João Bragança - 379042

[Yanis Abt]

Dear IVAO VzW Members,

I am writing to express my interest in rejoining IVAO's General Assembly. As a former NPO member and long-time IVAO participant (VID 379042), I bring both historical knowledge of the organization and fresh perspectives from my professional growth in the technology sector.

My journey with IVAO has been extensive. I started as a staff member at 16 and progressed through various roles, including training, examination, and web development, before eventually serving as a General Assembly member. Though professional commitments led me to step back in 2019, this period equipped me with valuable skills that I believe will benefit IVAO's strategic direction.

As a Software Engineer, I've led complex projects involving system architecture, cloud solutions, and team leadership. These experiences have sharpened my ability to analyze strategic challenges, implement scalable solutions, and foster collaborative environments - skills that align perfectly with the General Assembly's responsibilities.

What draws me back to IVAO is not just nostalgia but a genuine belief in its mission to unite flight simulation enthusiasts worldwide. Having experienced IVAO's impact as a member and contributor, I understand the importance of maintaining its technical infrastructure while preserving its community-driven spirit. My background in aviation simulation and professional technology development provides a unique perspective on how IVAO can evolve while staying true to its core values.

If selected, I commit to:

• Actively participating in GA meetings and strategic discussions
• Contributing technical expertise to infrastructure-related decisions
• Leveraging my experience in both IVAO operations and professional software development to help bridge operational and strategic planning
• Fulfilling all membership obligations, including financial contributions, and maintaining active participation

I look forward to the possibility of serving IVAO's community once again and would welcome any questions about my application.

Best regards,
João Bragança
VID 379042

[Erdem Akbulut]

Hello Joao, thank you for your application to join the IVAO NPO. I do have some questions for you.

1) It's not really clear for me why you want to join NPO? What is your motivation?
2) What can you bring the GA? Did you have any project before when you are an NPO?
3) Do you have already some ideas to provide us?
4) What is the biggest 3 issues on IVAO and how would you fix them without disappoint anyone? What steps would you follow?
5) You are a member of NPO before. Why did you left?
6) Did you ever been suspended? If so, what was the reason and duration?
7) Have you been removed any staff position? If so, what was the reason?

Thanks for your appliaction, looking your answers.

Regards,

[v379042]

Hello Erdem,

Thank you for your message and for allowing me to explain my application further.

Regarding my motivation, I want to help IVAO grow again. I have been part of the network for more than 15 years, and I care deeply about its future. I strongly believe IVAO is currently at a turning point: either we evolve and modernize, or we risk slowly losing relevance in a very competitive and fast-changing environment. I want to actively contribute to bringing back fully crowded skies, a strong sense of community, and a platform that feels exciting and modern for new generations of flight simulation enthusiasts.

What I can bring to the General Assembly is long-term experience combined with the ability to actually execute ideas. My entire professional career was shaped inside IVAO: I am only a software engineer today because of IVAO. I originally joined the staff as a webmaster assistant for the Brazilian division and quickly fell in love with this profession. IVAO taught me how to code, how to work within a team, and how to coordinate with other departments in a structured and professional environment. That experience completely defined my career path.

Over the years, I have been involved in IVAO not only as a member but as a contributor to the community and its structure. Even before reaching the minimum age for staff, I was already working as a trainer in the Brazilian division. I was responsible for creating the former Brazilian training website used for exam and training requests, and I also developed a complete internal back-office system to manage Pilot Support reports and divisional events. Professionally, I am now a senior software engineer, which allows me to contribute with realistic technical perspectives on what is feasible, scalable, and sustainable for the network.

I already have several ideas I would like to bring forward. Most of them are focused on modernizing IVAO’s infrastructure and user experience, improving onboarding and member retention, and using automation and artificial intelligence to reduce staff workload while improving service quality. We are living in the AI era, and IVAO must take advantage of that, whether it is in training, moderation, support tools, or overall member experience.

In my view, the three biggest issues currently affecting IVAO are member retention, infrastructure limitations, and the lack of continuous innovation. The way I would approach these challenges is by first listening carefully to divisions, staff, and members, then defining clear priorities and introducing improvements gradually rather than through radical changes. Communication is key: explaining why changes are being made is essential to avoid frustration or resistance. This method allows IVAO to improve without breaking its existing culture and community.

Yes, I was a member of the NPO before. I left at the time because I had just started college, and my available time became very limited. I did not feel comfortable holding a position if I could not contribute at the level IVAO deserves.

Yes, I have been suspended in the past. These situations were mostly related to immature behavior when I was a teenager and did not yet fully understand the responsibilities that come with being part of such a community. Those experiences were important learning moments and helped shape my maturity and my understanding of the IVAO spirit. After those events, my conduct and contribution to the network were recognized, and I was later awarded the Division Spirit Award for my continuous support and dedication while working as a staff member of the Brazilian division.

I have also been removed from a staff position once, during a conflict with the former BR-HQ leadership. This occurred after a misunderstanding involving a weather deviation during a flight, which they interpreted as ATC avoidance. After review by the Executive, the suspension was immediately removed, and the facts were clarified. Some time later, that same BR-HQ was removed by the Executive due to misconduct and replaced by new leadership, which further confirmed that the situation had not been handled appropriately at the time.

Thank you again for your time and for considering my application. I am fully committed to contributing positively, constructively, and with long-term vision to IVAO’s future.

Kind regards,

[Erdem Akbulut]

Thanks for the answers Joao, good luck!

[v534081]

Dear Joao,

I have several questions to better understand your position.

1. You talk about modernizing with AI and automation. What human process would you never automate, even if it would be more efficient to do so?
2. You say that the network is at a turning point. What indicator would you use to measure and declare that a strategy has worked or failed?

Thank you in advance.

[v379042]

Dear Adrian,

Thank you for your questions.

1. You talk about modernizing with AI and automation. What human process would you never automate, even if it would be more efficient to do so?

I would never fully automate decisions that require human judgment, fairness, and empathy. Such as disciplinary actions, conflict resolution, mentoring, and final training or staff evaluations. AI can support these processes with data and insights, but the final decision must remain human to preserve trust and the community-driven nature of IVAO.

2. You say that the network is at a turning point. What indicator would you use to measure and declare that a strategy has worked or failed?

I would rely on a combination of indicators rather than a single metric. Quantitatively: member retention, recurring activity levels, and operational efficiency. Qualitatively: member satisfaction, staff workload, and overall engagement. A strategy is successful only if improvements are sustainable and do not harm the community's culture or volunteer motivation.

I remain available for any further questions or clarifications you may have.

[Mohammed Al Ahmed]

Hello Joao! Thank you for applying to GA. You have my support.

Good luck.

[v379042]

Hello Joao! Thank you for applying to GA. You have my support.

Good luck.

Thank you very much, Mohammed!