Home
About SunAir Express
Join SunAir Express
FAQ
Contact Us

Resources
   Pilot Operations Center
   What's New
   Forum
   File Library
   Weather
   Operations Manual
   Web Links
   Photos
   Around The World Club

Route Maps
   Atlanta
   San Francisco
   St. Louis
   Tampa
   Brussels
   Jim - BBJ

This Page Updated
June 13, 2008

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is SunAir Express?

  2. What flight sim does SunAir Express use?

  3. What is required before I can fly for SunAir?

  4. How do I join SunAir Express?

  5. Do SunAir Express pilots need terminal procedure books and maps?

  6. What aircraft does SunAir Express fly?

  7. What are the SunAir Express Hubs?

  8. What is SunAir Express SkyLink?

  9. What is Jim by SunAir Express?

  10. How often does a SunAir Express pilot fly?

  11. Does SunAir Express fly online using VATSIM?

  12. Does SunAir Express use FSACARS?

  13. What awards do SunAir Express pilots receive?

  14. When and where are the flight rotations posted?

  15. What happens if I can't fly this week?

  16. Where can I get weather reports for my flights?

  17. What is a signoff?

  18. Am I strapped to only one hub or can I transfer to another?

  19. What is a profile decent procedure?

  20. What do I do if I want to leave SunAir Express?

1. Q. WHAT IS SUNAIR EXPRESS?
A. SunAir Express was founded by the late James Martin Swanson (1936-1995) on the Prodigy Online Service in May of 1992 and has been in continuous operations since then.  SunAir Express expanded beyond Prodigy to include CompuServe and American Online but it is now solely based on the Internet.  SunAir Express stated as a regional airline with one hub at Tampa International Airport (KTPA) serving some 20 cities in the southeastern United States.  SunAir Express has since expanded to 5 hubs with fights to most major cites in the Untied States including Alaska and Hawaii, the Caribbean, Mexico, South America, Europe, Australia, and the Far East with more than 1600 scheduled flights.  Over 700 SunAir Express pilot ID numbers have been issued since 1992.

2. Q. WHAT FLIGHT SIM DOES SUNAIR EXPRESS USE?
A. SunAir Express supports Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002, 2004 and FSX along with Nomissoft Airline Simulator 2.  Most pilots use Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 (FS9).

3. Q. WHAT IS REQUIRED BEFORE I CAN FLY FOR SUNAIR?
A. You need to own one of the supported flight simulator programs and be able demonstrate your ability to land a B737 in IMC conditions (IFR) by supplying a DEMO of your flight.

4. Q. HOW DO I JOIN SUNAIR EXPRESS?
A. Visit the JOIN SUNAIR EXPRESS  SunAir Express web page for more information and to signup for the new pilot evaluation check ride flight.

5. Q. DO SUNAIR EXPRESS PILOTS NEED TERMINAL PROCEDURE BOOKS AND MAPS?
A. To enhance your experience with SunAir Express we recommend that pilots have a set of Terminal Procedure books and a set of IFR Enroute High Altitude charts for navigation.  These can be purchased from FBO's or via mail-order from Sporty's Pilot Shop (1-800-LIFTOFF).  Most charts can also be downloaded off the Internet like AirNav.com and MyAirplane.com.  Old sets of Terminal Procedure books and IFR Charts can be used; local FBO's might be willing to give away out-of-data sets.  The Terminal Procedure books provide procedures for Instrument Approach Procedures (IAPS), Standard Terminal Arrivals (STAR), and Standard Instrument Departures (DP) plus airport diagrams. The IFR Enroute charts provide the NAV Aids and Jet-Routes used in the SunAir flights.  Owning these charts are not mandatory, however your flight experience will be more rewarding using them.

6. Q. WHAT AIRCRAFT DOES SUNAIR EXPRESS FLY?
A. SunAir Express utilizes B737s, B767s, B747s, A320s, MD83s, CRJ-200, and the Beechcraft 1900D.  Other aircraft may be used for special events.  Most SunAir Express aircraft in company livery are available for download for use with FS9 and FS10 from the SunAir Express Files library.

7. Q. WHAT ARE THE SUNAIR EXPRESS HUBS?
A. The major SunAir Express hubs are Atlanta (KATL), San Francisco (KSFO) St. Louis (KSTL), Tampa (KTPA) and Brussels (EBBR). 

8. Q. WHAT IS SUNAIR EXPRESS SKYLINK?
A. The SunAir Express SKYLINK flight schedule simulates local commuter operations using the Beechcraft 1900D and the CRJ-200.

9. Q. WHAT IS JIM BY SUNAIR EXPRESS?
A. Jim is a subsidiary of SunAir Express that provides all-business class service between the U.S. and European markets flying the B737 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ and BBJ2).  All pilots with a B737 rating may fly Jim routes.  Jim is named in honor of our founder, Jim Swanson.

10. Q. HOW OFTEN DOES A SUNAIR EXPRESS PILOT FLY?
A. Pilots are required to complete one flight per month to remain on the active flight roster.  However, most pilots will fly one or more flights per week or one weekly assignment.  Using the flight simulator accelerated time mode is highly discouraged, as it does not align with SunAir Express Virtual Airline’s realism theme. Pilots may not use accelerated time during takeoff/climb-out and descent/approach.

11. Q. DOES SUNAIR EXPRESS FLY ONLINE USING VATSIM?
A. Yes.  It is not required however, SunAir Express pilots are encouraged to use VATSIM for their assignments.  VATSIM as a full training web site with complete instructions on setting up and flying online.  With a little training, you will be enjoying flight with real-live ATC and real-life air traffic.  Caution: Once you start flying on VATSIM you may find that this is the only way you will want to fly!  (This is good!)

12. Q. DOES SUNAIR EXPRESS USE FSACARS?
A. Yes.  SunAir Express pilots are required to use FSACARS for automatic updating of the Pilot Operations Center web page.  FSACARS will also supply valuable information about your flights.  You will be given instructions on setting up FSACARS after passing your new pilot evaluation check ride flight.

13. Q. WHAT AWARDS DO SUNAIR EXPRESS PILOTS RECEIVE?
A. SunAir Express pilots are rated based an ON-TIME rating.  This rating is based on scheduled block times +/- 12 minutes.  Pilots are also required to accumulate flight time to advance to a new aircraft type.

14. Q. WHEN AND WHERE ARE THE FLIGHT ROTATIONS POSTED?
A. The flight schedules or "rotations" are setup by each pilot using the Pilot Operation Center's rotation maker.

15. Q. WHAT HAPPENS IF I CANNOT FLY THIS WEEK?
A. If you cannot fly we understand the needs of real-life.  You should be able to make up your flight at a later date.

16. Q. WHERE CAN I GET WEATHER REPORTS FOR MY FLIGHTS?
A. SunAir pilots can download the latest METAR data from our Weather Page and other weather services are available from the Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS) . FS9 can also download use real-world weather and winds aloft.

17. Q. WHAT IS A SIGNOFF?
A. All pilots and officer are expected to use a "signoff" at the end of their e-mails and messages.  The signoff format is simply your call sign (SAXxxx - xxx = pilot number). 

18. Q. AM I STRAPPED TO ONLY ONE HUB OR CAN I TRANSFER TO ANOTHER?
A. You will be assigned a HUB after completing the SunAir Express new pilot evaluation check ride flight.  You may request a certain Hub but you might be assigned another if an opening isn't available.  You may request a Hub transfer.

19.Q. WHAT IS A PROFILE DESCENT PROCEDURE?
A. A Profile Descent is a published Standard Terminal Arrival (STAR) procedure and can be found in the Terminal Procedure books.  A Profile Descent is an uninterrupted descent (except where level flight is required for speed adjustment) from cruising altitude/level to interception of a glide slope or to a minimum altitude specified from the initial or intermediate approach segment of a non-precision instrument approach.  The profile descent normally terminates at the approach gate or where the glide slope or other appropriate minimum altitude is intercepted.  For more info about Profile Descent Procedures, read the General Information notes in the front of each Terminal Procedure book.

20. Q. WHAT DO I DO IF I WANT TO LEAVE SUNAIR EXPRESS?
A. If you find that SunAir Express is too demanding you may request a leave-of-absence or terminate your membership.  Please advise your Hub Chief if this is what you wish to do.  Please do not just disappear on us.  We understand the needs of real-live.  As an option to termination, pilots may take a leave of absence as an alternative to quitting SunAir Express.  This way you will not be losing the flight time you have acquired.  Pilots can return to active duty when able.  Pilots on leave of absence may also fly during their leave when they have time.

 

 

Copyright © 1992 - 2008 SunAir Express Virtual Airlines - All Rights Reserved