Rules and Regulations

SECTION 1 – MEMBERSHIP

  1. All members shall be at least 13 years of age on date of registering with the Virtual Ministry of Defence and hold a legal copy of Microsoft Flight Simulator X, Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition, Lockheed Martin Prepar3D or X Plane 11.
  2. All members shall provide a valid email address and IVAO VID when registering. Failure to do so will result in immediate termination of the account.
  3. All members shall provide valid information when registering. Supplying false or incorrect information at any time will result in a formal written warning and the information immediately amended.
  4. All members shall partake in an element of training provided by our Flying Training Schools before being transferred to an active Squadron.
  5. Acceptance into the Virtual Ministry of Defence is at the discretion of Personnel Support. Personnel Support holds the right to dismiss any registration without providing a reason.
  6. On registration, all aircrew shall initially hold the rank of Officer Cadet and be prohibited from flying outside of their training airfield circuit pattern until they have commenced their Elementary Flying Training.
  7. Officer Cadets are required to commence training within 21 days of registration being accepted or within two Elementary Flying Training courses (whichever is longest).
  8. Registering for admittance to the Organisation indicates you have read these Conditions of Service as set out by us and agree to abide by them.
  9. Members shall not use any form of Virtual Ministry of Defence branding (name, crest, colour schemes or logos) without the prior permission of Personnel Support.
  10. Members are forbidden to have multiple accounts. Members found using multiple accounts shall have both removed immediately and the user informed.
  11. Members shall not be part of any other military orientated organisation to ensure a conflict of interest does not occur. Any member found operating with another organisation shall instantly be suspended from duties pending a decision from the pilot.
  12. All members are advised to operate on the Virtual Ministry of Defence Discord server. Nicknames shall be formatted using [Firstname] [Lastname] [Station Callsign] e.g John Smith MRH05.

SECTION 2 – INACTIVITY

  1. All members, with the exception of those on leave, are required to fly a minimum of 2 sorties each month totalling 60 minutes to maintain an active status.
  2. Failure to maintain an active status more than twice will result in the issue being referred to the Station/ Group Commander.
  3. Notification of Leave is to be made to Personnel Support via the Leave of Absence area within the Pilot Centre. Members should inform their Squadron OCs of their absence either verbally via Discord or via email.
  4. An acceptable leave of absence period is up to and including 4 weeks. Any personnel wishing to be away for longer than that stated should inform Personnel Support immediately.
  5. Members who are inactive will have their accounts suspended without notice. If a member fails to communication with Personnel Support within two (2) weeks of suspension they are deemed as non-effective and shall be removed from the roster.

SECTION 3 – TRAINING

  1. All members shall pass through a Flying Training School unless deemed otherwise by Personnel Support. At the completion of training, members will be posted to an active Squadron within the Virtual Ministry of Defence under their chosen stream.
  2. Personnel Support holds the right to transfer and reassign any aircrew to a new unit during their career as long as a valid reason can be supplied.
  3. Members are allowed to request a transfer of Squadron pending Operational Conversion or additional Flying Training. Decisions on the length of training will solely be held by the receiving Squadron Commander.
  4. Members are only permitted to transfer squadrons once they have completed their stream’s training programme.
  5. Members who are passing through a Flying Training School are not permitted to fly outside the remit of which they have been taught. Members shall be advised by their Qualified Flying Instructor the extent of their remit and are categorised as follows:
    1.  Solo Circuits. The ability to fly a circuit pattern within 6nm of the Aerodrome to which the pilot is currently based.
    2. Local Area. The ability to fly within 100nm of the Aerodrome to which the pilot is currently based operating outside of airspace and operating Visual Flight Rules only.
    3. Navigation Exercise. The ability to fly a prescribed route issued by the Squadron Commander, solely navigating using VORs, NDBs and TACANs remaining clear of controlled airspace and supervised by their Flight Commander or Squadron Commander.
  6. Members passing through Flying Training Schools are not permitted to operate outside of the United Kingdom unless written permission (in form of an email) has been issued by either OC 22 (Training) Group or an Officer based at Air Command.

SECTION 4 – OPERATIONS

  1. Members shall adhere to all IVAO Rules and Regulations specifically Section 6.4 ‘Special Operations’ as all non-training sorties are to be conducted on the IVAO Network.
  2. Members who are passing through a Flying Training School are not permitted to partake in any military operation unless they have received written confirmation (in form of an email) from OC 22 (Training) Group or an Officer based at Air Command prior to deployment.
  3. Members situated on an Operational Conversion Unit shall not take partake in Military Operations or Exercises unless approved by their Squadron Commander.
  4. Members (except those stated below) are not permitted to intercept nor tamper with any civilian operations (events or traffic) on the IVAO Network.
    1. Exemptions. 29 (R) Sqn, Coningsby.
  5. Members are prohibited to simulate, on the IVAO Network, any operation which mirrors any previous or current real world operations/ conflicts which resulted to political, social or religious unrest.
  6. In the interest of the Organisation, weapons must not be visibly loaded onto aircraft operated on the IVAO Network. This includes videos, screenshots or reports posted onto any area of communications containing the ivao.aero domain.
  7. When operating on the IVAO Network, members are required to file a suitable flight plan using the relevant software. During Section 18 (Other Information), all crews must place ‘OPR/ VMODUK’ in the box provided.
  8. Members may only file hours for aircraft they are approved to fly which are noted on individual profiles. The exemptions to this rule are during Operational Conversion or Training.
  9. The sharing of cockpits is approved as long as both pilots are qualified to fly the airframe. Hours may be requested by both the captain and their assistant. If also connected to IVAO, the Captain shall take all responsibility for the actions of the aircraft.
  10. When operating on IVAO, it is of the interest of the Pilot to contact relevant and local controllers to ensure a potential collision is eliminated.

SECTION 5 – ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

  1. The person holding the title ‘Chief of Defence Staff’ shall have ultimate authority across the three services within the Virtual Ministry of Defence.
  2. The person holding the title ‘Chief of Air Staff’ shall have ultimate authority within the Virtual Royal Air Force.
  3. The person holding the title ‘Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Aviation & Carriers)’ shall have ultimate authority within the Virtual Fleet Air Arm.
  4. The person holding the title ‘Director of Army Aviation’ shall have ultimate authority within the Virtual Army Air Corps.
  5. Squadron Commanders will hold the rank of Wing Commander, Major or Commander dependant on the service and must complete the Initial Management and Leadership Course.
  6. Station Commanders will hold the rank of Group Captain, Colonel or Captain dependant on the service and must complete the Advanced Management and Leadership Course.
  7. The rank structure is as follows:

     

    Royal Air Force

    Army Air Corps

    Fleet Air Arm

    Student

    Officer Cadet

     

     

    OF-D

    Acting Pilot Officer

    Officer Cadet

    Midshipman

    OF-1

    Pilot Officer

    Second Lieutenant

    Sub Lieutenant

    Flying Officer

    Lieutenant

    OF-2

    Flight Lieutenant

    Captain

    Lieutenant

    OF-3

    Squadron Leader

    Major

    Lieutenant Commander

    OF-4

    Wing Commander

    Lieutenant Colonel

    Commander

    OF-5

    Group Captain

    Colonel

    Captain

    OF-6

    Air Commodore

    Brigadier

    Commodore

    OF-7

    Air Vice Marshal

    Major General

    Rear Admiral

    OF-8

    Air Marshal

    Lieutenant General

    Vice Admiral

    OF-9

    Air Chief Marshal

    General

    Admiral

    OF-10

    Marshal of the RAF

    Field Marshal

    Admiral of the Fleet

SECTION 6 – REMOVAL/ RESIGNATION FROM SERVICE

  1. Members can resign from the service by emailing Personnel Support where the account will be deleted within 24/48 hours. Resigning from the Organisation also removes all background of promotions and training which cannot be recovered.
  2. Misconduct, Lack of Activity or failure to abide by the conditions set within the publications will result in removal from service and can be requested by the following:
    1. Squadron Commanders. Squadron Commanders can request the removal of members from their Squadron. Should a member wish to object a decision made by the Squadron Commander they should contact the Station Commander (with the exception of Virtual Army Air Corps personnel who should contact their Regiment Commander).
      1. Regiment Commanders. Regiment Commanders can request the removal of members from their regiment. Should a member wish to object a decision made by the Regiment Commander they should contact the Station Commander
    2. Station Commanders. Station Commanders can request the removal of members from their Station. Should a member wish to object a decision made by the Station Commander they should contact the Group Commander.
    3. Group Commanders. Group Commanders can request the removal of members from their Group. Should a member wish to object a decision made by the Group Commander they should contact Personnel Support.
    4. Personnel Support. Personnel Support can request the removal of any member from the Organisation. Personnel Support holds the final decision and therefore cannot be objected.​