I get so annoyed when so called "realistic" virtual airlines think they are all on top of it when they talk about pilots submitting there PIREPS - there flight(s)

 

in the real world a PIREP is a pilot report of the weather, yes?

 

so then how do real airline pilots submit there hours? Is it done through ACARS tech. or something else?

We write it down in our own logs and it's also written down on the flight report which the company will then take and compare to the ACARS results and put into the system. Most pilots also keep an electronic flight log in addition to their paper one.

 

Regards,

Ró.

is the sequence something like this?

 

 

(for time)

brakes off (pushback, etc)

off (take off)

on (landing time)

brakes on (at the gate)

 

I like this.. it would be real fun to have pilots submit this via email by having them write it down and then scan it.. (sorry I'm thinking VA at this time)

 

so more correctly it would be a FLTREP flight report - I like this.. because technically it isn't a PIREP

I get so annoyed when so called "realistic" virtual airlines think they are all on top of it when they talk about pilots submitting there PIREPS - there flight(s)

 

in the real world a PIREP is a pilot report of the weather, yes?

 

so then how do real airline pilots submit there hours? Is it done through ACARS tech. or something else?

 

In the military we log our flight time on a form that is part of tthe Aircraft Logbook. This includes each flight crew member and that person's duties being performed in the flight such as IE-Instructor Pilot or PI-Pilot, Flight Conditions such as Day or Weather, and the type flying such as Service, Training or Combat. In the Aircraft Logbook there is also a form where any maintence problems are logged. The Aircraft Logbook will also tell the pilot about any maintenance issues that the aircraft may have. We never fly an aircraft that does not have an Aircraft Logbook.

 

Our flight time starts when the aircraft starts it's takeoff roll and end when the engines are shut down.

 

Bill Blluestar

is the sequence something like this?

 

(for time)

brakes off (pushback, etc)

off (take off)

on (landing time)

brakes on (at the gate)

 

 

Where I work, ACARS records all these times and submits it to our dispatch system automatically. OOOI (ewww-e) is the term we use for this data.

 

Push back - Out

Gear off the ground (takeoff)- Off

Gear on the ground (landing) - On

Parked at the gate, parking brake set - In

 

I'm curious now, I'll have to ask how flight time is tracked as I know our pairings and bids are all electronic but not sure once the flight crew is done for the day, how do they submit their hours.

 

Mike

in the real world a PIREP is a pilot report of the weather, yes?

 

I'm not an airline pilot... but yes... a PIREP is a pilot report of the weather for your location. Typically (for GA) you call up Flight Service and might say something like, "Piper Cherokee... over Boiler VOR... tops 5000... smooth ride" or you can use something more detailed using a pirep report form. http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/systemops/fs/alaskan/alaska/fai/inflight/media/PIREP_FORM.pdf

 

When I first saw that too (at a VA) and gave it a Scooby-Doo "huhhhh???" but :unknw:

I would have thought the FSX Logbook would be good enough for the Virtual Airlines.

 

I never did VA. I will also admit in all the years I have been using MSFS I have never even looked at the logbook, or even backed it up. I have no idea how many virtual hours I have logged, but those hours have absolutely no value anyways (other then showing how much time I wasted) :ph34r: .

 

This is why FSX is just something I do for fun at the end of the day or week. VA's seem too structured for my liking.

 

Cheers

I would have thought the FSX Logbook would be good enough for the Virtual Airlines.

 

At BAV we use a software program that monitors all that stuff... no need to mess with anything other than inputting the Flightplan (basically)... then basically a "Start" before engine start and "Stop" when at the gate.

At BAV we use a software program that monitors all that stuff... no need to mess with anything other than inputting the Flightplan (basically)... then basically a "Start" before engine start and "Stop" when at the gate.

 

That sounds slick. Amazing what these addon's can do for MSFS.

 

I would join a VA but my time commitments are so sporadic due to work schedule. I do spend a lot of time on that NGX when I can. They seem a lot like what Flight Assignment: ATP was like back in the day.

ok, thanks guys.. this is helpful.

I like the out/off/on/in OOOI - very nice.. I think I'll adapt that..

 

the problem with some VA's using ACARS software for smaller charter operations is that they wouldn't install ACARS in a small single engine plane would they? I would think all pilots would keep track and report there own time.

 

I did talk to a pilot that is currently flying for Ameriflight and he said that they (the pilots) turn in a daily "runsheet" is what he called it..

that basically is:

 

dep icao - arival icao - off - on - fuel start - fuel end or something along that line..

I don't know if it's ok to sound like ad but here, but one program I really like is FSflightkeeper. It does A LOT of stuff, eg:

 

- you have sort of an ACARS device (supports Hoppie) courtesy of Jose Oliveira

- moving map with weather and showing online ATC-stations (Vatsim, IVAO),

- get a handy view of taxiways and their names (I realllly could have needed that the other night causing havoc at KATL on Vatsim).

- It also keeps track of your block time and puts it in a log book. You can send PIREP's

- some very neat inflight ambience sound

- a very complete event log of EVERYTHING that happens with your aircraft during the flight, eg

• Aircraft information (Title, Tail number, Airline, Type, etc.)
  
• Times: OUT / OFF / ON / IN / Flight Time / Block Time / Day and Night Flight Time
  
• Weights: ZFW / TAW / TOW / LAW / RAW
  
• Fuels: OUT / OFF / ON / IN / Flight Fuel / Block Fuel
  
• Origin, Destination, Alternate Airport information (ICAO code, Gate, Runway, SID/STAR, Weather, Time Zone, etc.)
  
• Flight distance
  
• Pushback
  
• Rejected Takeoff
  
• Touch'N'Go and Go Arounds
  
• Takeoff and Landing IAS, G-Force and Trim settings
  
• Maximum taxi speeds
  
• Maximum IAS below FL100 during departure and approach
  
• etc etc
  

Fortunately it also works over WIdeFS. Take a look at some screenshots here

 

(very OT - Brian, I notice you are from Sarasota. I thought that like where I come from in Finland you can spend 2-3 hours on the beach without any skin protection. I learned the very painful way it does NOT apply to Siesta key )

At work I initialise the flight through ACARS which then comes back with the crew, A/C, destination and planned flight time.

 

On completion of the flight we send a post flight report that is automatically generated when the first door is opened with the fuel control switches in the cutoff position and the parking brake set. Into this we type the code of the landing pilot and send it.

 

Hey presto, done. The company keeps an electronic log of all your flying accurate to within 1 minute.

 

Good job too as my current logbook was nicked out of my car a few months back! :mad:

yes, I'm familiar with FSFlightKeeper, very good program indeed

I plan on using VAFS5.. I have to pay, but my pilots can use it for free

 

but I was more interested in what the pilots themselves have to do in cockpit.. problem is you can't really reinforce any of this.. other than to have people scan it in then email it, then I can see if they handwritten it.

but no one I'm sure would do that, well I would .. but I'm nerdy that way.. LOL

 

and yes, you can fry yourself to a crisp on our beaches down here in very short order! just another reason you should stay inside some good air conditioning and flightsim instead!