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WHAT'S A VIRTUAL AIRLINE
A virtual airline (VA) is a
dedicated hobby organization that uses flight simulation to model the
operations of an airline. Virtual Airlines generally have a presence on
the Internet, similar to a real airline.
Virtual airlines are reality
organizations, although some attempt to replicate real airlines in terms
of organizational structure. The most common organizational structure
often includes one or more of the following positions: CEO, COO,
President, Vice-President, Customer Relationship director, Operations
director, and virtual pilots.
While a wide variety of virtual
airlines are fictional in name and operation, other virtual airlines
take the name of a real-world airline (with approval from the actual
corporate entity to which they virtually represent). Additionally, there
are virtual airline that run several more or less independent virtual
airlines under a common brand, site design, or name.
"Pilots" who "work" for these "companies"
must have a flight simulator and other computer equipment in order to
carry out their flight assignments. Usually, the airline's website keeps
a record of the hours "flown" by each "pilot" and sometimes even "pay"
them virtually for the flight.
Many virtual airlines allow a
simulator pilot to fly online on organizations such as
VATSIM or
IVAO.
Online flying increases dramatically the realism of flight simulator by
introducing realistic and live air traffic control. Most virtual
airlines regularly host online events where virtual pilots can
participate in group flights with hundreds of other virtual airline
pilots. Technology has vastly improved since the introduction of
BBS-operated virtual airlines, allowing a wider variety of tools and
resources available to virtual pilots, thus enhancing realism of flight
simulation. With the new 'out of the box' VATSIM Style gameplay in
Microsoft Flight Simulator X, more people are joining virtual airlines.
In essence, virtual airlines are not
real, however, they are considered a serious hobby that has appeal among
a very wide age range of participants. Some even simulate real-world
airlines to the point where flight dispatching and virtual salary are
part of the virtual airline's basic operations. It has been argued that
virtual airlines provide a sandbox environment where younger members can
experience the corporate environment of commercial business in the
airline industry, without the risk of financial loss. They also provide
an outlet for those who are interested in aviation but unable to fly
themselves in real life due to financial, health, or other reasons.
Other types of virtual airlines
include Virtual VFR Clubs. |
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