I will try and answer you as best I can................
We all have different flying abilities and personal standards that we apply to our flying in FS9. If someone wants to fly Direct GPS, VFR or full IFR using airways and SID’s and STAR’s then the choice is theirs. We have no way of monitoring a pilots routing unless they fly on one of the virtual ATC networks. Even then, I believe pilots are given a certain amount of choice at the descretion of the controller. I am all for encouraging anyone to venture into the virtual skies whatever their ability and I do not wish to impose any restrictions as to how you get from point A to point B.DispatchDragon wrote: As I understand from John (RAF Q) as far as airways routings go we can toss that out the window - seems tha you can fly just about anything you want and I quote VOR,GPS,Direct, whatever completes the task and
generates the most revenue for the "airline"
I have been very open about the concept behind FlyNET and most people are using modern aircraft. I thought it would be nice and rather fun to use the aircraft that we all like to fly. FlyNET are not stopping us any particular aircraft that we wish to use. At the moment when you fly by yourself in FS9 you have no considerations as to costs, load factors and how safe you operate. I think this adds another element of interest, enjoyment, thorn in the side – however people want to view itDispatchDragon wrote: - Im sorry , I have been
laboring under a total misconception , this seems to be more about generating "virtual" revenue than flying classic british aircraft in the
envoirment that they exsisted in
The environment that we have is FS9 with all the associated airfields/airports and navaids. There is an alternative ,‘Golden Wings’, but that has it’s limitations. If someone can re-create the airways system of the era that they wish to fly in there is nothing to stop them. I believe it would be possible (but a tremendous task) to build this as a ‘scenery add-on’, then apply an ‘exclude’ to the default scenery. IF we were fortunate enough to still have some of these classic aircraft still flying today, they would be using the same airways system and navaids as all the modern iron.DispatchDragon wrote: (PeteP and I discussed this a long time
ago as to wether one could reconstruct a 30 year old airways system
on MSFS) Obviously unless someone comes along and rebuilds airports (or debuilds) to the way they were 30 years ago one will have to live with exisisting airport scenery.
We can apply what we feel is a realistic valuation compared to existing aircraft already in the data base. Aircraft valuations all appear to be relative. You could say that an airworthy Trident’s value is priceless. In our virtual reality we will try and slot aircraft valuations where we feel they ‘fit in’ compared to other types. If you look at the FlyNET aircraft database you can see all aircraft and the valuation that has been attached to them. I think it will be fairly simple to make an estimate of value compared to the other aircraft on the databaseDispatchDragon wrote: - Returning to the concept of virtual revenue Im sure some of you may have noticed that Flynet REQUIRES a monetary
value be placed on the aircraft - as almost ALL of the types that have been
suggested are in museums or gone entirly (with the exception of the 748)
Computing the value can only be done by finding how much the original equipment cost new - and then converting from say 1969 Sterling to
2006 Sterling - I think you can all see the problems this might bring about
- to continue within the confines of Flynet would mean that you will
bankrupt the airline very quickly ,
Yes, if you look at any pilots flight report (just click on the blue ‘info’ icons) on FlyNET you will see the revenue and costs. Fuel costs are the largest expense. Each airport in the database has a published fuel cost. Some airports are more expensive than others. Crew/catering costs are applied. Pilot salary is applied. Aircraft value ‘depreciates’ as the aircraft % decreases with flying. This figure is returned to its original value when you ‘maintain’ the aircraft. You can sell aircraft that are not required, or you can dispose of them with a nominal ‘scrap value’. Customer satisfaction is taken care of by the number of virtual passengers that are prepared to travel with you on each flight. A ‘good airline with a high reputation, skilled pilots and acceptablefares will carry more passengers. Load factors are directly a factor of ticket price x airline reputation x pilot % ratingDispatchDragon wrote: because if the folks at Flynet have done
their homework corectly the "virtual airline" program will take into things
such as fuel cost, hull depreciation, maintenance costs, and of course customer satisfaction (meaning repeat load factors)
I don’t think this will be too much of an issue. Revenue per flight with the multiplyer applied gives generous profits. As they airline grows, the multiplyer will drop but if we are still operating safely and professionally with pilots flying to a good standard we will still generate an income.DispatchDragon wrote: IF all these things
have been computed at real world cost of 2005/2006 then operating 35 year old equipment with highly inefficient and thirsty engines will drive
the airline into bankruptcy in next to no time.
Rgds
John
