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I'm not a fan of BA virtual.

There's simming, and then there's BA virtual :p

I don't like that all flights have to be flown in real time, I like even less that you have to 'check in' every 15mins (or is it 30 now?). You can't even pop a/p on and go make dinner, you literally have to sit there at your desk for the whole flight. Even real life airline pilots have more freedom (they have the luxury of a 2nd, even 3rd crew member). Thomson Virtual had the same system and it's the reason why I left.

P.S.

For any of you tempted to join a VA: don't worry, BA Virtual is as strict as it comes and they're not all like that ;)
 
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Shashman said:
I'm not a fan of BA virtual.

There's simming, and then there's BA virtual :p

I don't like that all flights have to be flown in real time, I like even less that you have to 'check in' every 15mins (or is it 30 now?). You can't even pop a/p on and go make dinner, you literally have to sit there at your desk for the whole flight. Even real life airline pilots have more freedom (they have the luxury of a 2nd, even 3rd crew member). Thomson Virtual had the same system and it's the reason why I left.

P.S.

For any of you tempted to join a VA: don't worry, BA Virtual is as strict as it comes and they're not all like that ;)
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This is inaccurate on pretty much everything you mention. You don't have to check in every 15/30 mins. You must file a position report every hour which offers plenty of time to get up and about and do other stuff. I have over 100 hours on BA Virtual and most of it has been done while I'm working from home on another PC and I jump across the room to file a position report and then keep working. And yes 95% of the flight is flown with the A/P on.

The idea for filing position reports is a very good one. People were simply setting up a flight and nipping away for the day only to land at night and so could become a senior captain within a few weeks. That just wasn't acceptable to the board as people often cheated the system.

If someone is wanting to fly for a virtual airline then it suggests to me that they want to model real world ops fairly closely. The idea of flying in 'real time' certainly doesn't appear to be a strange concept at all. What alternative is there? Cruising across the Atlantic at 16x acceleration isn't exactly 'real world'.

BAV is the only virtual airline with an affiiliation with their real world counterparts and they really are brilliant. The software is very simple, they have a fantastic community with many RW pilots and also have great plans for the future. Being able to request the 'real world' flight plan for a given day is also very handy.

I haven't looked at any other VAs but I think the reputation of BAV in the flight sim community is well enough establishing without me having to add to it.
 
I don't dispute their reputation, I know that they're one of the most respected VA's, but they're just not my cup of tea. I want realism, but I also want 'freedom', and if someone's joining a VA to rack up virtual hours, then there's something wrong there, and if the VA feels the need to implement measures to stop such a practice, then it must go to show that maybe the wrong sort of people are joining BAV.

You're also jumping from one extreme to the other with the "16x acceleration". No simmer in their right mind would go that high (not least because most if not all of the FMCs of addon aircraft can't function at anything over 2/4x accel).

BAV is not the only virtual airline affiliated with its RW counterpart. There are others, including Buffalo. Also, most VAs simulating a RW airline need permission to do so, and so in a way, are also 'affiliated' with them. They're deemed to present their airline in a good enough light for them to allow them to use their name.

P.S.
My mistake about the 15/30min check in. It's Thomson Virtual who do that. It's built into their ACARS software.
 
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Shashman, what you list as drawbacks are actually benefits to me. Accelerated flying is rubbish.

I love BA virtual's profile page as well. Tells you where you are, what flights you've done and a natty map showing all your flights. Very good imo. The community is helpful as well. Although sometimes I feel out of my depth as there is so many real pilots on the forums.
 
robfosters said:
Tells you where you are, what flights you've done and a natty map showing all your flights. Very good imo
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Those are all pretty standard features for a VA tbh. Only one of the VAs I've flown for didn't have all of them, but certainly had some.

I used to time accelerate, but that was back in the (very early) days when I used to fly 'Lite' addons and use GPS 'flight plans'.
 
Hmm difficult to say.

Flyingtigers was great in that it included so many airlines to choose from. I flew to allllll sorts of different places, in all sorts of aircraft. Loved it. Downside was that they weren't very serious as a community and it was more of a 'fun' VA. I'd have to say it was my favourite though, as variety is what keeps it interesting for me. I mean, I flew all sorts, from Finnair Wilco E-Jets in the far North of Finland to American Airlines Flight1 ATRs in the Caribbean.

Metroair Virtual was cool. Decent balance of fun/realism. Community was dull though it has to be said. Great livery, but they cut the fleet down to 3 types and the lack of variety drove me away.

The others were mainly during my earlier simming years when I mainly flew 'unrealistically'.
 
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BA has a legal agreement with their real world counterpart and unless other airlines have gotten the same recently then I believe BAV is the only one to do so - certainly the only UK one. If you want variety then surely you could fly for a few different VAs which would open up new options for different routes for example.

Realism and freedom I'm not sure go hand in hand. You can't expect to fly for BAV and pick any destination in the world if BA don't go there. I'm thinking that some of the 'fun' VAs must definitely be your thing.

Also on the acceleration thing, why should anyone get say 10 hours credit for doing a long haul with time acceleration used, when some guys will actually sit for 10 hours and do the same thing? There needs to be some consistency. If you want to use acceleration then I don't see the point in flying for a VA at all. To me it is all about building the hours, increasing rank, getting new a/c, real world routes, real world plans, real world ops etc.

Again it is down to the level of seriousness that one wants to take things. If you don't like a VA then fair enough but something like BAV isn't going to lower its standards to accommodate those not willing to stick with the available routes for example.
 
!bluetonic! said:
Can anyone lead the way on this?



Is there OCUK teamspeak or other chat thing we can use? I can try and teach you all I know, or at least lead you to water..

Vatsim In a nutshell

  1. Get yourself signed up on Vatsim and from this get a numeric username and password
  2. Download FSInn
  3. Launch FSX with a default Cessna at Cardiff / EGFF in GA parking. Don't start on the runway or move your plane anywhere from where you launched. It stays put for now.
  4. In your 'Flightplan', fill it in with both airports for EGFF. Let them know that you're 'listening in' and you're a newbie/beginner in the notes section.
  5. Now look in the ATC window and change frequency to EGFF_APP, EGFF_TWR or anything else that takes your fancy.
  6. Listen, listen some more, make notes, listen some more.
Click to expand...

OCUK have a mumble server. I used it for Star Wars and Rift. I'm sure we can get a spot there. Not sure who we have to ask. I will mail the guild leader from Rift and ask him.

I will do this on Vatsim, cheers also it would be great if you can give me some pointers. Let's get the mumble/teamspeak going and we can then sort it out.
 
ringo747 said:
Realism and freedom I'm not sure go hand in hand. You can't expect to fly for BAV and pick any destination in the world if BA don't go there. I'm thinking that some of the 'fun' VAs must definitely be your thing.
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You misunderstood me: The VAs I have flown for have tended to be "Alliance" VAs (Star Alliance, OneWorld, etc), which simulate the ops of numerous airlines, and therefore give members a wider choice of routes and aircraft. I've only flown for 2 VAs which have a rank system (MetroAir Virtual, which is fictitious, and Thomson Virtual). I don't fly to get promoted. I fly for pleasure. I'm not in it for the hours, numbers, kudos, e-peen enhancement, etc...

Having said that, I enjoy the propsect of having to 'earn' the right to fly a certain aircraft class, and I respect that, but I like being able to fly a Cessna 208 of Air Caraibes one day, and an Emirates A380 the next.

Hence why I have flown for numerous VAs ;)
 
I have the PMDG 737 and really love the accuracy and full features and great flight model of it.

I fancied a bit of a go with the default Cessna 172. and found the cockpit a bit boring and the flight model like a flying submarine in comparison!

Would anyone be able to recommend a really good custom/paid mod of something relatively simple like a Cessna 172? (would be great if there was also one with a G1000 glass cockpit too).
 
<and i quote>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM REX GAME STUDIOS

REX Essential for FSX and Prepar3D Released!


Sunday, May 27, 2012


REX Game Studios is pleased to announce the release of their long-awaited product, REX Essential for the FSX and Prepar3D platforms.


"This release not only enhances visual realism, but matches that realism to the underlying weather platform, creating a whole new world in Flight Simulation" said Tim Fuchs, REX Game Studios senior partner. "Over the past year our team has worked diligently, and as a result of our customers’ feedback, we’ve added over 50 enhancements to our software solution for FSX and Prepar3D. We are really excited about it!"


Enhancements include performance improvements, intuitive navigation, a new customizable, industrial-strength weather engine, FlightAware integration, a powerful new flight planner, "cloud" sharing, backup services and much, much more.


"We are thankful to all our customers for their invaluable input as we continuously improve and make REX Essential your one-stop FSX and Prepar3D solution" said Reed Stough, REX Game Studios senior developer. "And the best part - it's free to all current REX for FSX customers!"


REX Essential is a powerful, hi-definition environmental and weather package created from state-of-the-art photography and scientific processes, enhancing the realism of the weather platform within FSX and Prepar3D.

For more information, please visit: http://www.realenvironmentxtreme.com

</and i quote>
 
toString said:
I have the PMDG 737 and really love the accuracy and full features and great flight model of it.

I fancied a bit of a go with the default Cessna 172. and found the cockpit a bit boring and the flight model like a flying submarine in comparison!

Would anyone be able to recommend a really good custom/paid mod of something relatively simple like a Cessna 172? (would be great if there was also one with a G1000 glass cockpit too).
Click to expand...

The Carenado C337H is a great little plane, it's one of my favourites for GA.
 
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