I have no idea where to start? Do I have to do it from Vatsim? im not really sure how it works.

I just joined Eagle Valley Air (2 days ago). It's a smaller community with mostly bush flying, and very easy to grasp. They are very helpful and want you to feel welcome. http://eaglevalleyair.com/

You need to download a small program where you set up your flights, and that's pretty much it. Nothing complicated or intimidating at all. Give it a shot. If nothing else it's giving me a better understanding of how a VA works. I like both GA and big tubes but this place makes you feel comfy with the concept.

 

Tom

Well first you have to know which VA you wanna join. I usually fins VA's from google or on here....sometimes on VATSIM also when flying online. Most VA's usually require you to take a test before joining.

 

Some VA's:

http://deltava.org - Delta Virtual

http://www.swavirtual.com/ - Southwest Virtual

http://www.fedexvac.org/ - Fedex Virtual

http://www.jetbluev.com/ - jetBlue Virtual

http://www.joinava.org/ - American Airlines Virtual

http://www.bavirtual.co.uk/about/ - British Airways Virtual

 

and tons more. You can probably google search some more VA's.

No tests required for eagle Valley Air!

Some might require you fly online some might not you just have to google and then read what the SOPs' for that virtual airline and find the one that suits your taste. Then Fill out the application.

 

http://www.virtualswa.com/

Fly Uk are great. Great routes and a nice setup, very friendly and informative

 

http://www.flyuk.aero/

Deciding on which VA is easier if you have a good idea of what aircraft types, type of flying, length of route you want.

 

We have just launched Eclipse, www.eclipsevirtual.com, a VA which uses a virtual financial system so that as you fly you earn a wage, and also make a profit for the airline to buy new aircraft.

 

If you want to jump straight into long haul or short haul heavy jets it's probably not for you but if you want to join an airline at the start and see it grow then i think you'd like us.

 

If 737s or bigger are what you want then for the UK i'd definitely recommend the following.

 

BA Virtual: long wait for applications to be processed but very professional and a large fleet.

 

Jet2V: friendly bunch of chaps using the RL jet2 database.

 

I'm in the UK So don't really know about the other side of the pond on top of those mentioned above.

Greenbrier Virtual Aviation offers a short (5 flights) training program that you download and install in your flight sim documents folder. You fly those flights, report them as having been flown and you are enrolled as a pilot in good standing. You fly the routes you wnat and the small GA type of aircraft you desire (there are a few restrictions). You fly off line and as you desire. All flights including training flights are on your own and not on line. Reporting is on the "honor system". Greenbrier Virtual Aviation: The VA for and about the GA pilot

Canadian Xpress is awesome

 

http://www.canadianxpress.ca

I joined http://deltava.org - Delta Virtual. Lots of different aircraft and routes to fly and great management and people. Kind of interesting in that you have to fly check rides to move up to more complex aircraft but it's fun.

Most VAs simply have a website where you can apply, often there is some kind of test you have to do, so the VA can check that you are reasonably au fait with flying an aeroplane. Generally speaking that would involve making flight and then proving you have done so by noting something on the route which you could only know if you'd done it successfully. Sometimes it will take the form of an FSX Mission, which of course means that gaining the award for it would mean they'd know you were competent enough to manage it.

 

Alternatively, it may take the form of a quiz or some such, but there's no need to get too worked up about it, it's not like you are joining the army or something, it's meant to be fun and educational as well as being somewhat serious, and the best VAs will be willing to mentor you and teach you stuff if you are unsure of what to do or how to do it.

 

After that, most VAs have a structure of 'hubs' where you can be based and a list of flights you can make from there. Some are more strict than others on this, some will let you fly anything you like within reason, others insist you fly types which mirror real world operations. What you'd normally then do, is fly some flights and make a pilot report each month or week or whatever, noting your hours. After you've made a certain amount of hours, you might then be able to do another test flight to gain a promotion, which might let you fly nicer routes, or aircraft with a larger MTOW or whatever. Some do this on Vatsim, others do it offline or in multiplayer, some do all of those things, it varies from one VA to another.

 

Most VAs will offer repaints for the major FS aeroplanes you can get (both payware and freeware) which you can download, so you can fly in their livery. Often they have forums and tutorials and such, and it can be a very sociable and enjoyable thing to be involved with. There are invariably 'staff positions', such as hub manager, fleet manager, repaint artist etc, if you want to get more involved.

 

You will find that many VAs have not only enthusiastic amatuers involved, but also very often current or retired airline pilots too, and they can be a mine of useful information. It's quite a fun thing to do if you are looking for a 'reason' to make flights in FSX.

 

Al