BrownshoeDave

I'll have a look at the charts tomorrow. There's no such thing as overlapping airspace, though. You're in one or the other. If you're talking to approach, they can clear you through any of it and you'll remain on their frequency until they hand you off to tower at your destination. If the other airspace is very close, like a military field right next to the one you're going to, they will advise you how to remain clear or that airspace on your way to the destination. If you're worried, though, you can monitor the other tower's frequency on your other radio, if you've gOops... I was saying you can monitor the other tower's frequency on your second radio, if you have one. FS ATC is kind of it's own thing, and I don't know much about it as I don't use it. But in the real world, that's how it works: call approach, and follow instructions. They'll tell you who to call next. And if you're ever confused, just ask. Getting you questions answered beyond any shadow of ambiguity is the mark of a professional and never looks nearly as dumb as busting airspace. Hope this helps,Dave

Are you looking for a realistic economic environment where you can launch and run your own VA in competition with others?I've been running FS Airpark (www.fsairpark.com) as an independent, top-level domain for over three years now. After much consideration and study, I've developed a financial simulation for airlines which is unique and, I feel, more realistic than any current alternative of which I am aware. This is a custom-programmed, database-driven, fully automated flight tracking and VA management system.In the FS Airpark Virtual Airline system, you can:-Publish a schedule. You must fly each leg at least once every 90 days to keep it current.-Hire pilots from the membership of the FS Airpark site.-Manage your airline's fleet. Individual aircraft are tracked by location and fuel state.-Dispatch pilots and aircraft. Use your resources to fly your schedule.-Compete with other airlines for a finite (and realistic) number of passengers.-Create and bid on non-scheduled charter jobs.-Pay your pilots with virtual currency they can use to fly personal flights in the FS Airpark system.I'm inviting you to come check it out, and then make a proposal for how you'd like to set up your own virtual airline. Since this feature is fairly new, I'm still a bit flexible on some of the exact terms. If you've got a reasonable idea, let's hear it!Thank you, and happy [email protected]

The new generation of "technically advanced aircraft" are also attracting people to aviation who otherwise wouldn't be interested, like the guy with the Cirrus in the article posted a while back. If you have the choice of training in a steam-gauge 172 for $125 an hour or a shiny new G1000 Skyhawk for only slightly more (which seems to be the direction most flight schools are going), what's it gonna be? And it's not good business for the flight schools, struggling as they are, to try talk the students out of it, either. When it comes to VFR navigation, EVERY system in the airplane is just a backup for pilotage and Ded Reckoning. ;)

To the OP, and the original topic:A couple of years ago I did a short VFR cross-country flight in a rented plane in unfamiliar airspace without a current chart or a GPS. The night before, I did a THOROUGH study of the airspace, terrain, and facilities. I wrote down frequencies and carried them on my kneeboard. I knew exactly where and at what altitude all of the surrounding airspaces were. I even flew through controlled airspace because I had the tower's frequency on my kneeboard and I knew from my studying the night before at what point I needed to talk to him. I called FSS (hey, it's free, right?) after already using my favorite online resources to check weather and NOTAMs just in case I missed something. The flight went great. I knew where I was at all times with regard to my intended course and all the airspace around me. I've also done flights in a G-1000 equipped Skylane, and that's sure a good piece of gear, too. But being among the last generation of pilots to grow up on steam gauges, I, too, worry about the children of the magenta line. All this technology and automation is a great aid for pilots who understand what's going on with their airplane and their flight, but it's a terrible crutch for those who don't, and can easily instill false confidence and complacency. You should be able to navigate anywhere with a wet compass and a stopwatch. If you're lucky enough to have more than that installed in your plane, know how to use it, and make sure it's doing something for you, even if you've already got another device doing the same thing. It's a nice feeling when all the needles are telling the same story, or giving you more information and awareness of where you are and what's going on.

FS Airpark (www.fsairpark.com) is a text-based, multi-player, online role-playing game for flight simulation. The system supports private, charter, and airline flights. Airlines on FS Airpark provide a critical infrastructure for players to move between airports in the system when it is impossible or unfavorable to do so by other means.American Legend Airlines is a virtual airline operated by the site's founder and aimed primarily at connecting important airports within the site. American Legend currently operates a domestic (United States) route structure in the livery of American Airlines and is planning to offer international service in the livery of Pan American Airways.I'm looking for a small number of pilots to help me fly the routes, which expire if they're not flown periodically. As a pilot, your ability to fly your assigned routes in a timely manner will have a direct impact on the viability of the airline and provides a useful service for other members of the site. The virtual pay you receive can be used to purchase your own virtual aircraft and advance within the FS Airpark RPG.As the site grows in membership, there will be opportunity for additional virtual airlines to be operated by experienced members.To join, register at fsairpark.com and either choose the American Legend Airlines FBO at KJFK as your starting location, or move yourself to KJFK within the system. Once you're at JFK, click "American Legend Airlines" and follow the link to apply for a job there. Please include some information about yourself and any previous virtual airline experience or some indication of your experience with airliner flying in FS. (Previous experience not required.)Please contact me at [email protected] with any questions.Thank you!Dave

You're all set up.

Yeah, I've definitely had thoughts along those lines. Fixed costs are the next thing I'm going to implement. If you want to give it a try, let me know and I'll set you up on my system. Just let me know what you want to do and where you want to be based. You could even take a look at the existing FBOs that I manage and take over one of them, or set yourself up as a competitor. I'd really appreciate your feedback.

Hi guys,I just pushed out a new update to my site, fsairpark.com, that incorporates a lot of the stuff you're talking about here. I, too, got sick of FSE and fsairlines a couple years ago and started coding my own site.Brian, I think you might have even registered with me a few months ago. Take another look! I think you'll like the way my charter system works. Any user on the site can write a charter. Then, operators bid on it. After the bidding period expires, the lowest bid wins and has two weeks to fly it or they get penalized. Pilot pay is totally up to the manager. Every charter is hand-written and hand-picked. If you don't like the jobs that are available, write one, and bid on it.The site also supports ownership of personal aircraft, and even scheduled air carrier flights which provide a way for players to "move" around as well as a source of income for pilots who fly the routes periodically to keep them active.I'm trying to make it an RPG, so promotions are based on hours and experience points. I've got more ideas for future features, but I think the revisions I rolled out yesterday amount to a functional (if simple) RPG for flight simmers.Thanks, and good luck!Dave