Thanks for the help everyone I will take a look at all of these and most likely join one.

You're more than welcome to join us at Platinum Airways. Visit our website and you'll see how different and pilot-oriented we are (as opposed to VA-oriented). In short, we have an Open Skies policy, which means that you can fly the mission of your choice with the aircraft of your choice at the time of your choice. In addition, we have five hubs that are spread around the globe, a Destination of the Week, relief, military and cargo flights and a flights dispatch section, that currently focuses on Champions and Europa League fixtures. Our main requirement is that members should be at least 18 years.

for the most popular VA

Just checked out your site and the very first thing I see, at 11:30pm is "0 Pilots online"......?

In my opinion Virtual Pilot Association is the best and "elastic" VA I know. You can fly whatever type of plane wherever you want. One flight per 60 fays to remain active.

 

Give it a chance, rememberyou have to pass the entry test before join the company, but it worths.

Just checked out your site and the very first thing I see, at 11:30pm is "0 Pilots online"......?

I suggest you read a little further. No one stay's up all night, some people have to get up in the mornings to go to work. I don't suppose you noticed us on Teamspeak.

I suggest you read a little further. No one stay's up all night, some people have to get up in the mornings to go to work. I don't suppose you noticed us on Teamspeak.

Didn't mean it as any sort of jab at you guys mate.... Was just reading what you wrote and thought "nice :-) went to check out the site and that was the first thing I spotted..

Was just a question, hence the ?

 

What's the most popular flying hours for you guys?

The stats for your top Aircraft look great, both being ones I really like too "B737 / Avro RJ-BAe146" :-)

Join Virgin virtual group- the Virgin Australia fleet has the 738 and the 777, although he 777 flights might be a bit to long for your liking (16 hours YSSY to KLAX). Also there are plenty of codeshare flights that you can fly

 

Pacific Airlines just launched and we already have nearly 20 pilots. We don't have the -800 but we do have the -700 and the 777-200. We only have one destination for the 777 currently but once we reach 20 pilots I plan on adding a few new long flights. We have 82 flights a day, no entrance exam, no flight bidding and you can use your payware aircraft as you wish, and you can use any ATC enhancements you want and one flight per calendar month. I can recommend a number of the other airlines listed here, espeically SunAir Express since it was my first VA in1996, but I hope you take a look at Pacific Airlines along the way to making your decision. www.flypacair.com

 

+1 for Airsource, best selection of routes and airlines fly almost anywhere, and can substitute aircraft if needed.

+2 for Airsource - by far and away the best in terms of choice and flexibility for both routes and aircraft. They even have a GA division if that takes your fancy.

Didn't mean it as any sort of jab at you guys mate.... Was just reading what you wrote and thought "nice :-) went to check out the site and that was the first thing I spotted..

Was just a question, hence the ?

 

What's the most popular flying hours for you guys?

The stats for your top Aircraft look great, both being ones I really like too "B737 / Avro RJ-BAe146" :-)

Why not join us on Teamspeak 3 and all your questions will be answered?

Why not join us on Teamspeak 3 and all your questions will be answered?

Because so far, I'm on my 6th re-install in 6 months, third set of flight controls (G940, then Saitek and now TM Warthog) and am still trying to get FSX to run sweet.

I had it running sweet, then I made a fatal error in buying ORBX, could never fix the problems it caused, so started again from scratch..

 

If your going to be so evasive on simple questions, and take simple questions as accusations of something bad then I wont even bother.

Seriously, do new pilots want to have fun with fellow enthusiasts who are happy to help, or those who throw up obstacles?

 

Whilst you might be experienced and knowledge in this hobby, us newbies are still "Finding our feet" with just running a flight sim on its own, let alone flying on-line.

I've never, ever used teamspeak before, so that's something I would again have to learn from scratch, so while your comment might be quite normal for you, it can actually be a brick wall for newbies, you might as well be saying to me "I'll only tell you if you do x,y,z". What's the point in having a forum, if all your going to do is tell people to go to Teamspeak?

 

You havent told me what your hours of operation are, so how the heck will I even know when to go to Teamspeak :Cry:

Well, sadly, life gets in the way, so I guess I will never know what your most popular flying hours are, and sadly, now, I wont bother, given its taken this many posts to still not get a simple answer.

Richard,

 

Can I invite you to have a look at Platinum Airways? We're trying hard to be a pilot's airline, and not an airline's, because we believe that simming must remain fun, with as few rules and regulations as possible. We certainly don't want to copy a real world airline. Translated into practical points:

• you fly the mission of your choice with the aircraft of your choice at the time of your choice - we call this Open Skies. This means that you may use our own fleet of aircraft, but you can also fly your own if you want to or we don't have a repaint for it;
  
• we do present specific missions, like our Destination of the Week, relief, military and cargo flights;
  
• we have five global hubs, but you are free to use them (or not) and you can switch between them as you please (and not the airline's management);
  
• we are primarily an offline VA, but we provide our pilots with a unique PID vor Vatsim if they prefer online flying;
  
• we trust our pilots to file correct PIREPs, as, after all, they would only fool themselves;
  
• we expect a first PIREP within 2 weeks after signing up and at least one PIREP per month (but you may take leave);
  
• and we have a forum for members only. Much of our website is accessible to members only.
  

 

We have a minumum age requirement of 18.

 

Best,

 

Stijn

Hi Stijn

 

Thanks mate... For now, I might start out with the OVPA while I learn the ropes with their shared cockpit...

Not sure I have the knowledge required to jump straight into a V.A just yet.. I don't even know what a PIREP is...

 

I know how to get from one place to another if bumbling about on my own, I can fly to > from anywhere, but only in the most basic form of Neanderthal navigating with GPS or a Compass and map, but I've never used VATSim yet, or started on procedures or any of that other brain mashing stuff that gets the blood flowing :-)

 

I have to say, as a newbie, this VATSim stuff feels almost scary lol

Funny how I can jump up in front of a room full of kids and teach them the principles of flight, map reading, RAF, radio comms etc, yet give me a microphone and ask me to talk to Air Traffic Controllers and I run a mile ha ha ha... I guess its all about being comfortable with your own level of knowledge.. If you feel you know what your doing (Even if you don't) then that gives you the confidence to try it out..

 

OVPA use the shared cockpit, so that seems an awesome way to start out learning if you have a fellow pilot virtually beside you..

I wonder how many V.A's use the shared cockpit? Shame PMDG don't have that, as that WOULD be mental!

Hi Richard,

 

A PIREP is a pilot report that will allow you to grow your flight hours, and status. VA's require pilots to obtain certain flight hour levels bfore promoting them to a more senior rank.

 

I may have been unclear, but with Platinum Airways, it's your decision whether you want to fly online. By default, we are an offline VA, but we support pilots with a pilot ID for VATSIM. We are currently adopting our website to become more accomodating towards pilots who prefer online. However, our default will remain offline flying.

 

About shared cockpits: I'm pretty sure that you'll find interest among our pilots, and our forums would be an ideal venue to find someone who would be keen to give it a try. We focus on our pilots, and not on rules and procedures.

 

Stijn