IloveBOI From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (9 years 10 months 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 4282 times:
I am planning to start a Virtual Airline called Northern Pacific Airways, and I have a few things stuck on my mind...
1. How do you run a good, professional Virtual Airline. I am doing this as kind of a fun thing. I am a young user for virtual airlines and I am kind of afraid that many other VAs will make mine look bad, try to copy my ideas etc. etc.
2. I am not exactly sure where to begin. I don't have a Airline Simulation program, but I was thinking about ordering Airline 5, but I hear that it takes about six weeks to come.
3. I don't know how to work having memberships and stuff like that, if somebody could help me on that, I wouldbe sooooo happy.
So far, these are the airlines that have helped me and inspired me...
Hoons90 From Canada, joined Aug 2001, 2692 posts, RR: 54 Reply 1, posted (9 years 10 months 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 4214 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW CHAT OPERATOR
You DO NOT need an airline simulation/management program. All you need is FS. Virtual Airlines are NOT BASED and NOT RELATED to any airline management games... a VA is where you fly around FS simulating a pilot.. with schedules from the VA, using the VA's fleet... flying to the destinations the VA serves...
The biggest mistake made by most human beings: Listening to only half, understanding just a quarter and telling double.
Flymia From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 6323 posts, RR: 6 Reply 2, posted (9 years 10 months 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 4205 times:
he is asking how you run an VA not what an VA is. You really just need to make an website and work alot on fleets and destinations. Then people might join. You write there name down give them a hub to work at make them give you info on any flights they did there slef and if they ask you give them an schedule. Then you count the hours every pilot has and keep giving him promotions.
lloveBOI go to Flyunity.com thats the other VA is fly for and they would make an good example on how to fly and run an VA.
Landmark Airlines.
"It was just four of us on the flight deck, trying to do our job" (Captain Al Haynes)
Jmacias34 From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 379 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (9 years 10 months 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 4081 times:
1. How do you run a good, professional Virtual Airline? a. Be Realistic: Don't operate every type of aircraft imaginable, have a variety but be sensible about what aircraft fly what route. This includes using VATSIM, this sets your airline apart from others who just use FS200X ATC. Don't operate routes with oversized aircraft (i.e. BOI-GEG on a 767). Also you don't need 8 hubs, there is a virtual airline that has hubs at every major gateway (SFO, SEA, LAX, DEN, ORD, DFW, MIA, JFK,). Pick a coastal hub and a central hub. b. Good Website: A nice, clean, easy to navigate website is key! This is probably one of the factors virtual pilots look at when deciding which airline to fly for. c. Fleet: Have a clean livery, this will tie into your website design so don't use every color imaginable. d. Participation: Just as important as realism is the pilots who fly for you. The more pilots you have, the more your airline is seen. Exposure is key for big airlines, how do you think Westwind got so big?
2. I don't have a Airline Simulation program, but I was thinking about ordering Airline 5, but I hear that it takes about six weeks to come.
As already stated this doesn't help you.
3. I don't know how to work having memberships and stuff like that, if somebody could help me on that, I wouldbe sooooo happy.
This is what you need a programer for. Somebody with PERL, CGI, ASP or some other experience in programming. It makes things easier for you if your airline is automated. This has been the only thing keeping me from starting my VA. But it has given me much time to continue planning it until I acquire the programming skills.
IloveBOI From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (9 years 10 months 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 4047 times:
OMG! Thank you so much everyone. I am so excited about starting NPA, now that I know how to do most stuff. I am so thankful for everyones help. All I need now is a programmer, and a good website, then I will start my VA. So far this is the info I have on NPA. I have decided I might start off sort of big but not too big.
Hubs:
Boise
New Orleans
LAX mini-hub
Fleet:
12 MD-88s
23 MD-90s
16 A320s
8 757-200s
I have devolped a livery which I think looks simple clever(for a VA) smart and elegent. I have an idea for a website on how it will look but havent created it yet. I need a good website creator. Thanks for all the help!!! I was planning to launch website and other stuff sometime in August but it looks like it might be in September. Once again thank you everyone.
Deltadude8 From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 569 posts, RR: 6 Reply 5, posted (9 years 10 months 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 4040 times:
I believe as stated above dont pick unreal hubs...meaning BOI...sorry...I have some experience with VA and would love to help you launch yours...my VA that I tried to start was called PARADISE AIRLINES and the fleet consisted of two types...MD11 and 757...hubs were KMCI PHNL and a mini LAX hub...I have flight schedules already done and would be willing to help you start.
Flymia From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 6323 posts, RR: 6 Reply 6, posted (9 years 10 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 4009 times:
Boise is an good choice i think. Not for 80 flights a day but you can give an metro area of 480,000 55 flights a day plus connections from the rest of the rockie area. Just cant do many big flights. use RJ's or your MD-83.
Dont forget you can always join and fake airline alliance. Landmark is going to scale down a bit big news coming from them soon! And its not good.
"It was just four of us on the flight deck, trying to do our job" (Captain Al Haynes)
N139j From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 380 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (9 years 10 months 9 hours ago) and read 3990 times:
If you really want to make it in the VA world you have to stand out. Have something to attract people. Your biggest fight will be getting an excellent staff. You will never run it alone. You need people who can program, make web pages, paint aircraft, deal with pilot issues etc. With the VA market as flooded as it is today, without something "great" you really aren't going to go many places. Another thing is that if you don't have experience IN a VA, its going to be almost impossible to start one.
NormalSpeed From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (9 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 3962 times:
I love to plug the VA that I'm associated with whenever I can. I fly for TCA, or Tradewind Carribean Airlines. And I really enjoy it. Check out their website: http://tradewind.org
Right now, I haven't gotten around to installing any of the TCA liveries on FS2004, so I'm just doing a codeshare arrangement with World Travel Airlines. Good times.
-Normal
In fact, I'm wondering if a TCA flight goes to BOI. Hey, I've flown in to BOI on FS2004! (I'm an SLC native, and so the surrounding airports interest me as well. I've flown into Idaho Falls both on FS and in real life!)
N766UA From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 8008 posts, RR: 27 Reply 9, posted (9 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 3960 times:
IloveBOI From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (9 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 3967 times:
Sounds like it costs money to make one. Unfortuately, I didn't see that coming and I am short of cash. Right now, it sounds like I wont be able to start NPA for the following reasons...
Money, which is a huge issue
I have no experience in VAs whatsoever
I don't know many people who would want to run it with me(maybe a couple of friends I know)
However, even in those conditions, here is my attitude toward NPA:
I will not stop, or quit the idea, until it is done. I just won't. I haved worked on NPA for way too long to stop.
Here are the good thing about the stuff I have done with NPA...
I have developed a livery
I have a good idea how I will start
I also have a good idea on my website design
So far, I don't know if I will be able to do this, but I will not quit. I WILL NOT QUIT. Btw, keep the feedback comin', I need all the help I can get.
Flymia From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 6323 posts, RR: 6 Reply 11, posted (9 years 9 months 4 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 3929 times:
good BOI. Hey i have the same problem. My VA landmark Airlines. I know it will never really go up. Atleast for the next 6 years. But i have worked two years on this airline. I have seen it grown up. Landmark is decreasing service and making fleet more realistic to get ready for going into the VA world in 10 years!
I Also am planning on making an new more real airline. Going to start pretty small. All details will be out by Jan probly. I can only work and fly on the weekends now. BOI talk later. Maybe i should just make a new Landmark? No.
They ar getting smaller.
"It was just four of us on the flight deck, trying to do our job" (Captain Al Haynes)
GKirk From UK - Scotland, joined Jun 2000, 24627 posts, RR: 58 Reply 12, posted (9 years 9 months 4 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 3921 times:
Perhaps it could be better to run a joint VA with somebody else who is interested in setting up a VA, in order to make sure that you have done everything you need to and the other person could check things over as well, sort of like a President and Vice President?
When you hear the noise of the Tartan Army Boys, we'll be coming down the road!
IloveBOI From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (9 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 3845 times:
Great News Everybody!!!!
The website is almost done, it is really cool, and it will have awesome features like forums. You can sign up on the forums and talk about NPA changes what could be changed, etc.
I would like to know ahead of time, who would want to become a pilot for NPA. Those that want to become one, must know how to fly one or more of these planes:
MD-88
MD-90
A320-200
757-200
So far, NPA is going just as planned, and I hope for it to get even better.
EmiratesA345 From Canada, joined Jun 2003, 2120 posts, RR: 9 Reply 14, posted (9 years 9 months 3 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 3828 times:
I used to be a VA pilot, flying the A320. I then moved up on the B757, so I might be interested in flying for NPA. Let me know when the website is finished.
Flymia From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 6323 posts, RR: 6 Reply 15, posted (9 years 9 months 3 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 3825 times:
Yes BOI great i will fly for you not all NPA of Course i got my Airline to work with but i will help you alot since Landmark is just for fun. That is so Great!
"It was just four of us on the flight deck, trying to do our job" (Captain Al Haynes)
Flymia From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 6323 posts, RR: 6 Reply 16, posted (9 years 9 months 3 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 3828 times:
Forgot i would love to fly for you as well BOI. After the DC-9 my favourite plane is the 757. Cant Wait!!
"It was just four of us on the flight deck, trying to do our job" (Captain Al Haynes)
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