VA's

[hiflyphil]

Hi all

I thought I'd join one of the virtual airlines, I won't be bias and say which one.  But in my research into joining these airlines, many ask that you do a few training lessons etc.

Yeah ok, so how can they tell you've actually done them.  And more to the point how can they tell you actually did the flight that was actually asked of you and you didn't crash killing all on board?  ::)

But then we're all honest souls around here arn't we

Phil

[Birdie2112]

they may ask that you do them online so they are there and can verify it....probably

[VASX2003]

If you are looking for VAs to research and join, you can check out over 140 virtual airlines at the Virtual Airline Stock Exchange at www.vasx2003.com

[John Cifuentes]

They ask you do it offline. My VA relies on the honor system when you do them offline, but then again where is the fun in that? I think online it has to do with the ATC. If there is an ATC here then please correct me but when ATC closes your flight plan then it means you are at your destination. the VA checks if you sent the flight plan and if it was closed..........well, i have doubts as to what i said now.

[fisharno]

I'm not sure about now a days, but I remember hearing of some VAs that have/had very stringent requirements for training and verification. Some would have you follow a pre-determined "Test" flight plan, and then when you're comfortable, you contact the instructor and meet him online for "the driving test". He'll follow you and watch, while in voice contact with you. He is the sole person responsible for critiquing what he saw.
Either "PASS" or "FAIL", plain and simple.

Others would have you record your flight with the Flight Video, according to certain parameters. You send them the video and they'll load it into they're sim and watch it in several views to see if you've followed the instructions correctly.  

COUNT YOUR LUCKY STARS!!

[Scottler]

Here at Hyperion, we've encountered many of the same issues with other VA's, so we've been working diligently to try to create a system that helps.

What we've done is contracted a pilot who works with one of the major live ATC sites.  He happens to have about 2,000 hours in a variety of planes.  He'll be returning from an out of town trip at the end of the month, and he'll be our Vice President of Training.

It will be HIS job to certify each and every one of our pilots, and until you're signed off on one plane, you can't fly anything else.  (Just like the real world.)

Also, since our mission from day one has been to emulate our real world counterparts as much as possible, we've created something to mirror the "random drug screenings" that pilots receive.  (Primarily the "random" part.  lol)

Instead of random drug screenings, we've established random log checks.  You must submit a PiRep upon conclusion of every flight, which will be reviewed, and the hours will be credited to your record.  But you must also log the flights in your F$ log book.  We may, at any time, for any reason, view your log book.  If a discrepancy is found, appropriate actions will be taken.

Good luck choosing your VA, and please feel free to keep Hyperion Airways in mind!

www.flyhyperion.tk

[BFMF]

[quote]

[Scottler]

I mean that if a pilot submits a PiRep that says "Hey, I flew 89 hours", and his logbook says he flew 3.

No, it's not a foolproof system, but we're working on that.    ;)

[packercolinl]

Gee! If it's gonna be that bad I'm gonna go get my real commercial licence

[Scottler]

I assure you that the politics of real world airlines are just as plentiful.

All we're trying to do is guarantee a semi-realistic, 100% fair environment for our pilots.

Since our promotions are, at present, based solely upon logged hours, it's not fair to anyone to have no system of accountability for the hours our pilots claim.

Believe it or not, there are people out there who would fudge their VA hours.  We are merely doing what we can to ensure that the pilots in our employ EARN their advancements.  It's the only way to truly appreciate your accomplishments.

With that said, let me also say that we don't make a habit of screening people's log books.  It's written into our bylaws that we have the right, at any time and for any reason, to request a log.  We'd really rather hope it never comes to that, because to be honest, it's a pain right in the horizontal stabilizer.  But we've got to protect ourselves, and we've got to protect our pilots.

Any decent airline, virtual or otherwise, knows this, and takes the appropriate steps to protect it's pilots.

[BFMF]

I mean that if a pilot submits a PiRep that says "Hey, I flew 89 hours", and his logbook says he flew 3.

And it wouldn't be too hard to change the logbook either

[Scottler]

[quote]
No, it's not a foolproof system, but we're working on that.

[hiflyphil]

I wonder if Microsoft have had the foresight to program in a co-pilot seat in FS2004, for would be on line examiners?

I think it's the only way to be sure.

Happy crash... i mean flying

[Scottler]

I don't know about that, but I'm sure someone out there has the know-how to program a utility that will record your a/c type, paint variation, dept/arr airport, dept/arr times, and all of the other information that VA management needs to verify hours.  That would be a killer program!  Wish I could do it!

[hiflyphil]

 ;) well don't look at me I can barely work that calculator out.  ;D