Sorry to interrupt the discussion on politics, but it occurred to me while reading all the gnashing of teeth is that what we ought to be discussing is why we have trouble attracting *PILOTS* to VATSIM.

Looking at IVAO, they're consistently a few hundred users ahead of us (or more) during their respective peak time.

Why is that?

Because IVAO doesn't have difficult ATC certification processes and people don't mind just having a random person handing out something that somewhat approximates an ATC instruction?

Because IVAO doesn't have vast levels of bureaucracy and in-fighting?

Because IVAO has killer software?

Because IVAO has better documentation?

I honestly don't know the answer.

I've only seen their X-plane software, and I don't think its much different from ours.  From what I've read of their ATC client, it certainly seems like it's probably equal to VRC and behind Euroscope.

I do know they have some of the same difficulties retaining developers.  For a while there, their entire pilot client was in some question when some of the key people quit developing.

One thing I think that plays a big part is IVAO's concentration in Europe.  You get a lot of airplanes flying together in a relatively small area and you get a better traffic experience.  Additionally, the more concentrated the traffic, the more concentrated the ATC coverage.  While IVAO has 90% of their traffic concentrated in Europe, VATSIM has its traffic and controllers spread across both North America and Europe.

So what is it that attracts people to IVAO?  About the only thing I've heard is "a family feel."

Are there folks who have significant experience with IVAO that can comment?  What can we do to make VATSIM better and more attractive to pilots?