VATSIM Pilot Rating Program Opens for Live Beta
Well, its been a long road and not always what we anticipated, but it is now time to start in earnest creating the platform upon which VATSIM Pilot Ratings can be issued by Authorized Training Organizations (ATOs).
Below is a download for the beta testing that lists the requirements to become an ATO and the requirements for the P1 - VATSIM Pilot rating, the platform we will use to beta test the whole structure. Work on the next ratings will start in July in the design team forum so we are able to offer those ratings soon after the beta concludes.
As of now all VATSIM members have the rating P0- No Rating listed in their CERT record. The display of these ratings will be added to the more public displays (like your stats) soon but right now admins, staff, and SUPs can see them. New ratings can be issued by ATOs using a VATSIM web interface still under construction but we have some capacity to manually issue ratings now on a limited scale.
We are seeking organizations like VAs, ATC Divisions and local facilities, or stand alone training providers who already have excellent pilot training programs to become ATOs in this beta. We will also be interested in talking to those who don't yet have a program but are motivated and resourced to build one. We are also specifically looking for ATOs who can specialize in providing services to existing veteran VATSIM members who already have the skills and knowledge outlined in the document for P1 in a fast track fashion. One conversation I had with a regional staff member we talked about divisions setting up events around certifying veteran pilots and have them fly a 30-45 min flight set up to test these skills, and perhaps some PM pop quiz questions in cruise. VAs can offer ratings to only members of their VA or more broadly to others outside of their VA. ATOs are also not restricted from adding additional material to their program if they think it necessary as long as they meet the documented minimums. ATO key staff will also be added to the Pilot Training design team forum so they can see all the conversations that brought us to this point and they will also be encouraged to help work on future ratings.
Lastly this is a beta and we expect feedback from those participating to help up change the document as it exists today in order to allow for the desired flexibility in how ATOs deliver contant. If you think your organization is missing parts of the requirements, please engage in conversation with us to find ways to make it work and also thus modifying the requirements documents for final release. We expect to learn from this beta and adjust to what makes sense without overburdening VATSIM or ATO with paperwork and pilots with rerquirements that don't add value to the intent of the ratings.
ATOs will have a separate listing in the Links Manager (VA Partner) system so interested pilots can contact them easily. We would move to an internal listing system eventually.
http://h1.ripway.com/getstill/VATSIM_Pi ... m_Beta.doc or email me for this document if the download has a problem. (recommend saving the link as ...)
Briefly, for ATOs, you first apply to be an ATO using the template in the document. Once you are an ATO you make application for being able to issue P1 ratings also using the template in the document.
For pilots, watch for ATOs opening in the next month or so to see if their program meets your needs. We will want pilots going through ATO programs to provide some feedback on the system as a part of gaining their rating under the beta. Any rating issued during the beta period will be forever valid in VATSIM.
And, pilot ratings will never be mandatory for anyone.
Thanks to the help provided by the people below in creating the VATSIM Pilot Rating Program to this stage. The conversations have been tough but they have driven us to a place where VATSIM will be able to offer pilot ratings to interested pilots that is representative of their skills as well as open a lot of space for training providers to break new ground in how they deliver ratings and in what languages these ratings can be given; this is good for pilots, good for training organizations, and good for VATSIM. I specifically want to thank Alex Bailey who during his time assisting me was a wonderful driving force to meet milestones and press for ever more creative solutions.
Pilot Ratings Design Team Members
Mike Bevington – The original architect of VATSIM Pilot Training
Keith Smith – Advanced the game in defining the ATO system
Alex Bailey
Luke Kolin
Peter Dodds
Joe Clark
Richard Gerrish
Harold Rutila
Alistair Thompson
Ed Tomlinson
Arjun Murthy
Matthew Cianfarani
Jeff Thomas
Steve Cullen
Frank Plummer
Norman Blackburn
David Acetta
Peter Grey
Callum McLaughlin
Thomas Mathieu
Ernesto Alvarez
_________________
Kyle Ramsey
VATGOV9
VP - VA and VSOA
k.ramsey(at)vatsim.net
The beta for the ATO program is about to get under way and we are looking for feedback from our pilots. Would any of you be interested in participating in this beta testing? Would you like to see VATCAN offer pilot training - we have the systems in place already and could offer this service without too much delay? Would you or your VA like to become affilliated with VATCAN and the ATO?
You can email myself or a member of VATCAN's Staff or even post feedback in this thread. If there is enough interest, we would be more than willing to sponsor a National Pilot Rating program and would even consider partnering with many of the Canadian VAs on this project.
