(1) All flights must be flown online with VATSIM (subject to the proviso at (4) below) using the BAV ACARS program.
(2) In keeping with our motto "As real as it gets..." our pilots are encouraged to use real world callsigns for their flights. These callsigns are available from the OSP. You may wish to add 'BAV ACARS' in the SB Remarks box to identify you as a BAV member.
However, using real-world callsigns is not compulsory, and if you wish to use your BAV PID then your aircraft callsign will be Speedbird XXX where XXX = your British Airways Virtual Pilot ID e.g. Speedbird 123 for pilot with Pilot ID 123. This is entered into the Squawkbox connection box and flight plans as BAW123. Please note - you do not use BAV123. For members with callsigns 0001 to 0999 VATSIM requests that you do not use the leading zero if using your BAW PID e.g. BAW459 and NOT BAW0459.
Occasionally, you will find that you cannot log on to VATSIM as your callsign is in use. Why is this? Well, another BAV pilot may be flying using a 'real-world' callsign which is the same as your BAV PID or a non-BAV pilot is doing the same thing. Callsigns are not an exclusive right to any VATSIM member and so you have to amend your intended callsign for that session. It can be as simple as adding a letter to the callsign e.g. BAW123D
(3) All flights of 3 hours or less must be flown with the captain of the aircraft at the controls and logged on to the VATSIM network. Any time off frequency (natural breaks etc) must be cleared with the current radar service. You must check back on frequency as soon as is practicable. If not under a radar service then breaks are at the pilot's discretion. However, you must not allow your aircraft to enter controlled airspace during the pilot's absence.
(4) On flights in excess of 3 hours, the following procedures may apply.
(a) The first 90 minute sector must be flown with the captain of the aircraft at the controls and logged on to the VATSIM network.
(b) The middle sector may be flown offline at the pilot's discretion. (This will allow you to do other things, BUT REMEMBER, YOU MUST SEND A POSREP AT REGULAR INTERVALS. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE 'SEND POSREP' REQUEST. YOU CAN SEND IT AT ANY TIME AND YOU THEN HAVE BETWEEN 30 AND 60 MINUTES BEFORE THE NEXT REPORT IS REQUIRED. YOU CANNOT SEND TOO MANY POSREPS. FAR BETTER TO SEND 'UNREQUESTED' POSREPS THAN TO FIND YOU'VE MISSED ONE AND THAT YOUR FLIGHT DATA HAS BEEN LOST MID-ATLANTIC!
If taking this option, always log off from the VATSIM network. If under a radar service, tell ATC what you are doing. It is good practice to visit the flight deck regularly to monitor the progress of the flight. Aircraft do sometimes overfly waypoints and do sometimes burn more fuel than anticipated. See Paragraph 6 below concerning the possibility that your PIREP may show your flight as OFFLINE.
(c) The final 90 minute sector must be flown with the captain of the aircraft at the controls and logged on to the VATSIM network. Before logging on again we recommend that you check the OSP map to make sure that you are not rejoining too close to another aircraft and also to check if you will be rejoining the network in controlled airspace. If you do rejoin in controlled airspace, contact the controller immediately. Also, remember to resend your flight plan.
(5) Because of the requirement to send a POSREP every 30 to 60 minutes you may not be able to complete a long haul flight in one session. If this is the case, simply save the flight at any point and restart it at a later time. ACARS will offer you the option of the saved data from the saved flight. Accept this option and continue your flight.
PILOT'S HOURS
(6) Pilot's hours are calculated from the aircrafts 'off-chocks' time at the departure airport to the 'on-chocks' time at the destination airport as recorded by ACARS. For this reason your hours recorded at VATSIM can be quite different as VATSIM records from 'Connect' to 'Disconnect' including time spent preparing the flight deck, shutting down and chatting to other pilots when sitting at the gate!
PIREPS
(7) At the conclusion of each flight a PIREP should be submitted. ACARS will offer you the opportunity to file your PIREP at the conclusion of your flight. For this option to be available you must have completed basic data input such as Flight Number, Aircraft type and flight plan. If any of this information is missing, simply enter it under 'Flight Data' and then the 'File PIREP' button will activate. Please note:- if flying longhaul and following the procedures under 'The Flight' above, your PIREP may not show your flight as 'Online'. It will depend on the percentage of the flight which was actually flown connected to VATSIM.
COMPANY FREQUENCY
When not under the control of a radar service, Speedbird Online captains may use the company frequency to converse with other Speedbird Online aircraft. With SB3 just enter these details into the Private Voice channels and you will be able to recall them easily. We are using Server: rw.avsim.net Room: baw/1580 as the Company Frequency and Server:- rw.avsim.net Room:- baw/1585 as our Events Frequency (for Flyins).
If you prefer to use the TeamSpeak software then we have our own TS server. To access the BAV TS server follow the instructions which are to be found on the BAV Online Flying Forum
