You don't have to use M$ Zone for flying online. You can use perminent servers like:
www.wspilots.comThis site provides three perminent servers that are always available 24/7. You just have to read the instructions on how to open your ports in your computer and that's it.
There are times where some of us SimV members get together for a little fun at these servers. Just keep an eye out on the Multiplayer section of this forum for online sessions like:
US Tour
UK Tour
SimV Race
For these servers, all you need is to go in FS9, punch in the IP address [the addresses are updated and posted in the forum at certain times], and click Join. That's it. No need to go through the complex process of signing in through the Zone, nor having to download and install certain packages just for a 1 hour session.