What do you like to see in a Virtual Airline?

[CloverAirways]

Hello,

In the upcoming months (most likely over the summer), a few friends and I are going to open a virtual airline. It's currently under development, with most of the design and forum set up.

We'd like to hear from opinions from the FS community on what you like to see in a virtual airline, what would make you join one over another etc..

Please leave your feedback!

Thanks,
Joseph.

[thomass]

what kind of flights your Airline will fly (Regional or International?)
and one advice choose your fleet carefully

not set it up with too many hubs in the beginning let it grow and add hubs on demand!

and a question on which system you set up your VA
Phpvms or other?

best regards
Thomas

[CloverAirways]

what kind of flights your Airline will fly (Regional or International?)
and one advice choose your fleet carefully

not set it up with too many hubs in the beginning let it grow and add hubs on demand!

and a question on which system you set up your VA
Phpvms or other?

best regards
Thomas

Thanks for the reply!

We planned to do exactly what you said anyway (not having a large fleet straight away, only a few hubs and we're using phpVMS).

Thanks,
Joseph.

[vuldalm]

I think it is always a nice idea to have a little back story as to why a new VA has opened. Perhaps you and your team have "virtually" purchased a failing airline with a view to turning its fortunes. This organic growth of a VA can be lots of fun to manage and from a pilots perspective they can become involved in the process by captaining new routes or aircraft as they are rolled out.

Operationally choose your hubs/bases, routes and aircraft carefully.

It is always nice to start with multiple bases but in reality does that happen with real world airlines, rarely I suspect. Choose bases that have good scenery available in FS and perhaps offer a unique location rather than your typical major international airports.

Likewise with your fleet selection aircraft that are well represented with a choice of panels and sound packages are a must have. Ideally if they have payware models available you will increase your appeal. A mix of props and jets is nice as some pilots may have a preference for one or the other.

Schedules should offer a realistic blend of destinations and duration. How much time we all have available for FS varies hugely so having a mix of flights from under one hour to those that cover intercontinental distances is key. Then again would you want to offer international flight immediately? Perhaps this is something that could be launched (with a little pomp and ceremony) after you have found your feet and attracted a few pilots. Interesting airports and perhaps those rarely visited by "every other VA" can be fun. Mixed in with more common destinations your schedules can look fresh and help to attract pilots.

Keeping the website interesting and updated is important. Nothing worse than a website that appears to have no life in it!

Don't just focus on the opening of the VA. Have a rolling six month plan and keep revisiting it, tweaking and developing it.

Running a VA can quickly become a time consuming task. Be prepared to work hard and perhaps see minimal results initially. Pilots will come and go but don't be too concerned. Do you best to maintain the profile of the VA across the web with regular file uploads, press releases etc. Pilot numbers will stabilise after a year or so and with that base in place you can look to really establish and differentiate yourselves in a crowded arena!

Let me know if you want any more input and I look forward to your opening.

[CloverAirways]

I think it is always a nice idea to have a little back story as to why a new VA has opened. Perhaps you and your team have "virtually" purchased a failing airline with a view to turning its fortunes. This organic growth of a VA can be lots of fun to manage and from a pilots perspective they can become involved in the process by captaining new routes or aircraft as they are rolled out.

Operationally choose your hubs/bases, routes and aircraft carefully.

It is always nice to start with multiple bases but in reality does that happen with real world airlines, rarely I suspect. Choose bases that have good scenery available in FS and perhaps offer a unique location rather than your typical major international airports.

Likewise with your fleet selection aircraft that are well represented with a choice of panels and sound packages are a must have. Ideally if they have payware models available you will increase your appeal. A mix of props and jets is nice as some pilots may have a preference for one or the other.

Schedules should offer a realistic blend of destinations and duration. How much time we all have available for FS varies hugely so having a mix of flights from under one hour to those that cover intercontinental distances is key. Then again would you want to offer international flight immediately? Perhaps this is something that could be launched (with a little pomp and ceremony) after you have found your feet and attracted a few pilots. Interesting airports and perhaps those rarely visited by "every other VA" can be fun. Mixed in with more common destinations your schedules can look fresh and help to attract pilots.

Keeping the website interesting and updated is important. Nothing worse than a website that appears to have no life in it!

Don't just focus on the opening of the VA. Have a rolling six month plan and keep revisiting it, tweaking and developing it.

Running a VA can quickly become a time consuming task. Be prepared to work hard and perhaps see minimal results initially. Pilots will come and go but don't be too concerned. Do you best to maintain the profile of the VA across the web with regular file uploads, press releases etc. Pilot numbers will stabilise after a year or so and with that base in place you can look to really establish and differentiate yourselves in a crowded arena!

Let me know if you want any more input and I look forward to your opening.

Thanks for taking the time to post!

I have contacted an owner of a current airline that frequently posts press releases regarding the "virtual" state of the business (acquiring new aircraft, purchasing new headquarters etc..) and I gained some good advice from him. I think, as you say, it would be a good idea to have a back story as it makes it more interesting.

Regarding the hubs and fleet, I have currently selected 4 hubs that are 50/50 (2 are mostly busy, 2 are medium activity) as I think that would make for more interesting routes. What do you think about requiring pilots to fly from their chosen hub at least once a month? We're going to start with about 4 different types of aircraft that will hopefully provide a bit of variety and choice. I'll have a think about including a prop, as I do quite like them myself.

On to the routes. I haven't chosen any definite routes yet, as we're still in the early stages of the airline (only have about 3 staff members sorting out different aspects of the airline, P.S., give me a shout if you'd like to help!) and don't want to make any final decisions. I like the idea of having international routes. We won't start off with many (probably just a few capitals linked together).

I agree with you about keeping a website updated. I've been on a few virtual airlines and didn't have a clue about upcoming events, new routes etc.. as they weren't updated regularly.

I don't expect to see 100 pilots join the first month, heck, I'd be delighted if we got 5 active pilots that can contribute to it. I reckon our biggest challenge will be finding pilots to join. Do you have any suggestions there?


Thanks for all your advice, I made an "Inspiration" thread on our staff forum containing posts like yours to keep us motivated!

[vuldalm]

Taking advice and input from current VA's is a great idea.

I certainly think asking pilots for a minimum number of flights over a certain time period, a month seems to a typical requirement across a lot of VA's, is essential. Without this "rule" you can quickly end up with a bloated roster of non-flying pilots.

Recruiting pilots is not half as difficult as keeping them! Raising and maintaining the profile of your new VA will be very important in attracting interest while the day to day activity of the VA will maintain interest from your crew base.

Think carefully about the launch and consider how global companies use marketing and teaser campaigns to garner interest before they release a new product. With the range of social media available and more traditional websites available you have many avenues along which you can expose your VA to possible recruits. However it is one think getting them along to the website it is another getting them to sign up - which hopefully your fleet, destinations, operational procedures and general feel of the website will do.

I'm quite happy to help you along and will PM you shortly.

[CloverAirways]

We will have a rule put in place to require pilots to fly at least once a month, but what I meant was would it be a good idea to make them fly at least once a month to/from their chosen hub? Most VA's feature a hub selection, but after that it's quite frankly useless. I'd like to make more use of the hub, instead of just having to select it when signing up for it never to be mentioned again.

We have a Twitter account set up (@cloverairwaysva) and we are subscribed to several VATSIM and IVAO accounts which we will get information from to get it out to our followers.

I look forward to your PM!

[jgiardin]

I like commuter and super realistic airlines. I don't necessarily like flying for an airline that tries to cater to all people-it should be a little niche. About five years ago I flew for a small cargo airline that flew only prop planes - Cessna 208s mainly - in Oklahoma and Kansas. The airline flew to about a dozen destinations, so it felt like flying for an AirNet/Ameriflight FAA Part-135 type operation. Those are the types of flight jobs are real strenuous - flying back of the clock hours in small prop planes through the weather and moving the rig. I just find flying a big old heavy above the weather with the autopilot turned on the whole way kinda boring.

Anyway, I really liked it...unfortunately it went out of business.