Pilot Handbook | Virgin Atlantic Virtual

Contents

Last Updated: 28/09/2011

Section 1: General Employment Information

Virgin Atlantics Mission
Employment with Virgin Atlantic Virtual
Termination
Hub Transfers
Leave of Absence
Rank and Pay Scale
Prior Virtual Airline Experience
E-Mail Address

Section 2: Airline Information and Procedures

Maintaining Active Status
Pilot Forum Requirements
Company NOTAM's
Flight Procedures
On-line Flight Requirements

Section 1
General Employment Information

1.1 Virgin Atlantic Virtual Mission

Our mission is our vision; Provide you the pilot with the best possible service while still keeping the art of flight simulation fun.

1.2 Employment with Virgin Atlantic Virtual

At Virgin Atlantic Virtual we welcome pilots of all experience levels and backgrounds. From real world airline Captains to the flight simulation novice, an exciting opportunity awaits you here. Currently applications are being accepted for Virtual Professional Pilots. The information below should be helpful as you make this important decision to join our airline.

Must be 13 Years of Age or Older.
Commit to fly at least one flight a month.
Complete the Pilots Application to include selecting a hub, or Human Resources will place you where the airline needs you.

Approved hubs are: Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester

Must submit a valid PIREP within 14 days of Date of Acceptance. The Date of Acceptance is the Date when your application was accepted and your registration was approved.
All Virgin Atlantic Virtual Pilots must register with our Pilot Forums Registration is free. You must register with your First and last name and Pilot ID ONLY. No other format is acceptable.

1.3 Termination

Pilots and staff members who are terminated from Virgin Atlantic Virtual for any disciplinary action are prohibited from rejoining the airline at any time in the future.
Pilots and staff members who are terminated for failure to meet the minimum requirements, such as minimum flight requirements, membership in the Pilot Forum or failure to maintain an active email account may have their membership with Virgin Atlantic Virtual reinstated at zero hours.
Pilots and staff members who resign in good standing with the airline, i.e. by providing notice of their intent to resign by utilizing the Pilot Change of Status Request form shall have the option at any point in the future to return to the virtual airline at a later date with their previous hours restored. Their rank may be subject to change as to achieve airline staffing requirements.

1.4 Hub Transfers

Personnel are permitted to transfer between Hubs ONLY if an opening exists. Additionally;

Pilot must be in ACTIVE status at their current hub for 30 days and not under any disciplinary action in order to start a transfer.
The request will be processed by Human Resources by contacting the Hub managers involved.
Transfer will be completed with an approval or refusal (Reason will be stated) email to the pilot requesting transfer and Hub Managers involved.

1.5 Leave of Absence (LOA)

Pilots who foresee they will be unable to complete the required one flight minimum in the following month can submit an email request for a Leave of Absence (LOA). Pilots may not apply or repeatedly apply for a Leave of Absence in response to warnings concerning removal from the roster for inactivity.

Pilots must be in ACTIVE status to request a Leave of Absence.
The pilot must have completed the required one flights for that month prior to the request.
Each pilot is limited to 3 LOAs per year. Each LOA may not exceeding 60 days.
A Leave which is expected to be longer than 60 days will require removal from the roster.
When returning from LOA the pilot must submit a PIREP within fourteen (14) days of the end of their LOA to return to ACTIVE status. Failure to fly this flight and file a PIREP will result in suspension.
Extensions will not be granted beyond 180 days except on a case by case evaluation by the COO and/or CEO.
If a pilot on LOA submits a PIREP during the LOA time frame, that pilot will be considered to have returned from LOA from that time forward and placed on ACTIVE status.

1.6 Rank and Pay Scale

Pilots are ranked based on their experience in flight simulation, and more specifically by their experience flying the aircraft in our fleet.

See here

1.7 Prior Virtual Airline Experience

Virgin Atlantic Virtual will accept prior Virtual Airline (VA) hours upon verification. All new pilots start at zero hours, regardless of approved prior flight time

Qualifications for Prior Experience Hours:

Provide in an email a single click / unrestricted link (no user name / password restricted links) to verify transferable hours from one
(1) former Virtual airline, once this is confirmed, we will transfer 50% of the hours to Virgin Atlatic Virtual, providing these hours to not exceed 300 hours
We do not accept Vatsim hours transfer.
Filled at least one pirep with Virgin Atlantic Virtual

1.8 E-mail address

The pilot is responsible for maintaining a current e-mail address with the management of Virgin Atlantic Virtual. Any changes in the pilots email address must be reported to their Hub Manager.

Failure to maintain a current email address will result in suspension.

Section 2

Airline Information & Procedures

2.1 Maintaining Active Status

A minimum of one (1) Flights and Filed Pilot Reports (Pireps) shall be submitted in 30 days. Pilots may not apply for a Leave of Absence in response to being removed from the roster for inactivity.
Each member shall maintain a valid e-mail address as outlined in Section 1.8 E-mail Address.
Virgin Atlantic Virtual members are required to join the Pilot Forums and be active at least read messages and postings) as outlined in Section 2.2 Pilot Forum Requirements. This is your best way to catch policy changes to the airline via the NOTAMS section as an example.

2.2 Pilot Forum Requirements

As a result of the large amount of information that is placed within the Virgin Atlantic Virtual forums, the airline requires you to become a member of our pilot forum. Membership in Virgin Atlantic Virtual Forum provides you an ability to interact and benefit from discussing airline, flight, virtual airline, and a host of other topics from other like minded people enjoying the same hobby as you. Best of all it is free.

The forum requires its own registration (free)
The format used to register with the Forum is your first and last name and Pilot ID. (i.e. Mike Schmitt VIR023 or Pablo Vazquez VIR100)
Each member of Virgin Atlantic Virtual who posts in the Pilots Forum VATSIM, or any Flight Simulation Forum where one is available, shall be required to maintain a professional manner at all times. Any and all cases of racism, rude or discourteous comments, flames, harassment, profanity, and anything else deemed questionable by forum moderators reported to the airline will subject the member to disciplinary action to include suspension or termination from Virgin Atlantic Virtual, for more information see the forum rules.

2.3 Company NOTAMs

Company NOTAM's are an extension of the Operations Manual. NOTAMS are issued when there is sufficient cause to do so and are for immediate release.

NOTAMs can only be found in the Virgin Atlantic Virtual forum in the NOTAMS sub-forum. It is your responsibility to read and comply.
NOTAMs will be removed when: a). The NOTAM has expired; or (b). The NOTAM has been published in an Operations Manual revision.

2.4 Flight Procedures

Virgin Atlantic Virtual is now a member/user of the phpVMS Virtual Airline System and no longer uses the FSACARS to record flights. All flights must now be recorded using kACARS which is approved for use with Virgin Atlantic Virtual.

By joining our Virgin Atlantic Virtual you are agreeing to accept the conditions set forth in this document.
All pilots must plan to depart the departure point as per the flight times published in the Flight Schedule. This means you must set your simulation to the proper date and time for the flight.
Departure time in the timetable is that time you release your parking brake at the gate, not your take-off time.
Slewing is not permitted during an ACTIVE flight. Slewing to proper location/gate at the departure airport must be accomplished prior starting FSACARS.
Time Acceleration is not permitted while flying for Virgin Atlantic Virtual
Pausing is discouraged and you are only allowed to pause for a maximum for 10-15 minutes. Any PIREPs filed with a pause time over 15 minutes will have that PIREP rejected

2.5 On-line Flight Requirements

Virgin Atlantic Virtual encourages its pilots to fly online with VATSIM or IVAO. We maintain a partner airline status with VATSIM and IVAO, and encourage our pilots to use their excellent services. However, flying with any online flight organization is allowed, but we do not provide any help in using the services, only for VATSIM and IVAO.
When Flying online follow these guidelines and rules:
Ensure you are able to carry out all types of instructions that you could be given by controllers.
All pilots operating on VATSIM or IVAO will present themselves in a professional manner. When flying online realize you are representing Virgin Atlantic Virtual to the virtual aviation community.
No foul, vulgar, flames, or racially charged remarks will be tolerated here at Virgin Atlantic Virtual or while operating on any VATSIM or IVAO server and within their forums Any complaint received will be grounds for immediate termination.
In the comment section of the flight plan you file with VATSIM or IVAO we ask that you please enter our web site http://www.virginvirtual.co.uk for advertising purposes. When someone clicks on your ID utilizing ServInfo they will see our web address thus promoting our airline, however it is not compulsorary
When flying online with VATSIM and IVAO, all Virgin Atlantic pilots will use VIR with the flight number (i.e VIR001) as their call sign. Your voice call sign to Controllers is VIRGIN not Virgin Atlantic