Example ATO

Authorized Training Organization

Operations Manual

WARNING

Information contained in this

document is intended for flight
simulation purposes only.
 (Example ATO) Operations Manual

Table of Contents
1 ATO Mission Statement....................................................................................7
2 Management Functions....................................................................................8
2.1 Role of Chief Flight Instructor..............................................................................8
2.2 Management Responsibilities and Authority.......................................................8
3 Communications and Data...............................................................................9
3.1 Communications..................................................................................................9
3.2 Data Retention....................................................................................................9
4 Approved Pilot Rating Training Programs...................................................10
4.1 P1 – Private Pilot License.................................................................................10
4.2 P2 – Instrument Rating.....................................................................................10
5 Pilot Training...................................................................................................11
5.1 Teaching and Instructing Strategies.................................................................11
5.2 Student Training Assessment...........................................................................11
6 Pilot Rating Evaluation Criteria.....................................................................12
6.1 Written Examination..........................................................................................12
6.2 Practical Examination........................................................................................12
7 ATO Improvement and Quality Assurance Process...................................13
8 Conflict Resolution and Appeals Process...................................................14
8.1 Conflict Resolution............................................................................................14
8.2 Appeals Process...............................................................................................14

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Control Pages

ATO Operations Manual

Document Identification
Type Operations Manual
Version 1.0
Issue Date 15/1/2020
Effective
01/2/2020
Date
This operations manual applies to all of the constituent
components that comprise this Authorized Training
Organization of the VATSIM network. It applies to all levels
Scope
of the organization, including, but not limited to, the Chief
Flight Instructor, the Instructors, the Support Staff, ATO
students
Prepared by (ATO CFI name)
Approved
VATSIM Pilot Training Department
by
Review date Jon Doe (ATO Assigned POI)
Identificatio
n Primary Operations Inspector

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 (Example ATO) Operations Manual

Revision Records
Revisio
n Date Description of Change Author
Number
ATO
1.0 15/1/2020 Initial ATO Ops Manual
CFI

Waivers

Authorizing
Date Description of Waiver
Party
20/1/202 P1 – Students will not have to demonstrate E. HAWES
0 knowledge of uncontrolled airspace VP PTD
20/1/202
P2 – No NDB approaches J DOE POI
0

Related Documents
Document Name Document Identification
ATO PPH ATO Policies and Procedures Handbook

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 (Example ATO) Operations Manual

1 ATO Mission Statement

The mission of (Name of ATO here) is to provide quality and unbiased pilot training to the
members of the VATSIM network. The ATO will act professionally and ethically in all
capacities. Students shall not be discriminated upon and shall be provided with a positive
and learning encouraged atmosphere in all aspects. All staff will fairly and diligently train
students to the best of their abilities no matter the skill level of the student. All pilot ratings
issued by this ATO will not only be done fairly, but also transparently.

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2 Management Functions

2.1 Role of Chief Flight Instructor

The Chief Flight Instructor is ultimately responsible for ensuring the safe, sound, and
efficient operation of the Authorized Training Organization, its staff, its students, and its
records.

2.2 Management Responsibilities and Authority

The Chief Flight Instructor (CFI) will serve as a primary contact with VATSIM’s Pilot
Training Department and will be ultimately responsible for the ATOs approved operational
status granted by the VATSIM Pilot Training Department. The CFI shall act under the
guidance of the ATO Policies and Procedures Handbook in all areas of operation. The CFI
is also expected to maintain a professional and ethical way of conducting ATO business at
all times. In order to full fill these obligations, the CFI may remove any staff member or
student at any time, which is against the mission of the ATO at any time utilizing the
ATO’s conflict resolution program provided in the ATO Operations Manual.
Given the above responsibilities, each CFI must act in the best interest of their ATO, staff,
and students. CFIs who are failing to meet the standards of the ATO Policies and
Procedures Handbook, ATO Operations Manual, the mission statement of the ATO, or
acting in a professional or ethical capacity may be removed.

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3 Communications and Data

Communications and the use of data are a critical part of ensuring a connected and
organized ATO. The ATO plans to utilize the following methods to conduct
communications,

3.1 Communications
All members may utilize email, web system booking, and the ATO approved Discord for
general communications.
All staff communication will be done via email, private forum, and private Discord channel.
All conflict resolution and appeals communication shall only be done via email for
accurate records keeping purposes.

3.2 Data Retention

All member data and examination results will be retained in compliance with the ATO
Policies and Procedures Handbook. Examination results will be secured for the mandated
two-year period for records and review purposes.

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4 Approved Pilot Rating Training Programs

The (Name of ATO here) ATO has been approved under the guidance of the VATSIM
Pilot Training Department to operate and issue pilot ratings using the following Pilot
Rating Training Programs with the following training program syllabi.

4.1 P1 – Private Pilot License

Training Program Approved Syllabus: (Insert program syllabus link here)

4.2 P2 – Instrument Rating

Training Program Approved Syllabus: (Insert program syllabus link here)

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5 Pilot Training
Pilot training is the key to the success of the ATO and its students. The ATO will utilize the
following methods, techniques, and assessment strategies to conduct pilot training.

5.1 ATO Enrolment Status

Example ATO is an Membership only based ATO due to our Virtual Airline’s training
program being directly tied to the ATO training program and used for Virtual Airline
members only. The ATO CFI will inform the ATO’s POI if the ATO needs to open or close
acceptance of new students at any time.

5.2 Teaching and Instructing Strategies

Student teaching will be a mix of both 1:1 practical and web based theoretical instruction.
Theoretical content will vary in presentation with a balance of text, videos, and graphics to
help all learning styles retain the information being presented.

5.3 Student Training Assessment

Students will be assessed by feedback from periodic interactive quizzes in the theoretical
content. Students will also be assessed using 1:1 instructor training in the aircraft during
each lesson debriefing.

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6 Pilot Rating Evaluation Criteria

Students will be assessed using the following criteria when attempting a written and
practical examination for a pilot rating.

6.1 Written Examination

Students must complete pilot rating written examinations with a score of 70% or higher to
pass and be eligible to complete the practical examination portion of each pilot rating.

6.2 Practical Examination

Students will be evaluated using the appropriate ATO practical examination rubric for
each Pilot Rating under the guidance of the rating’s Member Certification Standards.

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7 ATO Improvement and Quality Assurance Process

In the interest of continuing to improve the ATO, the ATO will:

 Collect training program feedback from students upon completion of that pilot
rating’s training program
 Provide a way to collect general ATO feedback on the ATO website
 Track the pass/fail rates of written and practical exams for each approved pilot
rating training program
 Conduct quarterly staff meetings
 Set annual goals for the ATO to achieve between each annual evaluation

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8 Conflict Resolution and Appeals Process

In the interest of maintain order and fairness within the ATO, the following conflict
resolution and appeals processes will be used to ensure a fair and consistent process of
processing discrepancies.

8.1 Conflict Resolution

ATO members who have conflict with any other ATO member shall notify the ATO CFI via
email with: the date, detailed notes regarding the conflict, and names of any other parties
involved in the conflict as soon as practical.

8.2 Appeals Process

Student’s who believe they have not correctly been evaluated for a pilot rating
examination may appeal the results given by the examiner. Appeals shall be submitted to
the ATO CFI via email as soon as practical containing the: date, pilot rating being
attempted, examiner, and a detailed message of why the student feels the results of the
examination should be appealed.
An effort shall be made to provide a different examiner for their next attempt at the pilot
rating examination no matter the outcome.

8.2.1

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