X-Plane Support

August 19, 2008

Delta Virtual Airlines recognizes and accepts flights flown using X-Plane.

DVA ACARS is not compatible with X-Plane; DVA’s fleet is not compatible with X-Plane.

Until such time that DVA ACARS is compatible with X-Plane, pilots seeking qualifying flights for promotion, transfer or additional aircraft ratings requiring ACARS submitted flights, should use Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 or FSX.

Presently, there is no timetable for adapting DVA ACARS or fleet aircraft to be compatible with X-Plane.

Terry Eshenour

President

June 2006

Flight Diversions

From time to time, flights may divert due to mechanical or weather problems. Diversions need to be made at least halfway through the flight to airports served by Delta Virtual or its codeshare partners. No flight segment will be approved until the entire flight has been successfully completed to its destination. Approval of any diversions is within the discretion of the Vice-President of Operations, and Delta Virtual may reject any diversion as seen fit.

June 2006

Acceptable Flight Data Source

Delta Virtual Airlines receives every 30 days an up-to-date Delta, Air France and their codeshares’ schedule. Since we are in sync with the official Delta and Air France timetable, the Delta Virtual Airlines Flight Schedule found in the Pilot Center is the ONLY acceptable source for flight and route data. Flights flown that are not present in the Delta Virtual flight schedule will NOT be approved, unless the Vice-President of Operations gave prior approval.

Delta Virtual Airlines' historic operations (the "8000-series" flights) will remain within the flight schedule and will not be affected by this change.

Our schedule will be updated every few days or weeks. Prompt filing of Flight Reports will be important. To file a flight report, pilots are strongly encouraged to use ACARS or to file manually as soon as possible after the completion of their flight. We will not accept Flight Reports filed more than seven days after the date of the flight.

From time to time, flights may divert due to mechanical or weather problems. Diversions need to be made at least halfway through the flight to airports served by Delta Virtual or its codeshare partners. No flight segment will be approved until the entire flight has been successfully completed to its destination. Approval of any diversions is within the discretion of the Vice-President of Operations, and Delta Virtual may reject any diversion as seen fit.

Flight Academy PPL Certification Instruction Available

March 31, 2006

Delta Virtual Airlines’ Flight Academy is open for business.  The creation of the Flight Academy was a long-term growth and development goal. It was felt that to be supportive of our “business model” of enhancing virtual aviation enjoyment through knowledge and experience that we needed a Flight Academy. The initial offering is a Private Pilot License; eventually other certifications will be added.

The materials and structure for the Flight Academy is the result of George Lewis, a real world pilot and Director of Training, countless hours of work, trials and collaboration with support from his growing staff. DVA is grateful to George Lewis for his dedication and willingness to share his knowledge with others.

For about 6 months the Mentor program has provided one-on-one service to our pilots. The introduction of a more formal form of instruction in the form of a Flight Academy will provide additional channels for pilots interested in more in-depth learning to participate. It is meant to enhance virtual aviation experiences through improved understanding of aviation and flight dynamic basics. While it is structured to pattern real-world methods, it is not meant to prepare pilots for real world exams.

DVA pilots can now enroll in the Flight Academy for the Private Pilot License (PPL) Course. Upon completion they will be given certification of their accomplishment. The Certified Flight Instructors CFI are Chris Williams, Vince Carlo and George Lewis. Examiners are George Lewis, Matt Creed and Michael Carter.

To get started:

In the Pilot Center, Click on the Flight Academy.  Enroll in a course.

Staff will approve your application. When approved you are in the course and can download the ground school material. Students can ask questions and request flight instruction from a CFI.

The student will be required to pass a written examination as well as other requirements, such as ACARS cross-country flights. After all requirements are met, the CFI will assign an ACARS check ride that will be conducted using FSnet/copilot.

Please direct your questions by email to training@deltava.org

New Pilot Promotion Manual Available

January 18, 2006

Now available in the documents library is the revised Pilot Promotion Manual version 6. The latest revision is an effort to streamline promotion and additional aircraft rating policies that had become complex, cumbersome and troublesome for pilots and staff to administer. The advent of ACARS makes flight monitoring more effective and will be used as a tool in administering policy.

The key changes to the promotion policies include:

• Passing the First Officer exam and an ACARS Check Ride is required for all program transfers or additional aircraft rating.
  
  
• Same level or lower additional aircraft rating, pilots can pursue First Officer exam and an ACARS Check Ride at any time.
  
  
• Higher-level additional aircraft rating, pilots can pursue First Officer exam and an ACARS Check Ride after achieving Captain in their current program.
  
  
• Program transfers have similar requirements as additional rating. One exception is transfers to a same level or lower level; require completion of 10 flight segments in the current stage before taking First Officer exam and an ACARS Check Ride.
  
  
• The L-1011 aircraft was changed from a Stage 3 to Stage 4 aircraft because of its complexity, size and demands placed on piloting.

Pilots will not be required to complete First Officer exam and Check Ratings for aircraft that they are currently rated to fly. Equipment transfers and additional aircraft ratings that were requested on or before January 18, 2006 will be treated according to the previous policies.

Terry Eshenour
President, Delta Virtual Airlines