What Do You Guys Think?

[Hero540 0]

Hey guys! So I had an idea for a virtual airline. Seeing as how I'm not very skilled with HTML or website building and such, and the fact that I have little to no money what-so-ever to bank into an ACARS program and the like, it might be a little unprofessional looking, as it would have to be a free-forum based airline. However, I think I could organize it nicely enough to be decent in appearance. Logging flights might be old fashioned and more of a "honor based" system...however I would also like to use FsPassengers as it has a really nice logging system, and it simulates possible failures and other things related to flying. FsPassengers comes bundled with the ability to export a log of a flight automatically, but, seeing as how I won't have anything coded into my website to do so, I'd have to have any perspective pilots use the old fashioned way of copy pasting and posting the log from it's save file that FsP generates.  

 

Here's the idea I had though. When it comes to flying big iron tubes, I thoroughly enjoy the Captain Sim 737-200. I know it's not really big iron anymore, but it's at least in the jet age, and about as advanced as I may ever get, lol. The CS 737-200 comes with two versions, a wonderful passenger liner and a cargo craft.

 

So I would like to base this airline around the aging 737-200. I don't think any are left in operation in real life, except for maybe up near Canada and Alaska. The idea behind this is that the virtual airline is a start-up with a perhaps one 737-200 leased, and maybe a one is owned, and they are just a small US domestic regional carrier (No international flights)

 

I think using FsPassengers would be fun and interesting, as it simulates all the complexities of passenger flights (and even cargo flights as long as you start it up and do not load passengers.)  The best part about integrating FsPassengers into the company would be that there are severe consequences to the players' actions, up to and even including the death of their virtual pilot if there is such a catastrophe. 

 

So I think I'd have pilots make a virtual "character" (as they may possibly die). Operation would then be the same as any other airline. Pilots would be able to advance in rank and payscales, and if some disaster happens and they crash and their pilot is wounded, they may have to wait a certain real world period of time (say 24 hours) for their pilot to be healed and placed back into duty. If their pilot dies, I think I'd give them the option to make another pilot character, and add back only half the hours they earned on their previous character.

 

I think this element alone adds some uniqueness to the virtual airlining hobby. 

 

I already have two liveries for the CS 737-200 in this company's scheme (A passenger version and a cargo version). So the pilots' would have a choice between a cargo or passenger division. I could write schedules for both divisions, and I may have one or two hubs to start. I would like to keep finances realistic, if possible. I don't want to start out with a fleet of 20+ planes with hubs all over the world. I would like the jobs to actually mean something, and for everything to be earned. As our pilots complete flights and generate revenue, more planes could be purchased, and hence more pilots could be "hired". 

 

Here's the over-arching question though, which I probably could've summed up in a much shorter way. Basically, I think the requirements for someone to join this VA would possibly be a bit too steep. 

 

A pilot would require:

 

A legal copy of FSX/FSX Acceleration

FsPassengersX

AND

The Captain Sim 737-200. If they wanted to fly cargo ops, they'd have to buy the 737-200 AND the cargo expansion. 

 

So, what do you guys think? Would I be asking far too much from possible pilots? They'd have to buy some expensive software, whereas the actual homepage of the VA could be considered an unprofessional website with no money being invested into it, with old-fashioned and rudimentary ways of posting logs and recording hours. Do you think the use of FsPassengers with it's features of a mortal pilot who could potentially be killed or wounded is interesting enough to off-set this? 

 

Thanks in advance!

 

EDIT: Here's some shots of the liveries I painted up. 

 

This one's the cargo version:

 

 

And here's the Passenger version:

 

 

[brett 2,316]

Besides the fact that I try not to think, it sounds like plausible fun and maybe there are some folks out there that already have your prerequisites that might be interested for a start.

[Hero540 0]

Besides the fact that I try not to think, it sounds like plausible fun and maybe there are some folks out there that already have your prerequisites that might be interested for a start.

 

Sometimes, I wonder if I think too much and it just gets me into more trouble than had I just gone along as normal, lol, so I hear you. Thanks for reading and giving your opinion Brett. I imagine you're correct as most serious flight simmers would probably have these add-ons already, however I think the fact that my VA's webpage would probably be a proboards forum would very likely turn away these serious simmers. 

[brett 2,316]

Plenty of upstarts have flourished using proboards, if you have an idea that interests people, they will come.   Ya never know.

[Kasper 14]

It sounds like fun and you can use phpVMS to make the VA page. It is free and not too difficult to use (I can offer some help if required). Hosting costs don't have to be very high.

You can take a look at my site to see how you can make phpVMS look.

You will have to think about advertising your VA. Without advertising no new pilots. I am still building (for more than a year) my VA and will only start advertising later in the year, but you will need to have a plan and preferably some videos on youtube.

My 2 cents.

 

[Hero540 0]

It sounds like fun and you can use phpVMS to make the VA page. It is free and not too difficult to use (I can offer some help if required). Hosting costs don't have to be very high.

You can take a look at my site to see how you can make phpVMS look.

You will have to think about advertising your VA. Without advertising no new pilots. I am still building (for more than a year) my VA and will only start advertising later in the year, but you will need to have a plan and preferably some videos on youtube.

My 2 cents.

 

I can't say I have ever heard of phpVMS. I do have very little money to invest in anything anymore, and so I'd like to avoid monthly fees at all costs. The fiancee and I have just bought and new house, and her and I are also looking at a wedding this year, so finances are a bit tight. But I'll definitely take a look at phpVMS. Thank you for the heads up. 

 

As far as advertising goes, I have a YouTube channel where I used to make Let's Play videos and the like, so making videos and "advertisements" shouldn't be a problem. In fact, I'm editing some images now to put together some pseudo advertisements. More just for my own entertainment, but they could draw attention. Also, with the wonderful community here, I could in fact I feel, generate some interest in the VA, if and when I get it up and running. I can't say I have spent near as much time on my VA as you have. Over a year! That's going to be one impressive airline, and I look forward to seeing it in action! 

 

Thanks for your tips and advice! I really appreciate it, as I'll need all the help I can get. 

[brett 2,316]

First of all, congrats on the new home, having a fiancée and on getting married soon.  

 

Okay, now to talk about the time needed to build a VA, wait, time, new home, new marriage, probably kids soon? Time is a thing of the past my friend, you have to wait for retirement now.  

[Hero540 0]

First of all, congrats on the new home, having a fiancée and on getting married soon.  

 

Okay, now to talk about the time needed to build a VA, wait, time, new home, new marriage, probably kids soon? Time is a thing of the past my friend, you have to wait for retirement now.  

 

 Haha! Oh no! I didnt think of all of that. However, I can say, thankfully, that being as I'm only 24 going on 25, and the soon to be wife is 23 almost 24, we are avoiding the kids thing as much as we can. The idea scares us, frankly. So hopefully that won't happen until we want it to (if ever) and I can continue to fly a bit here and there between work and mortgage. 

 

Oh, and I must say thank you for the congratulations. I'm quite a happy guy as it were, and I feel very blessed! 

[Bruce (a.k.a. brian747) 142]

Hi Lee!

 

Every good wish for your project!

 

My only slight concern about it would be that there are already a lot of VAs out there, so perhaps limiting yourself to allowing only a single aircraft by a single developer might cut the potential membership down quite drastically?

 

On the other hand, of course, if you are able to plug it through the Captain Sim forum (I assume there is one!    ) then that could be your best bet for recruiting pilots.

 

Best of luck,

 

Bruce

 

a.k.a. brian747