Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler

Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | Airline Operations | Aircraft Help!

DVA3822
First Officer, B737-800

Joined on December 09 2006

Northeastern United States

Posted onPost created on June 20 2007 21:14 ET by Nick Birbilis

Hey. As everyone knows, in the non-VA world, you can fly any plane you want, wherever you want, with no training. However, here at DVA, to fly different planes, you need to obtain the rank of Captain by flying 10 flights and taking exams. Because of this, I am not sure what plane I would like to go onto next, and I do not feel like taking x-number of exams and being forced to fly 10 flights on each plane so that way I can fly anything. This is why I am asking for feedback on the planes that everyone else here at DVA flies. I am open to positive and negative feedback. Currently, I am an F/O on the 737 if that helps.

Thanks!

DVA043
Senior Captain, MD-11
OLP

Joined on June 10 2001
Event Half Century Club
Online Double Century Club
50 State Club
DVA Twenty-Year Anniversary
Everett 1500 Club
Bi-Millennium Club
Four Million Mile Club

"Col. Panic"
Marietta, GA

2,347 legs, 9,466.0 hours
240 legs, 553.9 hours online
2,005 legs, 8,259.1 hours ACARS
75 legs, 196.3 hours event
2,383 legs, 9,600.9 hours total
91 legs dispatched, 66.4 hours

Posted onPost created on June 20 2007 21:23 ET by Luke Kolin

Let me make one suggestion and clarify something. There's absolutely nothing stopping you from flying any aircraft in the fleet right now. You just can't log the Flight Report for hours. Browse through the Fleet Library and download the aircraft that interest you, then try them out to find out what you like and what you want to get rated in.

Cheers!

Luke Kolin

Senior Captain, MD-11

DVA4129
Captain, B737-800

Joined on March 01 2007

"Flying is a passion, not a hobby."
Northeastern United States

89 legs, 145.8 hours
41 legs, 52.4 hours online
41 legs, 46.6 hours ACARS
6 legs, 12.3 hours event

Posted onPost created on June 20 2007 21:24 ET by Brendan Conway

Nick-
You do need training to fly. Nobody can go and rent a plane w/o a pilots licesine. Here at DVA you are not "Forced" to do anything that you do not want to do. I am alrealdy passed the 737 F/O exam and and waiting on a checkride. I personally find it fun and more realistic taking the exams. Not only do they help you get a higher rating (if you pass) but they teach you a lot on infomation that might help you later on if you decide to become a pilot. But it is your choice to take or not take the exams.

Hope that this helps!

Regards

Brendan Conway

Captain, B737-800

DVA3822
First Officer, B737-800

Joined on December 09 2006

Northeastern United States

Posted onPost created on June 20 2007 21:28 ET by Nick Birbilis

I understand everything both of you have said. I want to clairify one thing, however: I didnt mean "force" in a bad way, and 2: I would like to get feedback on different planes at DVA so I could fly an enjoyable plane AND have it count.

Sorry for the confusion!

Thanks!

P.S. I PREFER JETS, BUT I AM WELCOME TO HEARING ALL FEEDBACK

DVA4441
Captain, B777-200

Joined on May 12 2007
Century Club
Online Century Club
Everett Century Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary

"Illegitimi Non Carborundum"
Glendora, CA

173 legs, 414.1 hours
145 legs, 362.0 hours online
145 legs, 345.1 hours ACARS
7 legs, 19.6 hours event

Posted onPost created on June 20 2007 21:46 ET by Mike Tomt

My two cents is this: I fly the EMB-120 or ATR-72 for short hauls when I don't have time for a longer flight. I fly the 757 for transcontinental flights to explore the country. I am in the process of certifying in the 777 for flying around the world. I feel this gives me a good choice no matter how much time I have or where I'm interested in going. Hope this helps.

Mike Tomt (DVA4441)

Posted onPost created on June 20 2007 21:49 ET by Brendan Conway

Nick-
I am only rated to fly the stage 1 aircraft. But I still fly the MD-88 and I love it. Also the CRJ-200/700/900 are all good choices for short flights. Another one that you could fly is the DO-328. It is a ton of fun to fly. One more. The Concorde. Even though it is very hard for a first time flyer (like me) to fly it is pretty cool crusing at mach 2 at 50,000 ft.

Brendan Conway

Captain, B737-800

DVA3501
Captain, B767-300

Joined on August 30 2006
Century Club
Online Century Club

"Stop Looking at me Swan!!!"
Finleyville, PA USA

182 legs, 641.8 hours
169 legs, 611.6 hours online
176 legs, 628.8 hours ACARS
1 legs, 5.6 hours event

Posted onPost created on June 20 2007 22:19 ET by Scott Windham

Nick,

my best advice would be to take your time and enjoy it. DVA has very high and professional standards, yes. This can at times be frustrating...yes. But let me assure you...you will learn alot here, and all of the effort will make your hobby much much more interesting and rewarding. I started here in the MD-88 program after many many hours at a different VA. At first I was a little unsatisfied with that...I guess i expected to go straight to stage V or something. After spending a few humbling hours flying here at DVA I realized how much I had to learn, and the advancements I have made since then are huge. I actually know how to FLY the planes now...not just take off, slap on the AP and then slam the aircraft into the runway a few hours later. I am still a member of another VA where I have a ton of hours...from time to time I will do a flight there if I want to fly AC that I am not rated to fly here at DVA, but to be honest I find that happening less and less.

What is it about the 737 that you are not happy with?? Is it a matter of range??? or do you just plane not like the AC? What kind of flying do you want to do...do you like 3 or 4 short hops a day...or do you want to do 14 hour long hauls? I started with the MD-88 and then moved to the 757 program...because that is probably my favorite AC...I have flown the 752 across the continent, across the pond, and across europe. As we speak, i have a pending 767 CR because I am interested in some longer routes that are beyond the range of the 757. The 757 and 767 use the same panels...so it's easy to move from one to the other. You need to decide what it is that you want in an AC or AC program, and then decide from there.

Hope this helps

Scott Windham (DVA3501)

DVA4511
Captain, B747-400
OLP

Joined on May 16 2007
50 State Club
Everett Century Club
Globetrotter
Eurocap Club
Triple Century Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary

"80 knots... V1..."
Northeastern United States

301 legs, 779.1 hours
20 legs, 36.2 hours online
286 legs, 737.7 hours ACARS
13 legs, 25.3 hours event

Posted onPost created on June 20 2007 22:36 ET by Gautam Mani

This is a question that even I had - I joined a little over a month back - have been flying the MD-88 - and wanted a comparision of the different aircraft to be able to decide which aircraft I should try flying (and not just for ratings). I think there is good need for this kind of overview to let someone who is not so familiar with all the aircraft (and we have quite a few aircraft). Currently the only input is the manuals of each of the aircrafts. I am going through the same - but it just doesnt help beyond a point. The experience of flying the aircraft is only thing that will give us this information. I dont know if having such an overview would make sense?

Gautam Mani

Captain, B747-400

DVA2784
Senior Captain, B777-200
OLP, COMM, 737-ATP

Joined on January 01 2006
50 State Club
Globetrotter
Online Double Century Club
Quad-Jet Quartermaster
US Mountaineer Club
Everett 1500 Club
Bi-Millennium Club
US Coastal Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
Four Million Mile Club

"The PAST...learn from it or repeat it."
Highland Home, AL USA

2,311 legs, 9,810.8 hours
243 legs, 873.7 hours online
2,038 legs, 8,599.0 hours ACARS
22 legs, 51.7 hours event
0 legs dispatched, 0.5 hours

Posted onPost created on June 20 2007 23:10 ET by Rob Morgan

Remeber what Luke said...nothing stops you from downloading any and every aircraft in the library and flying them to get familiar with them. The only limitation is you cannot file a PIREP if you are not rated in the aircraft. No one can tell you what you will or will not like, we don't know enough about to to even come close. As others have said, if you are looking at longer flights checkout the 757/767/777. For shorter flights, the MD-88, CRJ series and the turbo props. Find what you like and set up a plan to get there. You may have to work up thru other aircraft to get to the one you want.

Rob Morgan

Senior Captain, B777-200

DVA3512
Captain, B737-800

Joined on September 04 2006

Western United States

54 legs, 146.3 hours

Posted onPost created on June 21 2007 01:55 ET by Barry Harmon

I've faced the same question, which aircraft to qualify in next. Right now I'm in the 737 program where I have been since joining DVA. I thoroughly love flying the "Baby" Boeing, and have done several cross-country flights. Right now I'm seriously thinking of qualifying in either the 767 or the 727 - the 767 for longer flights and the 727 just because it's a blast to fly (Dreamfleet). But I also like to take the smaller birds for a flight, such as the ERJ170 and the CRJ700. Someday I hope to be behind the controls of a DC-7 or Constellation flying the old-fashioned way.

What you need to do is decide what your ultimate goal is. What aircraft would you love to spend your time in? Once you decide that, you can focus on the ratings path that will land you in that captain's seat.

Barry Harmon (DVA3512)

DVA3672
Senior Captain, A320
OLP
E-MAIL

Joined on October 29 2006
B757 100 Club
50 State Club
Two Million Mile Club
Bi-Millennium Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
US Capital Club
Toulouse Millennium Club
Online Fifteen Century

"Chris, NOT in Seattle"
Northeastern United States

2,534 legs, 6,223.1 hours
1,537 legs, 3,252.2 hours online
2,243 legs, 5,407.0 hours ACARS
4 legs, 6.0 hours event
2 legs dispatched, 19.5 hours

Posted onPost created on June 21 2007 07:44 ET by Chris Frasure

Nick, it really is all about the plane that you love in real live and connecting that excitement to that plane in FS. You can join the ranks of your best love but also get ratings in any of the birds. I personally, really like the Maddog and 767. I choose to be in the 767 program because I fell in love with that plane on my return trip from my honeymoon in 2004 from OGG to LAX (1st class i might add wink

) I also grew up loving the 737 and MD-80's. Thus, I have those ratings but just simply choose to fly in the 767 program.

I know you said that you weren't trying to be negative with your forced statement. I think Luke hit the nail on the head. Think of it as a challenge to you. Makes FS kinda fun when you have to earn your stripes. Anyone can go out and buy the LevelD and fly it, but at least I can say that I somewhat earned a spot in the flightdeck here at DVA.

Many of us had dreams as children of flying and many here will follow that dream. My path was medicine and I can still feel like I am flying here at DVA by earning my ratings.

Good luck to you and I am sure you will make a great choice.

CF

DVA3822
First Officer, B737-800

Joined on December 09 2006

Northeastern United States

Posted onPost created on June 21 2007 09:03 ET by Nick Birbilis

Thanks everyone! To answer some questions, i prefer smaller jets (but not regionals) and like flights up to 2.5 hrs. Also, i do not like regional jets because they're too small and too responsive. Because of all this great feedback, I think I'm just going to take all the tests so I can fly whatever whenever.

Posted onPost created on June 21 2007 09:41 ET by Brendan Conway

Nick-
Like a said earlier, the MD-88 would be a good plane for your intrests. It is not a regional jet but it is a reliable jet. I think that a good flight for you would be KBOS-KTPA. In a MD-88. I do it all the time in real life and in FS. The flight is about 2 and a half to 3 hours long.

Brendan Conway

Captain, B737-800

DVA2253
Senior Captain, DC-8-61
COMM

Joined on April 01 2005
Everett 250 Club
Online Century Club
Eight Century Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary

"I'd rather be flying!"
Church Hill, TN USA

862 legs, 1,344.5 hours
108 legs, 165.2 hours online
299 legs, 485.1 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on June 21 2007 09:55 ET by George Lewis

Nick, you are currently rated to fly the following:

A318, A319, A320, A321, ATR-72, B1900, B737-200, B737-300, B737-400, B737-500, B737-700, B737-800, B737-900, BAE-146, CRJ-200, CRJ-700, CRJ-900, DHC-8, DO-328, EMB-120, ERJ-135, ERJ-145, ERJ-170, F100, F70, L-100, S340

Have you by chance had a chance to check ALL of these airplanes out already?

btw, I recommend checking out the Flight Academy, where a real pilot will sit in the cockpit with you and teach you how to fly these things right... you might some of the smaller aircraft are actually quite alot of fun smile

What do you like to do? Fly cross country, fly over the ocean? what is your ideal time to fly a flight? 1 hr or 2, or perhaps 5, or maybe even 12 hr flights? This helps, because certain airplanes are really suited for longer trips... if you prefer an airplane that flies for you and all you have to do is sit back and watch, check out the PMDG 738 and LDS 763, among others... be warned though, they require some serious reading of the manual to figure out the FMC systems or they can really frustrate you - the work in these airplanes is in the beginning before you get going...

George Lewis (DVA2253)

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