A question for you guy's regarding the VA or flying for a VA

TobyV · Post by **TobyV** » 11 Sep 2006, 17:08

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the lengthy explanation. I'll see how I get on north of the Watford gap once I have got my internet connection back and think about joining in a week or two. Main question is what to choose to fly :think: !

Toby

Hot_Charlie · Post by **Hot_Charlie** » 11 Sep 2006, 17:54

I suffer from no patience and an inability to fly in a straight line...

Post by **TSR2** » 11 Sep 2006, 18:24

The problem with a VA is that lots of folk fly for different reasons. Some want it to be "The way it is in the real world" others want to have fun. TBH The rules are really easy. Theres the Landing light rule which is that they must be on before take off, and switched off between 1000 - 10000 feet. (both coming up and going down). There is the speed limit, such that below 10000 your airspeed must not be above 250kts. And taxing your airspeed must not be above 25kts.

I usually start my VA flights at the end of the runway, If its a longish flight I usually use the autopilot, but normally do manual landings, just because thats the bit I enjoy. I can fly any flight, just need to remember to set the time in FS to mach the flight time before I start. Sometimes I fly every night, sometime I'll go a week without flying at all. The amount of hours you fly / miles you cover / money you earn doesn't mater, unless you want it to.

You can fly the aircraft in any livery you like no one can check up on you! You do have to fly the correct aircraft and land at the correct airport though.

I don't know how "real" this is, but as Tonks always says, ITS NOT REAL. Its a bit of fun. Also worth pointing out that Konny (the guy who setup flynet), does it for free, in the same spirit that our guys churn out models, so he has a day job to do too. Just my tuppence worth chaps.

Post by **RAF_Quantum** » 11 Sep 2006, 18:27

Hi Nige,

In response to your points :

1. Unlike a lot of VA's we have no miniimum/maximum flight requirements that we expect a pilot to perform. You fly when you want to and have the time.

2. You only have to be connected to the internet at the start and end of your flight. This is to enable the client programme to check the database to see what flight you have booked at the start of the flight. At the end of the flight you need to connect so that the client can register your flight with the database and update it.

3. There are a few rules from FlyNET to avoid you incurring penalties and a few VA rules. The rules are in the forum and have a full explanation with each rule. Once you realise why they are there it becomes second nature.

Yes, there is a great deal of satisfaction and enjoyment operating VA flights. It also makes you a better and more disciplined virtual aviator.

Rgds

John

blanston12 · Post by **blanston12** » 11 Sep 2006, 18:31

DanKH wrote:Isn't there an option of flying "codeshares" wiith other VA-airlines? Or am I totally off here?

From my research, if CBFS was to partner with airline X, and airline X was to codeshare some of its routes with CBFS, then CBFS could fly those code share routes from airline X using CBFS aircraft provided we had the aircraft type specified for that route. There is also an economic benifit of some type to airline X for having its route code shared but I am not sure how to quantify that.

Post by **DaveB** » 11 Sep 2006, 18:35

Rules, rules, rules. FORGET THE RULES!!

Nigel.. as I said above, the 'roster' is poorly named for us at CBFS.. LIST is a more accurate name. If you want to fly once a week.. that's fine, if you find you have an hour spare and fancy a flight, check what's leaving from your current airport (on an aircraft you have type-rated YOURSELF).. click on book flight then logoff. Start the sim, reduce it using the windows logo button.. double click on the CLIENT and takeon fuel.. reopen the sim and off you go. It really is that easy

When you land (hopefully at the correct destination), hit the parking brake.. wait for the bing-bong.. reduce the sim then end the flight in the client window. That's it. Fly now, fly later, fly next week.. fly whenever you have the time to do so but instead of it being wasted.. you are flying for US!!

Promotion is purely numerical.. that is, for a given number of flights, you will move up from second flight officer to first flight officer to captain and finally to senior captain. No closed doors with backroom discussions.. the more you fly, the further up the ladder you will go. If you're not chasing numbers, it doesn't matter. You'll see from a few of the guys who fly the VC10 (especially those - Dan - who ONLY fly the VC10). He has loads of hours to his credit and zillions of miles but these are achieved in few flights hence the promotional ladder takes a little longer to climb. I'm sure it doesn't matter one way or another to Dan what the hell he is. He flies his beloved VC10 whenever he can fit it in and he's happy with that.

Nigel.. I'm not sure how dialup would handle the Client to be honest with you. I know that you can lose the connection and when you've landed, send a PIREP report (this is easy to do now) which will then relocate you at the airport you just landed at. We're I on dialup.. I'd have second thoughts to be honest. Perhaps John or ChrisT can add something more to this

So.. no pressure to fly. You fly if and when you can. THe only stipulation is that if you book a flight, you have 24hrs to do it in otherwise you forfeit the pax income out of your own pocket

I think this is fair enough purely because there is NO external pressure for you to fly. I've had to cancel a couple before and the same thing applies.. I paid the pax back. Fortunately, I was only in the Rapide at the time!!

DIAL-UP.. I'm not sure about so hopefully, one of the team will be able to answer that for you.

There ARE other things to be aware of but as you get used to it.. you'll find yourself LOOKING to find more things out. As I said earlier.. I rarely flew flightsim before joining the VA and look at how many hours I have behind the stick now :shock: :redface: It can be very addictive

Keep the questions coming as we're keen to answer all your questions

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Post by **Viscount Cornbank** » 11 Sep 2006, 20:20

I've no idea what dial up will do but my broadband connection is always dropping out. The upload PIREP option allows you to update your position after a flight anyway.

I have a cr*p rating because I wasn't used to using landing lamps in the flynet fashion and belted along taxyways; so what?

It really does add an extra dimension as well as a feeling of a team and belonging.

The clique of usual names are probably those who provide you with such outstanding freeware, and also love flying the aeroplanes this forum is about.

If anyone wants help on the fleet which I manage (VC8/VC9) then I'm more than happy to offer it. i don't even mind retrieving abandoned aeroplanes :huf:

Give it a try; it's worth it.

cheers

Fraser

Post by **DaveB** » 11 Sep 2006, 20:44

I'll add to Fraser's last point that I also don't mind 'retrieving' aircraft (that's why there are no longer any VC9's or Viscounts loafing abroad)! Likewise, I have the tiller on the piston aircraft because that is (was until Saturday) all I fly so I suppose I was a natural choice. I didn't ask for the job but was asked if I wanted to do it

So.. I look after the Rapides, the Dove's and the DC3's which basically means, I keep an eye on their percentage rating and put them into maint when required. If there is a budding DC3 pilot out there who would like to take the DC3 fleet off my hands, you are more than welcome to do so. We have too few DC3 pilots on hand anyway so another one would be most welcome

As I said earlier.. it does look a bit 'closed shop' but as I've since pointed out, this is purely because only a few of us seem to fly regularly. The more we pilots we get onboard.. it will seem less so I can assure you. Once you're 'IN' you'll see what I mean

Right.. back to work again!! :-$

I got my Vanguard back from Frankfurt btw.. just the final leg from Manchester to LHR and I'll be done

Taking onboard what has already been said.. if I choose not to fly that remaining leg today.. tomorrow or even next week, it doesn't matter (I'll do it tonight though because I always like to get back home again)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

DanKH · Post by **DanKH** » 11 Sep 2006, 20:45

What a great posting Dave!

Yes of cause you spotted my 20 knt's error

I was typing in the middle of an dull UNIX course and didn't had the time to edit it....sure enough it was spotted right away...

And I can only second Dave, that joining the CBFSVA certainly brings in a new dimension. Suddenly you have a quest to do instead of just flying hither and thither...well I did... and as Dave also stated, this is a small tribute to the 50-60'ies so we fly those aircraft at those routes, and mostly if not all BOAC's. There has been rumours about other airlines/aircrafts, and I can see the DC3 has sneaked itself in, but the F100 is leaving...maybe the 707 will be ratified and that would add a few more routes to the overall route net..which indeed is not small. As a matter of fact you can fly around the would if you like..so go ahead and jump into it.

simtrac · Post by **simtrac** » 11 Sep 2006, 20:51

Sorry to hop in late on this one, but I feel I need to justify my reasons for not flying, although I am registered, as I am sure there are many others in the same boat for one reason or another.

I quite often do trips independantly and offline, usually using the PMDG 737-800 and usually replicating a real world trip I have just done or will be doing. For example, I have just done Bournemouth - Faro and will be doing the return trip in the next week or so. Trouble is, because I have a young family and a business to run, I hardly ever seem to have the time to complete the trip at the first attempt (always having to abort for one reason or another). Plus, for each flight there seems to be (for me at least) at least an hour or two of planning ... I can't take the pressure! :-({|=

The guide you put up Dave is great for me - rest assured, I will have a go one of these days!