The Virtual Airline Revival

By Jim Lambert (5 June 2006)

Some thought I was negative concerning the rigid and highly structured programs and was using FlightSim.Com to promote a low end beginners virtual airline. I thought about this statement for a couple days and sensed a little jealousy. Now I would like to say this, I'm not a member of the virtual airline mentioned in my previous article. But I do visit the site regularly. I'm no longer on the mailing list but I can see the activity daily. The site, roster, human resources department, news and screenshot pages are always current. This tells me there is someone in the virtual office catering to his members.

I was asked why I didn't do an expose' on a legitimate virtual airline. Again a sense of jealousy. I don't know the criteria for a legitimate virtual airline nor would I like to write one but I would say that it would have to be about having fun enjoying one of the most popular hobbies on the web.

In the beginning there were a hand full of virtual airlines on the web. Wings.ark.com was the home of many of the popular virtual airlines many which are still with us today. It is difficult to grade the quality of a virtual airline. If web site design is your criteria then you go look for a pretty web site. If automation is your thing then you look for this. If structure is your thing that's fine and so on.

To me anyone who is willing to put time and effort into developing a virtual airline, purchasing a domain and pay for hosting, does not have a morsel of advertisement on the site, no pop-ups and is willing to work it on a daily bases has my vote. I like what David Zaleski is doing over at Business Class Express.

Part of FlightSim.Com's mission over the years was promoting the virtual airline and their contribution to the hobby of flight simulation. I get excited over new and fresh concepts and ideas, particularly those that really grab your attention. David's BCE is one of those few new concepts programs that come along and provide a breath of life back into the virtual airline. Today it is a hobby behind the scene, it used to be on the marquee of every flight simulation web site.

I'm not promoting David and his creation, I'm hoping to inspire operators to take their fledgling programs and take a page out of his book and breath new life into your own programs. You're not a real business. You're a game. You're not real CEO's, presidents and vice presidents. You're a game. You don't get paid, there is no financial incentive to your role playing and if you have pilots on your roster who are active, count your lucky stars.

Ask yourself when it was the last time you as CEO or president welcomed a new member. As a pilot, ask yourself when it was you last contributed anything except fly your routes. Is your communications confined to a chain of command? How often is your hours updated or what inspirational words have you received from upper management.

I told you I ran one of those rigid virtual airlines and some of you asked me for my web site and I didn't respond to your request for the simple reason, I turned it over to a partner a couple days after my article. I'm now retired and that program is suffering the wows of neglect, an outdated mission over structure and a roster full of long gone pilots. I need a break but I will be watching Business Class Express.

What's the lesson? KIS "Keep It Simple" It's just a game, nothing more and nothing less.

In closing someone inevitably is going to ask me just what is that "Page out of his book". No magic involved. Be attentive to the members of your VA personally and not leave it in the hands of others. Be involved daily and communicate with your members. Keep them in the loop of your operations so they have the sense of belonging. Update your site and roster daily. If your altitude is I don't have the time, you don't belong in the business. I could go on but you catch my thinking here.

Virtual airlines is just one of many mediums to enjoying your flight simulation experience but it is by far the most popular.

Jim Lambert
jmlambert06@aol.com

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