Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler

Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | Airline Operations | Piper PA31 Rating

DVA6135
First Officer, A330-300

Joined on July 12 2008
Everett Century Club
50 State Club
Double Century Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
US Coastal Club

"Real World Airline Captain - AMA"
Vero Beach, FL

265 legs, 757.4 hours
3 legs, 6.1 hours online
263 legs, 753.3 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on June 25 2025 09:21 ET by Chris Kennedy

Hey all,

I've noticed some old RW (air west) flights in California use a PA31 piper navajo/chieftain aircraft.

Is there a way to obtain this rating?
Just curious.

Also, what's the smallest plane DVA pilots are rated to fly?

Thanks!

Chris Kennedy (DVA6135)

DVA5919
Captain, MD-11

Joined on May 13 2008
Everett Century Club
50 State Club
Commuter Conquest
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
Quincentenary Club

"...and don't call me Shirley"
Hillsboro, OR USA

507 legs, 1,438.9 hours
4 legs, 3.7 hours online
506 legs, 1,436.4 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on June 26 2025 12:01 ET by Jack Vogel

I have that rating but I don't recall how, I think it may just have been given at some point. There is always supposed to be some "real" use of an aircraft by Delta or it's partners. There was a time that some of these twin props were used, I used to like flying the PMDG B1900 back in the FSX or FS2004 days smile

Jack Vogel

Captain, MD-11

DVA2370
Senior Captain, B737-800
OLP, COMM, VFRADV

Joined on May 26 2005
Online Triple Century Club
Commuter Conquest
Six Century Club
Stage 1 Prop Triple Century Club
50 State Club
US Coastal Club
DVA Twenty-Year Anniversary

Flagler Beach, FL USA

675 legs, 726.8 hours
319 legs, 311.4 hours online
179 legs, 146.1 hours ACARS
1 legs, 1.6 hours event
0 legs dispatched, 4.0 hours

Posted onPost created on June 26 2025 15:21 ET by Scott Clarke

Back in the ole days, we used the EMB-120 as our "training A/C" in FSX or FS2004. We had a program called "copilot" and we used that in the flight academy...As things changed with the VATSIM ratings program requirements, we started looking for other a/c that were flown by Delta or historical Delta airline partners/acquisitions that we could use that were not considered complex a/c for the entry training. So we had some multi-eng props etc. that could be used in the flight academy and that is why some would have the rating(s). cool

Posted onPost created on June 28 2025 15:28 ET by Chris Kennedy

Hi guys,

That makes sense.

Would I have to do the EMB120 FO exam then request a checkride to get said PA31 rating?

Thanks!

Chris Kennedy (DVA6135)

Posted onPost created on June 30 2025 12:21 ET by Jack Vogel

You know, I wish "management" would see their way clear to do a "GA recreation" or something like that category. The idea being the Delta pilots flying their own small planes from place to place or something, I don't know how to spin it, but allowing the ability to fly anything GA we wish would be a very nice addition IMHO.

Jack Vogel

Captain, MD-11

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