Flies the 73 NGs, is based in the States and rewards or penalizes it's virtual pilots based off of how they perform in accordance with a flight schedule?Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkJB

Well the virtual airline that I'm at, Southwest Virtual (luvswava.org) has all those things and has a schedule but isn't so strict about flying "on time" per say, which I PERSONALLY like. Most VAs just base rewards and ranks on hours. I LUV the VA that I'm at right now, the staff is very nice and helpful, it's a small VA but it's very active, and has a great ACARS system and site check it out! www.luvswava.org. Sorry if this doesn't meet your criteria excactly but I think it's a great VA and you would like it. :D Orlando

Well the virtual airline that I'm at, Southwest Virtual (luvswava.org) has all those things and has a schedule but isn't so strict about flying "on time" per say, which I PERSONALLY like. Most VAs just base rewards and ranks on hours. I LUV the VA that I'm at right now, the staff is very nice and helpful, it's a small VA but it's very active, and has a great ACARS system and site check it out! www.luvswava.org. Sorry if this doesn't meet your criteria excactly but I think it's a great VA and you would like it. :DOrlando

Well.. I'm already a member of another SWA VA and I'm trying to make things more interesting and eventfull. I have service failures on, random failures at 1 per 2.5 hours and I simulate trying to keep the plane on the VA's schedule as they do a good job of recreating the very tight flight schedule of the real airline. I just wish they would factor in pilot performance based on route schedule. It would make things more interesting to have that virtual motivation.I heard Virtual British Airways has this factor, but they don't fly in the states.Thanks for your reply.Lemme know if your VA decides to add that factor in and I'm there.JB

Are there any VA's that operate all models of the 737ng (600-900 series)?

Are there any VA's that operate all models of the 737ng (600-900 series)?

Would love to hear if anyone has a more "authorative souce" :-) but take a look at the wikipedia article on NG operators following, will give you an idea of real-world VAs that operate most of them, and if there's a real-world airlines there's usually a VA right?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Boeing_737_operators

RW pilots don't really get penalized for not sticking to the schedule, there are way too many variables that go into on-time flights:-Bag loading/unloading-Availability of a pushback-Availability of a fuel truck-Catering delays-Weather-ATC delays-I could go on (the list of delay codes is pretty huge)...To simulate that in a VA, it would really be more unrealistic than realistic.Most VAs want you to stick to departure times as close as possible, and will reject flights if the times are too far off. Arrival times are too variable (weather/wind, ATC delays, and so on) to penalize pilots for that. There's just too much variability.

Are there any VA's that operate all models of the 737ng (600-900 series)?

Scandinavian VA flies the 600-800. :)Scandinavian-va.eu

RW pilots don't really get penalized for not sticking to the schedule, there are way too many variables that go into on-time flights:-Bag loading/unloading-Availability of a pushback-Availability of a fuel truck-Catering delays-Weather-ATC delays-I could go on (the list of delay codes is pretty huge)...To simulate that in a VA, it would really be more unrealistic than realistic.Most VAs want you to stick to departure times as close as possible, and will reject flights if the times are too far off. Arrival times are too variable (weather/wind, ATC delays, and so on) to penalize pilots for that. There's just too much variability.

Kyle lets not take this somewhere where it doesn't need to go. Please...You are right, IRL pilots won't get penalized per say, for getting behind schedule, but if it keeps happening, trust me the cheif pilot is gonna sit you down and ask you what the "F" is taking so long and then he is probably gonna ask your FO's if the Capt seems like he/she cares about the airline. Furthermore, the airlines make it a point durring IOE, that it is everyone job on the line to keep the planes on schedule and the ones most responsable are the Flight Crews. Yes there are many factors to take into consideration, but also there are things a Crew can do to make up time and these "time savers" are done ALL THE TIME. Block times and schedule gaps often have a buffer built in to account for taxi time, ground operations, weather, atc delays, etc and even the late passenger to the gate. So, for a well run airline, if your late and unable to make up the time, don't be surprised to get a small Arse Chewing if it keeps happening and if your always ontime or slightly early, you might be surprised to find that you got that route you bid for, even though you thought someone else had more seniority.Ask anyone that works with an airline, especially if you know someone that works dispatch and they will tell you that one of the most important aspects of running an airline is that you get them close or early to the scheduled block times.So yes Kyle, IRL flight crews will do whatever they can to stay on schedule, or even early (as long as a company gate is available). There are a few airlines in the past, even one very famous non network US carrier that paid their pilots a bonus for being either early or on time. Unfortunately, for this particular airline, an incident that involved a bad decision on approach, led the NTSB to squash, "Pilot Performance bonuses" that may lead to unsafe practices.So back on schedule ;)Now Kyle, Considering that IRL, Flight Crews are pressured to maintain a route schedule, can I please, with your approval continue to look for a VA that may incorporate performance based rewards and penalties according to route schedule?Edit.... Sorry Kyle the above was snarky and rude, I appologise. I didn't have my coffee.. :)ThanksJB

Edited February 3, 201214 yr by Buzz313th

Well, we're a rather large VA based in Aust but replicate airlines all over the world - check us out at http://www.transaustraliaag.com/.At the moment we have about 70 active pilots and replicate the following airlines:- Qantas (and Qantaslink)- Virgin Australia (incl VB, PB, VOz, V Samoa)- Air NZ- Air Pacific- Allegiant Air- Jet Blue- Emirates- Jetstar- Norfolk Air- Singapore Airlines- Tiger Airways- Virgin America- Brindabella Airlines- Aeropelican- Air North- REXCargo:- FEDEX- Emirates Sky Cargo- Singapore Cargo- Atlas Air Cargo (wet lease for Qantas cargo)We use VAFS which records everything about your flight and penalises you for stuff like excessive G, flaps/gear up too early/late, etc. a normal flight gets you a score of 100 - errors etc are usually decrements of 2.5 or 5. Also, if you t/o and/or land in bad wx, you get a bonus (keeps the pax happy). The best thing about TAAG is, whilst we replicate RW routes, we give you the option of what a/c to fly it and how/when you fly it. We're quite flexible in that regard. We replicate a few airlines in the US but are looking at expanding in the near future depending on pilot wants, etc. ATM we're looking at replicating either Ryanair or SouthWest purely because of the release of the NGX.Anyway, pop around and have a go. Otherwise, hope you find what you're looking for.CheersJT

Anyway, pop around and have a go. Otherwise, hope you find what you're looking for.

Thanks Man.. Looks like you guys have a well run show.Off hand, does VAFS give VA's the opportunity to factor in bonuses/penalties for schedule performance?And your potential SWA va that you say you guys might start. Where are you guys gonna get your route schedule from?JB

ATM we're looking at replicating either Ryanair or SouthWest purely because of the release of the NGX.

Hi there, I'm just telling you (not critisizing orsomething) but as far as Ryanair goes, don't but your hopes on it. Ryanair doesn't allow any VA's to be made about them, and if there is, they will demand you to shut down. I know of one VA at least who has had that.Kind regards

Ryanair doesn't allow any VA's to be made about them, and if there is, they will demand you to shut down.

LOL, then call it "Ryanhair".JB

Edit.... Sorry Kyle the above was snarky and rude, I appologise. I didn't have my coffee.. :)

Jack, rest assured, I did actually read your whole post, but for the sake of others reading, I only quoted the part that mattered to me.I fully understand where you're coming from, but I wanted to make it clear to those who don't know (the ones who pick up a lot of incorrect ideas about aviation through forums and not understanding fully what's going on - again, I'll reference the amount of people who think 250/10,000 is always the rule without exception here). As you mentioned, if the management picks up on the fact that you're perpetually late, they're going to go have a talk to see what the issue is. I just don't want people around here getting the idea that pilots are always on the chopping block for things outside their control: rampies not showing up to bring them in, or their being slow with loading the bags, or lav service and so on.There are ways they do reward on-time departures and arrivals (I think I've heard stories about rewards for saving fuel/time consistently, as well), but most delays fall through the cracks, because there's an easy way to slap it on the ramp. No joke.And no worries - you and I both know how bad I can be without my coffee, too.

And no worries - you and I both know how bad I can be without my coffee, too.

Cool, I re-read my post and that one line made me think, "Your (me) being a "Richard" that wasn't nice". So I edited it in sucha way that people can see what I was talkin about.JB

Edited February 3, 201214 yr by Buzz313th