Delta Virtual Airlines

Delta Virtual Airlines is delighted to announce Paul Barnhill as the new Assistant Chief Pilot for the A350-900 fleet. Paul’s history with DVA, extensive flight simulation experience, and dedication to enhancing the pilot community make him a perfect fit for this leadership role.

Paul joined DVA in 2007 while completing his undergraduate studies and has since built an impressive record across multiple fleet programs. He became part of the A350 program in 2022, bringing with him years of experience flying the FlightFactor A350 in X-Plane 11. While he recently returned to more regular flying due to increased flexibility in his professional life as an attorney in the Atlanta area, his passion for aviation and commitment to DVA have never waned.

As Assistant Chief Pilot, Paul will focus on fleet development, supporting pilot operations, and contributing to the overall improvement of the A350 program. Among his priorities is updating the Aircraft Operating Manual (AOM) to include more accurate and consistent fuel burn rates for the A350, drawing on his prior research and experience.

Paul’s extensive experience with DVA’s operations, spanning multiple fleets such as the MD-88, 727, 757, 767, DC-8, and MD-11, reflects his deep understanding of our virtual airline’s standards and procedures. Though primarily an X-Plane pilot, Paul is enthusiastic about expanding his expertise to other platforms, including Microsoft Flight Simulator, to better support the entire fleet.

Please join us in congratulating Paul Barnhill on his new role and welcoming him to the A350-900 staff team. His vision, expertise, and enthusiasm will undoubtedly elevate the program and enrich the experience for all A350 pilots.

Welcome aboard, Paul!

We are excited to announce that Delta Virtual Airlines will be re-opening its Flight Academy on October 1st, 2024! This is a significant milestone for our community as we introduce a new Private Pilot course designed to provide our members with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in virtual aviation.

As we embark on this exciting journey, we would like to inform all aspiring pilots that the initial phase of the academy may experience some delays due to a limited number of instructors. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to ensure a high-quality training experience for everyone.

Please note for the time being, the Private Pilot Course will not be eligible for VATSIM ratings. Our focus is on providing thorough training that prioritizes the development of foundational piloting skills in a supportive environment.

We invite all interested members to stay tuned for more details about registration in the coming days. Get ready to spread your wings and take to the skies with Delta Virtual Airlines Flight Academy!

Happy flying!

Delta Virtual Airlines Flight Academy Team

Danny Evans
Vice President; Delta Virtual Airlines Flight Academy

Zach Taylor
Director; Delta Virtual Airlines Flight Academy

We are excited to announce the launch of the Delta Virtual Airlines Pilot Feedback Survey, and we invite all members to participate. Your feedback is critical in helping us enhance your experience at Delta Virtual Airlines, from our flight options to staffing, community engagement, and more. We want to know what you love, what you'd like to see improved, and how we can make DVA the best virtual airline for you!

What’s the survey about?

This survey covers various aspects of your experience, including:

Your satisfaction with flight routes, training resources, and community events. Feedback on staffing and support, including staff responsiveness and communication. Suggestions for future improvements to Delta Virtual Airlines.

To ensure accurate data collection, we are requesting that you include your DVA Pilot ID number when completing the survey. This will help us prevent duplicate entries and maintain the integrity of the feedback process. Rest assured, your responses will remain anonymous and will only be used for improving DVA’s services and experience.

How to Participate

The survey is now open, and your participation is simple:
Follow the link provided below to access the survey.
Complete the questions, being sure to include your DVA Pilot ID number.
Submit your responses. *Note you will need to copy and paste the link

The survey will be open until October 31 2024 , so don’t miss this opportunity to share your thoughts and contribute to the future of Delta Virtual Airlines!

Thank you for your ongoing dedication and support. We look forward to hearing from you!

Fly high, fly safe, and happy flying!

Best regards,
Joe Burner
President
Delta Virtual Airlines

On behalf of your entire Senior Leadership staff Team at Delta Virtual Airlines, we are proud to announce the appointment of Zach Taylor as the new Director of its Flight Academy. With a long-standing commitment to aviation and a wealth of experience both in real life and virtual aviation, Captain Zach Taylor is the ideal leader to steer the Flight Academy towards new heights.

Captain Zach Taylor has been a dedicated member of Delta Virtual Airlines since 2011. As a captain in the A320 program, Zach’s journey with DVA has been marked by his passion for aviation and his eagerness to share his knowledge with others. Zach’s aviation credentials are impressive. He holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering and has worked as a design engineer on a variety of aircraft programs, gaining thorough knowledge of FAA regulations. In addition to his professional achievements, Zach holds a Private Pilot License (PPL) and is currently working on his instrument rating. Online on Vatsim, he holds the VATSIM PPL rating, the controller S1, and is in the process of obtaining his S2 rating.

His dedication to flight simulation and real-world aviation is evident in his continuous pursuit of knowledge and his enjoyment in teaching. He plans to become a part-time Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) to help others learn and enjoy their passion for flying. One of Zach’s key motivations for taking on this role is his experience with the Flight Academy training through DVA. We are thrilled to welcome Zach Taylor as the new Director of our Flight Academy, His extensive background in both real and virtual aviation, along with his passion for teaching, make him the perfect fit to lead our academy. We are confident that under his leadership, our Flight Academy will set the standard for excellence in virtual aviation training.

As Director of the Flight Academy, Captain Zach Taylor will help to oversee all aspects of pilot training and development within Delta Virtual Airlines Flight Academy. He will ensure that Delta Virtual Airline’s programs remain at the forefront of our hobby. He will work closely with Vice President Danny Evans, and help to oversee Delta Virtual Airlines Flight Academy Instructors, as well as helping to maintain the learning material for the flight academy. You will see Captain Zach Taylor become more involved in the day to day operations and help bring the flight academy back for our member pilots.

Best regards,
Joe Burner
President;
Delta Virtual Airlines

We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone in our journey as we celebrate 23 years of excellence in providing unparalleled flight simulation experiences. As we commemorate this remarkable achievement, we are equally excited to unveil a dynamic rebranding that reflects our commitment to innovation and our vision for the future.

Last year I had opened an opportunity for our member pilots to create and submit a new website banner or logo for us to utilize. We offered our member pilots and staff to vote on the submissions. Today I am proud to announce that we have officially rebranded our logo.

What's Changing?

New Logo and Visual Identity: Building upon our rich history and legacy, our brand-new logo symbolizes the evolution of Delta Virtual Airlines over the past 23 years while embracing the future of virtual aviation. It represents our dedication to pushing boundaries and setting new standards in the industry.
Community Engagement: At the heart of Delta Virtual Airlines is our vibrant community of pilots and enthusiasts. We are dedicated to fostering connections, sharing experiences, and inspiring each other to reach new heights. We would like to invite all to attend our 23rd anniversary group flight this evening as we fly in the virtual skies from Tampa to Charleston this evening. You can sign up for the event here https://www.deltava.org/event.do?id=0x2b09

We invite you to join us in celebrating this momentous occasion as we embark on the next chapter of our journey. For 23 years, your unwavering support and enthusiasm have been the driving force behind Delta Virtual Airlines' success, and for that, we are truly grateful.

As we look ahead, we are excited to continue shaping the future of virtual aviation together with you. Stay tuned for more updates and announcements as we unveil our rebranding initiatives and embark on this thrilling adventure.

Fly with Passion. Soar with Purpose. Welcome to the New Era of Delta Virtual Airlines!

Best regards,
Joe Burner
President;
Delta Virtual Airlines

We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Alex Vanover as our new Assistant Director of Human Resources. Alex brings a wealth of experience and expertise in his role in leadership as an Officer in the United States Air Force that will undoubtedly strengthen our virtual airline and support our mission.

Alex has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and a deep understanding of human resources practices throughout his career. His dedication to fostering a positive work environment, promoting positive engagement within Delta Virtual Airlines and outside DVA.

Please join us in congratulating Alex on their well-deserved appointment. We are confident that with his leadership abilities as an Officer in the United States Air Force, as well as promoting a positive team environment, our HR department will continue to thrive and support our member pilots in reaching their fullest potential.

On behalf of your Delta Virtual Airlines Senior Leadership Team, we are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership between Delta Virtual Airlines and Flight Simulation Association (FSA)! This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our commitment to enhancing the flight simulation experience for all virtual pilots, air traffic controllers, developers, and content creators.

Flight Simulation Association (FSA) is a premier association dedicated to fostering a vibrant community of flight simulation enthusiasts worldwide. Comprising virtual pilots, air traffic controllers, developers, and content creators, FSA offers an array of exclusive benefits to its members.

By joining FSA, members gain access to a treasure trove of perks, including:

FSA's flagship event, FlightSimExpo, brings together enthusiasts from across the globe annually, offering a unique opportunity for networking, learning, and experiencing the latest advancements in flight simulation technology.

We invite all members of the Delta Virtual Airlines community to take advantage of this exciting partnership by subscribing to Flight Simulation Association at flightsimassociation.com. Together, let's soar to new heights in virtual aviation!

Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this incredible journey with Flight Simulation Association. Happy flying!

On behalf of your Senior Leadership Team here at Delta Virtual Airlines, we are thrilled to announce an exciting partnership with miniCockpit, the innovative creators of MiniFCU, revolutionizing the virtual aviation experience! This strategic alliance marks a significant milestone in enhancing the flight simulation journey for our dedicated member pilots.

The MiniFCU, a compact Flight Control Unit, is designed to streamline cockpit operations, offering unparalleled efficiency and realism to virtual aviators. With its intuitive interface and advanced functionalities, the MiniFCU promises to elevate the simulation experience to new heights to where you can "stop flying with a mouse."

As a token of appreciation for our esteemed Delta Virtual Airlines member pilots, miniCockpit is extending an exclusive offer: a generous 10% discount on all MiniFCU purchases! This special deal underscores our commitment to providing top-notch resources and benefits to our community of active member pilots.

We are thrilled to partner with miniCockpit in our ongoing mission to offer our pilots the best tools and resources for their virtual flying experience. The MiniFCU represents a groundbreaking innovation in flight simulation technology, and we are excited to provide our active member pilots with exclusive access to this cutting-edge solution.

This partnership exemplifies Delta Virtual Airlines' dedication to fostering innovation and enhancing the virtual aviation landscape for our active member pilots. Together with miniCockpit, we look forward to empowering our member pilots with the tools you need to soar to new horizons when flying in the virtual skies.

For more information on how to claim your exclusive discount, stay tuned for updates on our official channels as an announcement is pending on our official channels!

Fly high and climb to new heights with Delta Virtual Airlines and experience the future of flight simulation, and virtual aviation with MiniFCU by miniCockpit! We are excited to bring this partnership to Delta Virtual Airlines.

Thank you to all of our member pilots for continuing to support Delta Virtual Airlines and we hope that you will be able to enjoy this partnership with miniCockpit and most of all enjoy flying with the MiniFCU.

Best regards,

Joe Burner
President; Delta Virtual Airlines

All good things must come to an end, and although we know you all have loved flying those old Western Air Express planes, the nice people over at their ops department have asked us to bring them back…as quickly as possible (something about they need them for other routes?). Anyway, we need you back in the air to Newark PRONTO.

Join us on February 1st in San Diego, and get more info here: https://www.deltava.org/thread.do?id=0x24f4b

Good afternoon Delta Virtual Airlines Pilots,

I am pleased to present to you the Navigraph Flight Sim Community Survey Results for 2023. As many know we were invited and listed as a partner for the survey for our second year in a row. Last year each Navigraph Partner was invited to submit a question for the survey. Last year I submitted a question to the Navigraph Survey team of "Are you a member of a Virtual Airline" This year I submitted another question to gain a broader understanding of how many pilots are a member of a specific virtual airline.

The following question was posed to those who responded “yes” in a previous question asking if the respondent is a member of a virtual airline. It had a free text field, allowing respondents to type in the virtual airline(s) they are a member of. The results suggest that quite a few of the respondents are members of vRYR, vEZY, Southwest Virtual, and Delta Virtual Airlines.

I am pleased to say we were listed as # 4 for Delta Virtual Airlines of that question.

Once again, we want to thank all of you partners who have contributed to this year’s survey with questions and distribution of the survey:

• Aerosoft

• Air France Virtuel

• Avitab

• BelGeode (Boomflowah production)

• Bluebird Sim

• Carenado

• Cruiselevel.de

• Delta Virtual Airlines

• Digital Flight Dynamics

• Elevatex

• Fast Cow Productions

• Flight1/ Flight One Software

• FlightFX

• FlightSimulator.blog

• Fly By Wire

• Flying Media Group

• FSA/FSExpo

• FSElite

• FSMagazine

• FSNews

• FSNews24

• FSReborn

• FSS – Flight Sim Studio

• GearDown Simulations

• GeoFS

• Haversine

• Headwind Simulations

• Heavy Division

• HeliSimmer.com

• Horizon Simulations

• Hype Performance Group

• Infinite Flight

• IVAO

• Laminar Research

• LivToAir

• Lockheed Martin

• LVFR

• Metaflight

• MSFSAddons

• Navigraph*

• ORBX

• PC Pilot

• PilotEdge

• PMDG

• PMS50

• Qbit Simulations

• RealTraffic / Inside Systems Pty Ltd

• Salty Simulations

• simFlight

• SIMMARKET

• Simvol

• SimWorks Studios

• Synaptic Simulations

• Tds Sim

• The Flight Lounge

• Threshold

• TorqueSim Aircraft Development

• Total Aviation

• V Pilot Designs

• VATSIM

If you wish to see the entire survey results, they are here https://download.navigraph.com/docs/flightsim-community-survey-by-navigraph-2023-final.pdf (you will have to copy and paste the link)

You can also view the Navigraph Blog here which has the highlights of the survey. https://navigraph.com/blog/survey-2023?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=survey-2023&utm_content=survey-2023

On behalf of your entire Senior Leadership Staff Team, we want to extend a big thank you for your continued support of Delta Virtual Airlines.

Delta Virtual Airlines Senior Leadership

Good evening Delta Virtual Airlines Pilots,

This evening I am pleased to announce that the Flight Sim Community Survey 2023 from Navigraph is now live. I am pleased to announce that Delta Virtual Airlines are partnering with Navigraph to provide you this survey.

What is the the FlightSim Community Survey by Navigraph?

*You may have to copy and paste the link in your browser url window.

From November 17 to 27, Navigraph is conducting a FlightSim Community Survey together with several major addon developers and organizations within the flight simulation community. The survey, the largest of its kind, aims to measure the prevailing flight simulation trends and users’ requests for future development.

This year’s survey partners are:

• Aerosoft

• Air France Virtuel

• Avitab

• BelGeode (Boomflowah production)

• Bluebird Sim

• Carenado

• Cruiselevel.de

• Delta Virtual Airlines

• Digital Flight Dynamics

• Elevatex

• Fast Cow Productions

• Flight1/ Flight One Software

• FlightFX

• FlightSimulator.blog

• Fly By Wire

• Flying Media Group

• FSA/FSExpo

• FSElite

• FSMagazine

• FSNews

• FSNews24

• FSReborn

• FSS – Flight Sim Studio

• GearDown Simulations

• GeoFS

• Haversine

• Headwind Simulations

• Heavy Division

• HeliSimmer.com

• Horizon Simulations

• Hype Performance Group

• Infinite Flight

• IVAO

• Laminar Research

• LivToAir

• Lockheed Martin

• LVFR

• Metaflight

• MSFSAddons

• Navigraph*

• ORBX

• PC Pilot

• PilotEdge

• PMDG

• PMS50

• Qbit Simulations

• RealTraffic / Inside Systems Pty Ltd

• Salty Simulations

• simFlight

• SIMMARKET

• Simvol

• SimWorks Studios

• Synaptic Simulations

• Tds Sim

• The Flight Lounge

• Threshold

• TorqueSim Aircraft Development

• Total Aviation

• V Pilot Designs

• VATSIM

*) Navigraph coordinates the partners, funds the data collection, analyses the responses, and authors the report document.

As usual, taking the survey is completely anonymous – no emails or any other personally identifiable information is collected from you. Nor do we redirect you to any sponsoring landing page or similar. Furthermore, when we share the results of the survey with the community, we present the data in aggregated form.

Be a part of the world’s most comprehensive flight simulation survey. Your input directly influences the community’s future! Survey results will be published on flightsimsurvey.com on blog.navigraph.com, and through survey partners, in December 2023.

________________________________________

The survey closes on Monday, 27th November.

The survey is anonymous, and no personally identifiable information is collected. Results will be presented in aggregated form only. Thank you for your participation and support. Together, we can make a significant impact on the future of flight simulation.

Should you have any questions regarding the survey, feel free to contact us at survey@navigraph.com.

Should you have any questions regarding the flight sim community survey 2023 for Delta Virtual Airlines, please feel free to reach out to info@deltava.org.

Thank you for your participation and we look forward to sharing the results with you.

Best regards,

Joe Burner; President

Good evening all,

We have some open career opportunities for those who are interested in giving back to the Delta Virtual Airlines community. The DVA Flight Academy is looking to fill the Director of the flight academy. The DVA Events team is looking to hire an Assistant Director of Events.

Pilots who are interested and meet the minimum qualifications are encouraged to apply. Plus those hired will get the keys to their own department washroom and breakroom.

Apply at https://www.deltava.org/careers.do if you are interested.

Good morning all,

I want to address a topic following up from the April Fool's joke News announcement on April 1. While many of us had a good chuckle and laugh out of the joke itself, I understand there were many pilots who were deeply concerned with removing Boeing type aircraft from Delta Virtual Airlines fleet. Delta Virtual Airlines will never remove any equipment from our fleet, whether Airbus or Boeing, we will never remove them.

This brings up our policy on aircraft type ratings. We will never remove any of our aircraft ratings with the exception of certain flight academy ratings from any of our pilots. You all have worked and are working so hard on taking the first officer and captain exams, and flying the checkrides that you have earned the ratings for which you all are rated for, and will retain the earned ratings your virtual airline career with Delta Virtual Airlines. Another exception to this is if a new pilot joins Delta Virtual Airlines but is unable to fly the rated equipment due to issues with simulator platform or other reasons, which are evaluated on a Senior Administration level on a case by case basis.

We want to thank everyone for their continued support of Delta Virtual Airlines, and we hope that you all were able to get a good laugh out of the joke. May blue skies be ever in your favor.

Joe Burner; President

As many know we are striving to make Delta Virtual Airlines up to date with modern standards. We as Senior Leadership Staff are opening up an exciting opportunity. We are looking at updating our Delta Virtual Airlines Web banner logo, and we need your help! We are calling all pilots who are good with graphics design, to put on their creative thinking caps to create a Web Banner logo for Delta Virtual Airlines. Some rules and guidelines to follow, we are asking that if you wish to submit a Web Banner logo, please abide by this guideline, Therefore, any use, display, or posting of any Delta Air Lines© copyrighted materials, including, logos, trademarks, service marks, graphics, signs, slogans, and/or insignia on the Delta Virtual Airlines web site, specifically including: the DVA Water Cooler, signature blocks, banners, manuals, and documents is PROHIBITED. The unauthorized use of other copyrighted material without the express written permission of the owner, including, logos, trademarks, slogans, service marks, insignia, and photographs on the Delta Virtual Airlines web site, specifically including: the DVA Water Cooler, signature blocks, banners, manuals, and documents is also PROHIBITED.

You can find a copy of our trademark policy at the link below.

Some things we are looking for, your website banner logo must contain Delta Virtual Airlines in it, and must contain the website address of Delta Virtual Airlines (www.deltava.org)

To submit your Web Banner logo design, send your submission of your created Delta Virtual Airlines logo web banner to ceo@deltava.org. The deadline to submit your website banner logo is March 4 2023 One submission per pilot wishing to contribute a logo. Once your logo is submitted, Senior Leadership Staff will review each submission and vote on the top 5 (if we get that many) then you all as pilots will have a chance to vote on your favorite website banner logo to be used at DVA. The pilot whose logo Senior Leadership Staff choose will receive excellent recognition in the water cooler.

On behalf of your entire Senior Leadership Staff team, Happy creating.

Joe Burner; President & CEO

Chris Frasure; Vice President CFO

David Vega; Vice President of Operations

Eric Dziura; Vice President of Pilot Training

Jim Pray; Vice President of Human Resources

Luke Kolin; Vice President of Technology