VA's what's really the point?

[briansommers]

I've been in and out of a lot of VA's and I can never quite get one that I like 100%, so I think I want to start my own. why? I've been wanting to fly the payware a/c and the payware sceneries that ive bought. I like the PMDG a/c (B1900C/F and 737,739,744 pax and cargo) and use the Flight Scenery KPVD and there new scenery due out soon i hope, KPDX as well as FlyTampa's stuff and of course some great freeware out there as well then i started to think what i could do that would make my VA unique, and i couldn't really come up with anything. I don't do any programming, so... it wouldn't have any of that fancy automated stuff that seems to be the norm right now, no acars, no flight tracking, etc. and neither do i want to go the other route either of a simple bland website with a list of flights and "pick-an-aircraft-go-fly-your-flight-file-pirep-watch-hours-build-up-rinse-and-repeat" kind of thing either.. so... what to do.well there are a lot of va's out there that just let pilots fly whenever whatever- i would make sure that every pilot is flying every route. either by a bidding system or rotational assignments- only have routes enough to support the actual number of pilots on the roster- have an active roster- a/c would be unique in the registration number- each pilot and a/c would move and be kept track of, etc- would i even bother with a pirep sytem? i don't like them anyways and from what i've read at midcontinent VA there unrealistic anyways.- no climb the ladder thing - if your capable of flying a/c xyz then go ahead..this is a lot of stuff to do on by hand, then it dawned on me, is that enough? I mean why fly for me? i mean so whats the big deal about seeing your hours build up?what are your thought?sorry for the rantciao!Brian S

[Guest Tony B]

Why do you feel the need to belong to a VA to fly your payware aircraft ? It's on your PC, why not just fly it.

[Guest Pacificflyer]

I see Brians point! A few years back VAs were few and far between and the people that looked after them had a interest and passion for what they had to work with.Now can build a VA and host it on there own webpage just because they want one! This forum is a classic example of VAs that spring up and most just die within weeks. The internet has grown so rapidly in the last few years! Go back 5 years how many Virtual Airlines were there? Back 10 even less! Which brings you to see that a VA may claim to be long standing but thats only because it has the webspace still and a few motivated individuals keeping it alive. Many VAs I have belonged to over the years are no longer as healthy with "active" pilots as they were 5 years ago.I see names on Pilot rosters of VAs I have not flown in years! So my belief is the interest in Virtual Airlines is dying, argue with that point and you are a novice, nieve or just blinkered!"Why do you feel the need to belong to a VA to fly your payware aircraft ? It's on your PC, why not just fly it."Think you should look up the meaning of Virtual Airline? The sense of community and purpose of like minded individuals, that gives pupose to your flying.

[Guest rolex]

Belonging to a VA is more of an ego thing. You log hours and have someone place them on a roster for the world to see. The only satisifaction you really get is showing how many hours you have logged. It really boils down to what you are seeking. I have a few payware aircraft and until the VA says they will pay for it I will fly my payware when and where I want. I agree the VA's are going out because too many people have other interests. The fad lasted more than some. But there are still many die-hards out there like myself and really enjoy the fantastic hobby. The best thing you can do is enjoy what you have.

[briansommers]

interesting responses..the first response i felt really kinda dumb posting in the first place (not to imply sir that you made me feel dumb or anything like that, don't get me wrong please) after i read the first response i thought well duhhh why not but then i remember i did at one time and i did get very bored with it and then thats when it dawned on me, why do i feel the need to fly them with a VA i think becasue that there is some sort of sense of belonging or something, its odd really. when i fly for a va i want to feel that it matters - i know thats kinda silly but maybe that it SEEMS to matter would be more correct. when you have large big va's and everything is automatic - to me its like whats the point nobody really knows you exist and so you might as well fly.i do like automatic acars flight tracking stuff when you fly - the thought of someone watching your performance makes it seem like it matter more and that leads me to something that i've never seen done in a va before and that is the ability to actually get fired! and to loose your "job", etc - now for some crazy idea that seems like fun! LOL i don't know why but that would be something interesting to explore - i guess you could use the freeware program fsacars to record stuff like thatmmm. interesting to exploreciao!Brian S

[Guest rolex]

Brian I like it ... I got fired from a VA once. I laughed my A** off. They told me to run a hub the way I wanted and becaue I didn't assign flight I got fired. All I can say it is an EXCELLENT feeling. LOL Can you imagine getting fired from a job whereas you are not even on the payroll.

[vollmey]

Hey Brain,Not that I've given up on VA's or there place in the community, because everyone is different. But, I think your like me ( and I could be wrong) that you want to log you flights but the VA world gets boring or you do get lost in the big VA's.Do what I did, go get your self a cheap webhost provider and put your data out there for the world to see. FSACARS and I think that author has another Freeware program out called FSlog are cheap ways to get going. I personally started out with FSPassengers and now have kind of moved on to FS Flightkeeper. It's fun, I fly when I want, what I want, where I want and then just keep track of my data via my site. Web providers are all different so make sure you choose one that is right for what you want to display on your site.Anyways, it's always an option. :)

[Guest Pacificflyer]

>Brian I like it ... I got fired from a VA once. I laughed my>A** off. They told me to run a hub the way I wanted and becaue>I didn't assign flight I got fired. All I can say it is an>EXCELLENT feeling. LOL Can you imagine getting fired from a>job whereas you are not even on the payroll. It is so funny when people take it that seriously that they have to strut their stuff and be the big man by firing you from what is a FREE hobby....LOL.I fly for my own pleasure people start getting arsey with me then I play the game for a while and get up their noses for trying to be more superior. Guess it gives them that power buzz they can not find in real life? The suggestion of having your own webspace and just doing your own thing is one of the most satisfying feelings going! You are the one in control over your own destiny.

[Guest]

there are good VAs out there. mine supports all the payware stuff that i can use so no complaints there. it's more than ego, it's about belonging and simulating real airline travel.. otherwise what.. you fly x livery to x airport via x route and think it's realistic? maybe, maybe not. it's about how you perceive it. to me, it's free and it makes it more entertaining

[briansommers]

you have a link where i could check it out?thanksciao!Brian S

[Guest CapHavoc]

Howdy"Do what I did, go get your self a cheap webhost provider andput your data out there for the world to see." That's an extremely interesting approach. Thanks for the idea, Dave.

[Guest]

>well there are a lot of va's out there that just let pilots>fly whenever whatever>- i would make sure that every pilot is flying every route.>either by a bidding system or rotational assignmentsbeen there, done that.>- only have routes enough to support the actual number of>pilots on the rosterbeen there, done that.>- have an active rosterbeen there, done that.>- a/c would be unique in the registration numberbeen there, done that (more or less, we didn't let the organisation grow to over the size of the company modelled, so never more flights handed out than the real company could handle with the existing fleet). We didn't create a dozen near identical liveries differing only in the tailnumber.>- each pilot and a/c would move and be kept track of, etcbeen there, done that.>- would i even bother with a pirep sytem? i don't like them>anyways and from what i've read at midcontinent VA there>unrealistic anyways.You need something, so ACARS or a Pirep system is the way to go.>- no climb the ladder thing - if your capable of flying a/c>xyz then go ahead..>You want extreme realism, yet not? Been done (and yes, I prefer that, I want to fly what I want instead of having someone tell me what to use).You seem to want everything to work like a real airline, and that's how real airlines work.Of course you can model one that only uses a single type of aircraft (they exist) and require some sort of entry exam for people to show they're proficient with it. That's also been done.>this is a lot of stuff to do on by hand, then it dawned on me,>is that enough? I mean why fly for me? i mean so whats the big>deal about seeing your hours build up?>I wouldn't fly for you, you seem to be interested more in bossing people around than in trying to make them have a good time.I left the VA that worked like you are planning for that reason. If I want someone to boss me around I'll just go to the office...

[briansommers]

what va were/are you with that did all of that?ciao!Brian S

[Guest Metro_3]

I think to some it's about being part of something bigger than yourself. People see satisfaction in taking part of something to make it better. It's the "one thing" that gets referred to so many times, but nobody can define.

[1mikel151]

Good point Jim. Obviously there are a few posting here that shouldn't be in a VA since they have no clue. If you have no desire to go along with the vision that the VA set up when they started then why join in the first place? The main reason should be to interact with like minded people, to learn from each other and to give you a reason to fly.Brian, good luck, it's a lot of work to keep up with it.Regards, MichaelKDFWhttp://www.calvirair.com/mcpics/mcdcvabanner.jpgCalVirAir International