The Advantage Of The Basic Virtual Airline

By David Zaleski (11 December 2006)

In January of 2006 I introduced Business Class Express and the program was a success for many reasons which I won't get into. But I did learn a couple things from that program.

Communications is the only medium we have to learn from each other and find out what works and doesn't work for the virtual pilot. Business Class Express was a regional carrier base out of Virtual Las Vegas. It sported a single aircraft, the DreamWings ERJ-145 package found here at FlightSim.Com.

The success of the program lead many to purchase the payware Pilot in Command ERJ-145. This is good for the vender. Business Class Express has reorganized into Ocean Miami Airways hosted by www.pcvirtualpilot.com. Don't let the domain fool you, it is strictly the home of Ocean Miami. It is not a resource web site. I just turned 60 years old and I can't get enough of virtual flying or hosting virtual airlines. Creating an international carrier out of a successful program might sound like a strange and drastic move from success. The saying goes, if it is not broken, why fix it? Success is only as good as your willingness to listen or in our world, reading your email from members and paying attention to their ideas and suggestions.

I realized you can only keep the Vpilot's attention for just so long and I also realized that a single aircraft program wasn't going to still the urge to fly heavy metal. I always encouraged members when they felt they were ready, to move up to the big league. Running a basic program with light structure and the freedom to fly what is on the menu gives prospective big league pilots an opportunity to get it out of their system. Because in the world where "As Real As It Gets" they're going to start from scratch and will have to work up to that level to fly heavy metal. So we give these pilots a home until they are ready to move on.

Time constraints prevent many of us to that great adventure in virtual airlines. I have never had the opportunity to fly online as I would probably embarrass myself. I remember a virtual flight I made back in FS98 where I departed Newark (KEWR) to San Juan, PR (SJU/TJSJ) in an Airbus A300-600 and crashed in the ocean about 300 nm north of SJU because I forgot to refuel after a previous flight.

I want to share this with you. As I mentioned I just turned 60...I didn't know what reaction this was going to have with my members when I announced this to them. I thought they would all bail when they realized an old fart was at the helm. But to my surprise I have a member who is 68 and another 70. I was 52 when I first stumbled into this hobby and I'm enjoying every moment of it. Maybe one day I'll get up the nerve to fly VATSIM. But for now I'm content to provide a home for the beginner and for those of us who have enough time for light flying without the stress dancing through hoops.

David Zaleski
Businessclassva@aol.com

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