What Are VATSIM and IVAO?
VATSIM (Virtual Air Traffic Simulation Network) and IVAO (International Virtual Aviation Organisation) are the two largest online flight simulation networks in the world. Both networks provide live, human air traffic control services staffed by trained volunteer controllers. When you connect your simulator to VATSIM or IVAO, you fly alongside thousands of other pilots in shared airspace, communicating with controllers via voice or text just as a real pilot would.
On VATSIM, controllers operate positions ranging from ground and tower at individual airports to approach, departure, and en-route centre sectors covering entire regions. During busy events — such as Cross the Pond, World Flight, or regional fly-in nights — hundreds of controllers may be online simultaneously, staffing every position along major transatlantic or transcontinental routes.
IVAO offers a similar experience with its own training programme, rating system, and global coverage. Both networks are free to join and use, and both are compatible with MSFS 2024, MSFS 2020, X-Plane 12, X-Plane 11, and Prepar3D. Pilots typically connect using a client application — vPilot or swift for VATSIM, Altitude or IvAp for IVAO — that handles voice communication and transponder simulation.
Flying on an online network transforms flight simulation from a solo activity into a multiplayer experience. You hear other pilots requesting pushback, controllers issuing taxi instructions, and adjacent traffic being sequenced for the same runway. It is the closest a simmer can get to the operational environment of a real cockpit — and JetStream Virtual is designed to make this experience seamless.
How JetStream Integrates with Online Networks
Real Callsigns
Every JetStream flight uses the actual airline callsign — KLM, Speedbird, Delta, Emirates, Shamrock — so you sound professional on frequency and controllers can identify you correctly.
One-Click Prefile
The flight briefing page includes a pre-filled VATSIM prefile link. Click it and your callsign, aircraft type, departure, arrival, altitude, and route are entered automatically — ready to submit.
Live ATC Display
The briefing page shows active VATSIM controllers along your route. See at a glance whether your departure, en-route sectors, and arrival have live coverage before you start your flight.
SimBrief Route
Your SimBrief OFP generates a route string that matches what controllers expect — standard airways, SIDs, STARs, and a cruise altitude appropriate for your direction of flight.
Filing Flight Plans for VATSIM and IVAO
Both VATSIM and IVAO require you to file a flight plan before departure. The flight plan tells controllers your callsign, aircraft type, departure airport, arrival airport, requested cruise altitude, route, and estimated time en route. It is the equivalent of a real-world ATC flight plan filed under ICAO rules.
VATSIM Prefiling
JetStream Virtual generates a one-click VATSIM prefile URL for every flight. The URL opens the VATSIM prefile page with all fields pre-populated — callsign (e.g., KLM1009), aircraft type (e.g., B738), departure (EHAM), arrival (EGLL), cruise altitude, and the full route string from your SimBrief OFP. All you need to do is confirm and submit. This eliminates the tedious process of manually entering route data into the prefile form and reduces the chance of errors that might cause a controller to query your flight plan.
IVAO Flight Plans
For IVAO, you can copy the route string and details from the JetStream briefing page directly into the IVAO flight plan interface. The callsign, departure, arrival, and route are all displayed clearly for easy transcription. SimBrief also provides IVAO-compatible route formats.
How the Briefing Page Works
When you select a flight on JetStream Virtual and generate a SimBrief OFP, the system builds a comprehensive briefing page. This page is your one-stop preflight resource. It shows your route on a map, lists the SimBrief fuel figures, provides the flight plan text, and — crucially for online pilots — includes an ATC tab showing which controllers are currently online along your route. If EHAM Tower and Amsterdam Radar are online, you will see them listed with their frequencies. This helps you decide whether to connect to VATSIM before pushback or wait until you are en route to controlled airspace.
Live ATC Coverage on the Briefing Page
One of the most useful features for VATSIM and IVAO pilots is the live ATC tab on the JetStream briefing page. Before you even load into the simulator, you can see exactly which controllers are staffing positions along your planned route.
The display is organised by position type — ground, tower, approach/departure, and centre/radar. Each entry shows the controller's callsign, frequency, and the facility they are covering. For example, if you are flying from Amsterdam to London, you might see:
EHAM_GND — 121.800
EHAM_TWR — 118.100
EHAM_APP — 121.200
EHAA_CTR — 132.350
This overview lets you plan your radio work ahead of time. Know which frequencies to expect, when to switch from departure to centre, and whether you will get a full ILS approach or need to self-sequence at an uncontrolled field. For pilots new to online flying, this removes a major source of anxiety — you know what to expect before you connect.
The ATC data is pulled in near-real-time, so positions that come online after you load the page can be refreshed to stay current. Combined with the SimBrief route and the VATSIM prefile link, JetStream's briefing page is a complete pre-departure toolkit for online pilots.
Best Practices for Flying VA Routes on VATSIM
Flying a virtual airline route on VATSIM is one of the most rewarding experiences in flight simulation. Here are some tips to make the most of it:
File Your Plan Early
Use the JetStream one-click prefile link to submit your VATSIM flight plan at least 10–15 minutes before you intend to push back. This gives controllers time to see your strip and plan your departure sequence. Controllers appreciate pilots who file early — it shows professionalism and makes their job easier.
Fly the Filed Route
Stick to the route in your flight plan unless ATC gives you a shortcut or re-route. The SimBrief route generated through JetStream uses standard airways and waypoints that controllers expect. If you deviate without authorisation, controllers will need to intervene — which creates workload for everyone.
Use Voice When Possible
VATSIM supports both voice and text communication. Voice is strongly preferred because it is faster, more realistic, and allows controllers to manage traffic more efficiently. If you are new to voice communication, practise your readbacks offline first. The standard phraseology for position reports, readbacks, and requests is the same as real-world ICAO radiotelephony.
Review the ATIS
Before contacting ground or tower, listen to or read the ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service). It tells you the active runway, transition level, QNH, and any relevant NOTAMs. When you contact ATC, include the ATIS information letter in your initial call — for example, "KLM 1009, gate B42, information Alpha, request pushback."
Flying with a virtual airline on VATSIM gives you a structured, professional framework that makes online flying even more enjoyable. Instead of picking random routes, you have a dispatch, a real schedule, a flight plan, and a community of pilots flying the same network. For more tips, visit our pilot library or read the JetStream blog.
Frequently Asked Questions — VATSIM & IVAO
Can I fly JetStream Virtual routes on VATSIM?
Yes. Every JetStream Virtual flight uses a real airline callsign and route, which is exactly what VATSIM controllers expect. The briefing page includes a one-click VATSIM prefile link that populates your callsign, route, aircraft type, and airports automatically.
Does JetStream Virtual support IVAO?
Yes. JetStream Virtual is compatible with both VATSIM and IVAO. You can use the same real airline callsigns, routes, and SimBrief flight plans when flying on either network. The ATC coverage display on the briefing page currently shows VATSIM data.
Does JetStream show which controllers are online?
Yes. The flight briefing page includes an ATC tab that shows active controllers along your route, helping you plan which frequencies to expect and whether your departure or arrival airport has live coverage before you start your engines.
Do I need a VATSIM account to use JetStream?
No. VATSIM and IVAO are entirely optional. JetStream Virtual works perfectly for offline flying as well. The JSV Flight Logger tracks your flight regardless of whether you are connected to an online network. Many pilots fly both online and offline depending on their mood and available time.
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