Virtual Airlines... Options

[MrMe]

Do people still use them? After having a look around they seem a bit, well, dry if you know what I mean. Most of the websites are poor and they seem to have last been updated in May 2001.

The reason I ask is it's something I want to start but I kind of want to make it fun and appealing but it will take a few weeks to setup. I'd like to try and make it a little less formal and a bit more quirky.

I was thinking of starting one that only flys maybe 4 or 5 short routes to start, probably mirroring some of those that EasyJet fly, using similar aircraft. Would this appeal or do people want more/less? I would want to keep things simple so as to appeal to those who are new or have little knowledge of flying with a VA.

In fact, what would be your ideal Virtual Airline?

[ncbaseball]

yea there still around. i mean i fly for Delta (www.deltava.org) and UPS (www.upsvac.com).

My ideal virtual airline is already a big one with lots of diff aircraft and routes but theres others who like smaller ones like the one ur talking about starting

[Jumpshot724]

I used to actively fly for Northwest Virtual and jetBlue Virtual. They each belonged to rival VA groups, with Northwest Virtual being part of Simairline.net, and jetBlue Virtual being part of the Flying Tigers group. I don't really fly for them anymore, but I am active on the sima.net message boards.

[dolbinau]

I personally think virtual airlines have lost their 'zing' . Sure 5 years ago when we were all new and excited about FS; When we didn't have the vastness of add-ons or online traffic networks like Vatsim [There may have been some around but nothing to get excited about] etc.. etc..

Virtual Airlines today are mostly run by 'n00bs' on free webspace, with poor liveries and design. If you are into VA"s than that is cool but personally I don't really see the point.

There are some VA's ('transload virtual airlines') For example who are like an online community with Fly-Ins etc.. which are fun but generally I'd say they are pretty baron.

Regarding making your on VA: Don't bother.

[boeingman29]

what is required to fly for a virtual airline?

[dolbinau]

Generally nothing. Some ('better' ones) Such as the Flying Tigers Group require you to pass a test.

[MrMe]

I figured that might be the case but I thought the whole idea with a virtual airline was to be part of community.

You see, I love playing flight sim but sometimes I get bored. Whenever I have flown on VATSim and I have flow with someone who happens to be doing the same route I have thoroughly enjoyed it - you know, you can chat about flight sim and flying in general along the way. It makes for a more interesting and fun flight.

Sometimes, in fact, most of the time, I feel the VA "industry" (if that's the right term) seems to be as stuffy as the real life industry can be. I just think it would be fun to approach from a different direction and try and put the fun back in to it - So still log the flights and maybe even go a step further and introduce a virtual currency with virtual revenue drawn in by each flight but actually make the whole sign up process/membership less mundane and more appealing to those that just want to fly, log their hours and be part of a community.

I'm still going to look in to it as I think there is an opportunity out there to make a difference and put the "zing" back in to flying for a VA.

I was thinking of doing this:

1) User signs up
2) User gets email and can fly for the airline straight away (no tests or long drawn out enrolment procedures)
3) User logs on, picks route
4) User fly's route and reports figures (not too extensive)
5) In the background those figures are converted in to revenue and go in to the "pot". The costs of the users flight is then calculated against it and the remaining difference is added to the profit pool.
6) User is then allocated another flight and away they go again.

The main aim is to get to captain and get as many hours as you can.

Dependant on hours obviously reflects on rank. The higher up, the better the routes.

The virtual finances are released once every couple of weeks so people can see how well the business is going and if they have a true loyalty to the VA and they can see the business is doing bad they fly more routes to generate more virtual income.

All this is calculated in the background so would effectively take very little time to administer.

Once enough users have signed up, online sessions will be arranged and hey presto you have your community.

I'd be interested in what you think?

[klm_city_hopper]

Yes i might i guess.........

[boeingman29]

yeahh that sounds great.

[AviationDork13]

Howdy
I fly for Delta Virtual(www.deltava.org) and I LOVE that virtual airline. The thing that I like most about it is that they actually make their site not look like crap and they have alot of stuff to offer. For Instance, they give you the planes you need in full packages with sounds and panels with autoinstallers. They have a thing where you can type in an Airport code and you can receive VOR,ILS,TAXI,and other charts needed. And they have a forum on there that you can use and get help for anything imaginable with. I personally like that airline of all the Virtual Airlines. But that is just me. But as for you starting your own, I would actually fly for one for awhile so you know what your getting into and whats needed and make a couple friends in the industry. I know it sounds corny for something on the computer but if you really get into it, it can be pretty fun. But I am all for you starting your own and tell me when you get it going and I have no problem taking a look at it and maybe joining it. lol. Good Luck!


Gabe

[737best]

I find VA's to be kinda confusing......especially when they involve VATSIM

I used to fly for the Flying Tigers Delta VA, but I got bored of that pretty fast....I signed up for Transload...but I couldn't manage 2 VAs....between my computer malfunctioning to lack of time, it was really more trouble than its worth....

I'll probably try again when and if I get a new PC...or Mac with boot camp

[iambenwyatt]

MrMe, that is a fantastic idea. I would definately be interested in it as I also like the economics part of things (Thats why I bought fspassengers) keep us posted on developments.

As for VATSIM, theirs is one of the most confusing registration processes in the world. Especially when they don't let you use your regular 'free' e-mail account, so you've got to search through old paperwork from your ISP to find the login details for the ancient and never used family e-mail account that they gave you when you signed up, ARGH!!!

Ahhhhh, thats better.

[MrMe]

Cool - response seems positive. I actually created the database for this the other day - when I worked out how much work would be involved it turned out to be quite a lot. I'm actually working on a large project at the moment so may not find the time to do it right away but I really want to do it so watch this space.

[lukegerst]

As far as a finance system, Livewire Virtual Airlines has a similitude of what I think MrMe is talking about. Pilots sign up, log in, and pick their flights, which are of course sorted by rank: Trainee, Jr, First Officer, etc. Then they fly the flight and file it, at which time revenue is calculated for the airline and the hub(s) they flew. Pilots also get paid for their flights, and can spend the money on company stocks, create transactions between themselves, spend it on virtual "stuff," play the lottery, or just put it in the bank. Sometimes a hub will select a specific set of flights to increase the pay on for a short period of time..... All in all, great fun, and I think that the money system is a great idea! You can see how it works in more detail if you want by going to www.livewireairlines.com.