Operations Manual
Table of Contents Section 1: General Information Section 2: Organization Section 3: Operations This document contains the necessary information required to start and maintain a career with SunAir Express Virtual Airlines.
1.A. Introduction SunAir Express is open to any pilot who can pass a short written test followed by passing a checkride flight in a Boeing B737 under instrument meteorological conditions. For more information on joining SunAir Express please use the Join SunAir Express link found on the SunAir Express web site. There are no fees or dues to fly for SunAir Express. SunAir Express supports the following flight simulator software:
Most SunAir Express pilots are currently using Microsoft Flight Simulator FS9 or FSX. SunAir Express anticipates that it will support Airline Simulator 3 when it becomes available. The current SunAir Express aircraft fleet includes: SunAir Express maintains a fleet of aircraft painted in company livery for Microsoft Flight Simulator FS9 and FSX. Pilots are encouraged to fly company aircraft but are not required to as long as they are using the same type aircraft required for that flight. The fleet aircraft may be downloaded from the SunAir Express File Library web page. Contact your hub chief for access to download files. Pilots are free to modify these aircraft with add-on panels and other equipment. Pilots that use Microsoft Flight Simulator are required to use an automatic reporting system to send pilot flight reports to the SunAir Express Pilot Operations Center (POC).
A manual reporting method is available for pilots that use a non-Microsoft Flight Simulator product.
FS Flight Keeper is the preferred reporting software however SunAir Express will continue to support the use of FSACARS. FS Flight Keeper
(FSFK)
www.flightkeeper.net
is Payware. SunAir Express pilots that have logged a minimum of 50 flight hours will be eligible to purchase
FS Flight Keeper – VA Edition at a reduced price. SunAir Express pilots that have been inactive for more than three months should first contact Dave Blake before purchasing FS Flight Keeper. FSACARS
www.satavirtual.org/fsacars
is Freeware. FSACARS emulates a real world Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) for use with Microsoft Flight Simulator.
FSACARS will record flight and block times, touchdown vertical speed and airspeed, along with many more events that should be useful to improve your flight skills.
FSACARS is no longer supported by the developers and there are no plans by the developers to produce any updates to the product. 1.H. Recommended Navigation Charts All SunAir Express flights are flown under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). IFR flights require the pilot to have information commonly found on flight charts. These charts are divided into two major groups:
Many web sites like http://usa-w.vatsim.net/charts/, www.airnav.com and www.myairplane.com provide free IAP, DP and STAR charts. Links to sites like these can be found on the SunAir Express Web Links web page. SunAir Express pilots may also use computer navigation programs to augment flight planning. Some of these flight-planning programs may also include the charts mentioned above. As where SunAir Express Virtual Airlines simulates a real airline using real people, VATSIM simulates real air traffic control using real people. While not mandatory, SunAir Express highly encourages their pilots to use VATSIM. 1.J. SunAir Express Pilot Callsign SunAir Express pilots are asked to identify their flights on VATSIM by using a callsign of “SAX” plus your pilot number less the first leading zero or “SAX” plus the actual flight number. Example: If your pilot number is “0212” then your callsign would be “SAX212” or if your pilot number is “0089” then your callsign would be “SAX089”. When contacting ATC you would announce yourself as “SunAir Express two-twelve” or “SunAir Express two-one-two”. Alternatively, if your flight number is “171” then your VATSIM call sign would be “SAX171”. A comment in your VATSIM flight plan similar to “SAX = SunAir Express VA” will inform VATSIM controllers as to the “SAX” airline code. 1.K. TeamSpeak SunAir Express Company Frequency SunAir Express utilizes a program called TeamSpeak (TS) to simulate a company frequency. This company frequency allows voice communications over the Internet for various events like online group flights, fly-ins and meetings. Even if you do not have a microphone you may still use TeamSpeak to receive voice communications during online events. TeamSpeak has two applications: A server and a client. The TeamSpeak server is the meeting point for the clients (pilots). The SunAir Express TS server is available 24/7, subject to power and Internet Service Provider outages. To use the TeamSpeak SunAir Express server you must first download and install the free client software for your operating system (Windows or Linux) from the TeamSpeak web site at www.teamspeak.com. The TeamSpeak SunAir Express server name is “SunAir Express VA”. Setup instructions for the TeamSpeak SunAir Express company frequency may be downloaded from the SunAir Express File Library web page. Contact your Hub Chief for the password to connect to the TeamSpeak SunAir Express server. A number of pilots have asked me where to find information about aircraft lighting procedures. This information is usually found in the aircraft's Pilot Operations Manual or on the check lists. Since these manuals and check lists are not always easy to find here is the general rule of thumb for aircraft lighting: * Note, the altitude when the Landing Lights are turned off and on may vary based on conditions and terrain. All SunAir Express Personnel, both management and pilots, are required to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times. All should always try to answer questions or provide guidance to any SunAir Express pilots or other flight simulator pilot seeking assistance whenever possible.
After completing the Pilot Evaluation Program, the Human Resources Manager will assign new pilots a SunAir Express pilot ID number and a hub assignment. Pilots may request a new hub assignment at any time. SunAir Express maintains four hubs in the United States and one in Europe. The hubs are:
Jim is named in honor of the airline's late founder, Jim Swanson. Jim is a subsidiary of SunAir Express with all-business class flights serving the U.S. / European markets. Jim uses the Boeing Business Jet B737-700 (BBJ) and B737-800 (BBJ2). All pilots are eligible to fly Jim routes so new pilots with a B737 rating may fly these routes to gain flight hours quickly. The SunAir Express Pilot Operation Center is not yet ready to account for these special flights. Pilots should ignore the number of passengers in the Dispatch Form when flying a Jim flight. Pilots should use a maximum passenger load of 48 for the BBJ and 54 for the BBJ2. SunAir Express is a simulated passenger carrying airline based on Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 121: Domestic, Flag, and Supplemental Air Carriers and Commercial Operators of Large Aircraft. 3.B. Pilot Activity and Flight Rotations SunAir Express pilots are required to complete one flight per month to be listed as “Active” on the Pilot Operations Center. Many pilots will complete one or more flights per week. Pilots that do not fly for 18 to 24 months may be removed from the Pilot Operations Center records without notice but may request to be reinstated without lose of flight hours. Pilots will select their own flight schedule and have the option to create a flight “rotation”. Pilots may also choose single flights at random without creating a rotation. The flight schedule is found by selecting Search Flights on the Pilot Operations Center. A rotation is not limited to flights found in the pilot’s assigned hub and may use flights from any hub. Pilot must complete one flight rotation before embarking on the next. Pilot must be aircraft type rated to fly a selected route. Pilots are not allowed to log flight not found on the SunAir Express flight schedule Search Flights list. Flight rotations begin and end at the pilot’s assigned hub.
For example, a St. Louis hub based pilot with B737, B767, and B747 ratings could select this flight rotation:
It is highly recommended that SunAir Express pilots maintain their own logbook with flight information including:
The SunAir Express Pilot Operations Center records block times in decimal format. Example: 1.2 = 1:12. You may wish to record both decimal and hours:minutes formats in your logbook. SunAir Express requires that you set your flight simulator time to the time of day to reflect the published times in the SunAir Express flight schedule. You should set the flight simulator date to the current real-time date.
The FAA uses Coordinate Universal Time (UTC) in 24-hour format. UTC is also known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or “Zulu” time. The word “local” or the time zone equivalent shall be used to denote local time when local time is given during radio and telephone communications. All times listed in the SunAir Express flight schedule are UTC 24-hour time format. You may check the current time at www.time.gov along with many other web site. 3.E. Flight Simulator Settings SunAir Express REQUIRES that all pilots set their flight simulator “Crash Detect” setting to “ON” for all flights logged to the Pilot Operation Center. Submitting any flight logs to the Pilot Operations Center where a pilot’s flight simulator detected an aircraft
CRASH is not allowed. To improve your flight experience it is recommended that pilots use real-world weather conditions for their flights. Links for real weather information can be found at the SunAir Express Weather and Web Links web pages. Microsoft Flight Simulator users may allow the program to download current real world weather conditions. Add-on programs for real world weather may also be used. SunAir Express recommends that you download winds aloft information should that option be available. When using VATSIM, SquawkBox 3 may be set to provide weather automatically, providing that it is properly configured. Using the flight simulator accelerated time mode is HIGHLY DISCOURAGED as its use does not align with the SunAir Express Virtual Airline realism theme. Pilots may not use accelerated time during takeoff/climb-out and descent/approach. Accelerated time may only be used when on the ground or at level cruise. However, again, its use while in flight is highly discouraged. If you feel that the only way you can build flight hours is to use accelerated time then you may wish to look to some other virtual airline for employment. Flight details appear in the SunAir Express Dispatch Form. SunAir Express pilots will obtain the Dispatch Form using “Search Flights” found on the Pilot Operations Center. After location a desired flight click on the FLIGHT NUMBER to view the Dispatch Form. SunAir Express flight numbers are assigned as follows:
SunAir Express flight reports are normally automatically sent to the
Pilot Operations Center with the use of FS Flight Keeper or
FSACARS. Should something go wrong with sending the flight report log or the pilot is not able to use FS Flight Keeper or FSACARS, the flight log may be manually entered at the
Pilot Operations Center web page using “ADD FLTREP”.
The Pilot Operation Center records flight block times and grade flights for
“touchdown rate” and “on-time” performance. A good landing is a desired asset with all pilots and a low touchdown rates usually assures a good landing. SunAir Express records the aircraft’s “touchdown rate” for a general pilot rating. A touchdown rate greater then -500 feet per minute is considered hard landing. A hard land will require that the aircraft be sent to the maintenance shop for a detailed inspection. This results in unwanted down-time for the aircraft and unwanted added maintenance costs. SunAir Express uses “on-time” performance for a general pilot rating. A flight will be rated as “on-time” based on the SunAir Express published flight schedule block times as follows:
Block time is the time when the parking brakes are released before pushback from the gate or ramp to the time when the parking brakes are set at the gate or ramp after the flight. After completing the SunAir Express New Pilot Evaluation Program, a new pilot will have Boeing 737, Beach 1900D and a Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet CRJ-200 “Left-seat” ratings. SunAir Express requires pilots to accumulate additional flight hours to be eligible for a new aircraft type rating. When a pilot reaches the minimum flight hours for a new aircraft type rating they will be “Right-seat” rated and may begin flying and logging hours in the new type aircraft for flight experience. When the pilot feels confident in their abilities in the new type aircraft they may take the check ride flight for that type aircraft to become “Left-seat” rated.
* Pilots that complete the initial Pilot Evaluation Program when joining SunAir Express pilots are type rated in the Boeing 737, Beech 1900D and Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet CRJ-200. Since current flight simulators will not allow you to choose which seat to fly from (pilot or co-pilot), when a pilot is "Right-seat" seat rated for a new type aircraft the pilot is actually flying as the co-pilot from the left seat. The idea is that after you build flight hours you can fly a new type aircraft if you want. And when you gain experience and understand how to fly the new type aircraft you may take the check ride for the new type aircraft. When you pass the check ride you will be “Left-seat” rated in the new type aircraft. To find out which aircraft you are Right Seat or Left Seat rated in go to the Pilot Operations Center and “List Pilots” then choose your “Pilot Stats” (not logs). Pilots are not required to advance to a new type rating if they so desire. Pilots transferring from other virtual airlines may request more advanced ratings based on their level of experience but must be able to provide proof of their flight hours. When the pilot feels confident in their abilities in a new type aircraft they may take the checkride flight to become
“Left-seat” rated to fly the new type aircraft. 1. The pilot will choose any flight from the SunAir Express flight schedule that uses the same aircraft type required for the checkride. 2. The pilot completes the route as normal performing the ILS approach and landing using FS Flight Keeper or FSACARS and sends the log file to the Pilot Operations Center. The video function within your flight simulation software is used to record a viewable movie of your ILS approach and landing beginning at about the final approach fix or outer marker (last 2 to 3 minutes before touchdown). 3. The pilot will email the flight video to the Human Resource Manager and informs him that a flight log sent to the Pilot Operations Center needs to be evaluated along with the flight video. Also indicate which flight simulator you used (FS9, FSX, etc.). 4. If the log file and flight video are both acceptable then the pilot will pass the checkride and will hold the new type rating.
Should the checkride be unacceptable then the pilot must re-test. Pilots may re-test as many times as needed. SunAir Express Pilot Rankings are used primarily for seniority “bragging rights”.
These rankings are based on total flight hours as follows:
SunAir Express pilots may request at anytime a leave of absence from normal flight operations through their Hub Chiefs or the Human Resource Manager. FAA's rules on fuel requirements are in FAR Part 121, as follows: 1. No alternate airport is required if for at least one hour before and one hour after the estimated time of arrival at the destination airport the appropriate weather reports or forecasts, indicate:
2. No person may dispatch or takeoff an airplane unless it has enough fuel:
3. In computing fuel required, consider the following:
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