector files should be modified to show the military training areas.
Rule 8: In all cases ATC must be provided to oversee operations within the training area and to allow safe passage of GAT aircraft. Please see the rules concerning ATC and AWACs below.
Rule 9: A maximum of 2 SOG's only may take part in Cat 2 training exercises.
Rule 10: At no time is it permitted for aircraft involved in training to interfere with GAT aircraft.
Rule 11: It is the responsibility of the divisional SOC to check that the assigned military training areas are being used correctly. However, HQ staff from the SO Department will occasionally check on training to ensure that these regulations are being enforced.
Rule 12: SO points are NOT awarded for Cat 2 exercises/training.