A Concept Airline, Making better use of the Leo MD80... Options

[Andrew]

Hi Everyone,

I've been speaking with some other Leonardo MD80 users and we've all come to the general consensus that there are not many options in terms of accurate, in-depth simulated air carriers that make full use of the features of this product. I find it rather wasteful that I have the most accurate, complete product available for flight simulator largely sitting idle because I have nowhere to fly it. As a purist, I really have no interest in degrading myself to the level of Delta Virtual or the plethora of American Airlines' entangled in dramatic politics offering me next to zero realism, and I don't have an interest to fly outside North/Central/South America... So with that in mind, I have (along with the help of others) come up with some concepts geared towards creating an airline that would make use of this aircraft's amazing level of realism, MEL's, failure routines, multi-crew and training tools. In short, give its members something that replicates the life of an airline pilot/crew more accurately than any other airline.

My question is, given the following features, how interested would you be in taking part in such a venture?

- Molded/Sculpted by industry professionals including Aircraft Dispatchers, ATP Rated Airline Captain (B737NG), etc.
- US West Coast based using a combination of business tactics used by Alaska Airlines and Allegiant Air.
- All flights fully dispatched by licensed dispatchers within 6 hours of planned/scheduled time of departure (FAR 121 compliant).
- Dispatch releases compiled using actual engineering performance data and real time winds/temperatures aloft.
- Crew seniority, scheduling, bidding, duty time and high minimums factors considered in daily operations.
- MEL/CDL, Aircraft Reliability, Scheduled and Unscheduled Maintenance considerations.
- Complete airport/runway analysis tables and data provided for every airport we operate to (accurate, easy determination for FLEX and Full Rated takeoff's)
- Company specific SOP's and complete literature/manuals.
- Complete online modular training using Moodle including annual recurrent and seasonal refreshers.
- Geared towards having every flight flown as multi-crew, within reason.
- The chance to fly a mixed fleet of MD80's sourced from a variety of operators - meaning from EFIS to Analog and everything in between.
- Developed exclusively for the Leonardo Maddog product.

All the above are do-able with the resources on hand. If there's enough interest, we'll look at making it happen on a public level - granted, none of us are real PHP/SQL web savvy so the site may not be the prettiest to look at. If you're interested, let me know!

This post has been edited by Andrew: 12/11/2010, 0:08

[wims80]

I'm member of an American based VA, but some of those goals are really interesting to me. But having to wait for dispatch to come online is going to be a very big disadvantage for such an airline, most pilots cant plan on flying in 6 hours or whatever. They want to fly whenever they got time / the itch to do so

[Andrew]

I'm member of an American based VA, but some of those goals are really interesting to me. But having to wait for dispatch to come online is going to be a very big disadvantage for such an airline, most pilots cant plan on flying in 6 hours or whatever. They want to fly whenever they got time / the itch to do so

What you're describing is more along the lines of 'reserve' flying, where you are essentially unassigned and pick up flights on demand. I don't see that as a problem - it doesn't take me much more than 10 minutes to brief and run a release. And we're all reachable by E-mail, IM, Skype or text message on short notice so there won't be any issues getting a hold of someone when you're looking to fly. We have a few people able to man the desk. Granted, we'd expect at least people to show 45 minutes prior to push time to do a little briefing or whatnot - not just grab paperwork and go. On the other hand, I do know quite a few people that generally know/plan to fly on specific days of the week whom would be more inclined to bid a specific flying day(s) and show up to fly on said day(s). You just gotta try it I guess, take a chance. I know MidCon used this method for years and it never impeded with anyone's plans to fly.

[Caribflyer]

Why not simulate Allegiant? From my experience, starting a fictional VA doesn't always yield alot of interest. If you do however choose to do this all I can say I it will not have a cheesy name or livery.

I applaud the idea for a VA and I agree with you guys on having the maddog and not having anywhere to fly it. I was thinking to myself only 10mins ago that I would join allegiant air virtual and try to promote the use of the maddog. I would really like to have a place where I can fly the maddog and at the same time experience the realism of a true airline operation, not just a fancy website and ACARS but a VA with virtual pilots who are properly trained to operate the aircraft effectively and professionally.

[Andrew]

Why not simulate Allegiant? From my experience, starting a fictional VA doesn't always yield alot of interest. If you do however choose to do this all I can say I it will not have a cheesy name or livery.

I applaud the idea for a VA and I agree with you guys on having the maddog and not having anywhere to fly it. I was thinking to myself only 10mins ago that I would join allegiant air virtual and try to promote the use of the maddog. I would really like to have a place where I can fly the maddog and at the same time experience the realism of a true airline operation, not just a fancy website and ACARS but a VA with virtual pilots who are properly trained to operate the aircraft effectively and professionally.

Funny you mentioned Allegiant... I had worked up this last year but couldn't get any real interest:

h t t p://www.simulatedallegiant.comuv.com/

What you see there is the extent of my web ability, so next to nil. Kinda was planning to do most of the day to day stuff by way of forums, Skype, text message or whatever, not dependent on web modules. I found another Allegiant that launched in August and sent them e-mails offering the same services if they wanted to do a little web work to better integrate it into the general mix, but I never got a single reply. I even posted an offer directly to their pilots in the forum saying 'hey, if you want an Allegiant release for your flight, PM me' and didn't get any response on that front either. I'm all for doing Allegiant if there's the interest to back it up.

I was looking to revive the CalJet brand - an old MD80/90 sim airline from the mid-90's that I was part of - largely because it's easier to start with a couple of airplanes and get flights covered than it is to start with 50 and have most never get flown.

[Caribflyer]

Why not simulate Allegiant? From my experience, starting a fictional VA doesn't always yield alot of interest. If you do however choose to do this all I can say I it will not have a cheesy name or livery.

I applaud the idea for a VA and I agree with you guys on having the maddog and not having anywhere to fly it. I was thinking to myself only 10mins ago that I would join allegiant air virtual and try to promote the use of the maddog. I would really like to have a place where I can fly the maddog and at the same time experience the realism of a true airline operation, not just a fancy website and ACARS but a VA with virtual pilots who are properly trained to operate the aircraft effectively and professionally.

Funny you mentioned Allegiant... I had worked up this last year but couldn't get any real interest:

h t t p://www.simulatedallegiant.comuv.com/

What you see there is the extent of my web ability, so next to nil. Kinda was planning to do most of the day to day stuff by way of forums, Skype, text message or whatever, not dependent on web modules. I found another Allegiant that launched in August and sent them e-mails offering the same services if they wanted to do a little web work to better integrate it into the general mix, but I never got a single reply. I even posted an offer directly to their pilots in the forum saying 'hey, if you want an Allegiant release for your flight, PM me' and didn't get any response on that front either. I'm all for doing Allegiant if there's the interest to back it up.

I was looking to revive the CalJet brand - an old MD80/90 sim airline from the mid-90's that I was part of - largely because it's easier to start with a couple of airplanes and get flights covered than it is to start with 50 and have most never get flown.

Did you advertise the Allegiant VA? I have only been aware of 2 allegiant VAs...this is one of them www.allegiantvirtual.com/
Support and interest is mainly gathered through websites such as AVSIM and VATSIM. I think once it is made clear that the exclusive aircrafts are the maddog2008/2010 it should gather some interest showing that is will be a top quality VA. Allegiant is also getting 757s...perhaps other payware 757s can be utilized to keep up the high standard.....Captainsim and the like..

[Andrew]

Did you advertise the Allegiant VA? I have only been aware of 2 allegiant VAs...this is one of them www.allegiantvirtual.com/
Support and interest is mainly gathered through websites such as AVSIM and VATSIM. I think once it is made clear that the exclusive aircrafts are the maddog2008/2010 it should gather some interest showing that is will be a top quality VA. Allegiant is also getting 757s...perhaps other payware 757s can be utilized to keep up the high standard.....Captainsim and the like..

I didn't advertise that attempt very much. I avoid AVSIM for the most part because historically I find they seem to attract a younger, more transient audience. And that's generally the type of audience using and raving about the other two mediocre MD80 packages out there. I decided to post here because I figured that actual users of this product might very well be interested to use it in a more 'official' capacity. I'm surprised at the lackluster response in this forum. I figured there would be more people in the same ballpark as we are - wonderful product and nowhere to fly it. Depressing.

The 757's another problem... there are no respectable payware offering's available. The PSS is ugly/obsolete, is only partially modeled and has what may very well be the worst FMS and database ever developed. Captain Sim's is even worse in the modeling department (every single switch on there is fake, I'm totally convinced) and it's a piecemeal affair slapped together by a real clueless bunch of graphic wizards. I don't think Flight Level Change even works. Can't comment on the Quality Wings, don't have that one and I certainly wouldn't ever support/use some Freeware offering. Luckily the 757 isn't in revenue service yet so it's something that can be dealt with at a later time.

[luisareal]

Did you advertise the Allegiant VA? I have only been aware of 2 allegiant VAs...this is one of them www.allegiantvirtual.com/
Support and interest is mainly gathered through websites such as AVSIM and VATSIM. I think once it is made clear that the exclusive aircrafts are the maddog2008/2010 it should gather some interest showing that is will be a top quality VA. Allegiant is also getting 757s...perhaps other payware 757s can be utilized to keep up the high standard.....Captainsim and the like..

I didn't advertise that attempt very much. I avoid AVSIM for the most part because historically I find they seem to attract a younger, more transient audience. And that's generally the type of audience using and raving about the other two mediocre MD80 packages out there. I decided to post here because I figured that actual users of this product might very well be interested to use it in a more 'official' capacity. I'm surprised at the lackluster response in this forum. I figured there would be more people in the same ballpark as we are - wonderful product and nowhere to fly it. Depressing.

The 757's another problem... there are no respectable payware offering's available. The PSS is ugly/obsolete, is only partially modeled and has what may very well be the worst FMS and database ever developed. Captain Sim's is even worse in the modeling department (every single switch on there is fake, I'm totally convinced) and it's a piecemeal affair slapped together by a real clueless bunch of graphic wizards. I don't think Flight Level Change even works. Can't comment on the Quality Wings, don't have that one and I certainly wouldn't ever support/use some Freeware offering. Luckily the 757 isn't in revenue service yet so it's something that can be dealt with at a later time.

Well, truth is, I have the maddog pro, have been flying it around the world, well he doesn't like hot and high airfields in south america, he barks a lot.
Jokes apart, I'm a maddog pilot since 2006 and have flown it ever since, not exclusive, but truth is after the Leonardo maddog all other addons seem very "samll", have been flying if with an one of a kind friend on multicrew, and it is always a mind blowing experience sharing the cockpit, there is just no other that offers you that much.
I'm quite happy to hear someone, at least, (was about time) that is willing to provide with a VA that would stimulate the MD-82 and as well stimulate the Leonardo Maddogs out there, it can be indeed a very nice approach in these times, were the "young simmers" seem to be slowing down, since Micr... is no longer advertising FSX and the FS pilots left are the "hard-core" ones, those who like and enjoy fs unconditionally.
Go ahead Andrew create something nice, I'm with you

[luisareal]

btw Andew,

When doing so, you might as well consider a dedicates TS server, in order to provide more dialog and it helps as well when going on multi-crew enviroment

[Caribflyer]

Did you advertise the Allegiant VA? I have only been aware of 2 allegiant VAs...this is one of them www.allegiantvirtual.com/
Support and interest is mainly gathered through websites such as AVSIM and VATSIM. I think once it is made clear that the exclusive aircrafts are the maddog2008/2010 it should gather some interest showing that is will be a top quality VA. Allegiant is also getting 757s...perhaps other payware 757s can be utilized to keep up the high standard.....Captainsim and the like..

I didn't advertise that attempt very much. I avoid AVSIM for the most part because historically I find they seem to attract a younger, more transient audience. And that's generally the type of audience using and raving about the other two mediocre MD80 packages out there. I decided to post here because I figured that actual users of this product might very well be interested to use it in a more 'official' capacity. I'm surprised at the lackluster response in this forum. I figured there would be more people in the same ballpark as we are - wonderful product and nowhere to fly it. Depressing.

The 757's another problem... there are no respectable payware offering's available. The PSS is ugly/obsolete, is only partially modeled and has what may very well be the worst FMS and database ever developed. Captain Sim's is even worse in the modeling department (every single switch on there is fake, I'm totally convinced) and it's a piecemeal affair slapped together by a real clueless bunch of graphic wizards. I don't think Flight Level Change even works. Can't comment on the Quality Wings, don't have that one and I certainly wouldn't ever support/use some Freeware offering. Luckily the 757 isn't in revenue service yet so it's something that can be dealt with at a later time.

Well, truth is, I have the maddog pro, have been flying it around the world, well he doesn't like hot and high airfields in south america, he barks a lot.
Jokes apart, I'm a maddog pilot since 2006 and have flown it ever since, not exclusive, but truth is after the Leonardo maddog all other addons seem very "samll", have been flying if with an one of a kind friend on multicrew, and it is always a mind blowing experience sharing the cockpit, there is just no other that offers you that much.
I'm quite happy to hear someone, at least, (was about time) that is willing to provide with a VA that would stimulate the MD-82 and as well stimulate the Leonardo Maddogs out there, it can be indeed a very nice approach in these times, were the "young simmers" seem to be slowing down, since Micr... is no longer advertising FSX and the FS pilots left are the "hard-core" ones, those who like and enjoy fs unconditionally.
Go ahead Andrew create something nice, I'm with you

Well lets give allegiant a try? Or there is a new airline starting up in the Caribbean called REDJET its suppose to be the "Ryanair" of the Caribbean. It starts off with about 4 or 5 destinations and it may branch off into US destinations such as Miami and NY. They use the MD-80s and it they also follow the model of Allegiant to some extent. Any of these airlines would make a nice VA.

[Andrew]

How about this... why don't we give this REDJet a try? I like the fact that it's new, small and therefore easy to manage/keep track of. There's good scenery available for the 4 cities they've announced so far so we're covered on that front. I don't know that we'll be in position to go by THEIR launch day but we could trail them by a month or so (need to get Moodle and Training modules setup, etc). It's worth a shot, if it doesn't work out then an Allegiant can be made.

[Caribflyer]

How about this... why don't we give this REDJet a try? I like the fact that it's new, small and therefore easy to manage/keep track of. There's good scenery available for the 4 cities they've announced so far so we're covered on that front. I don't know that we'll be in position to go by THEIR launch day but we could trail them by a month or so (need to get Moodle and Training modules setup, etc). It's worth a shot, if it doesn't work out then an Allegiant can be made.

I am down for it...we can try redjet and if it fails then Allegiant...

[luisareal]

Ok, so to say wery nice, very nice...
let's give this a try, and also, with your permission, I might call up all the people I know who fly the maddog, and the ones I have shared cockpit flights, what do you think about it?

[Andrew]

Great! It's a go, we'll setup a REDjet simulation and finally be able to make proper use of the Leo MD80 :-)! In the meantime, we've been able to stir up a web developer so we'll hopefully have a website of some sort up soon. Caribflyer - if you happen to have some better information on REDjet, send me a PM and we'll work out the details. Right now I'm going off what little info is available on their website, wiki and assorted forums.

Luis - absolutely! Bring along anyone you know who uses the Leo MD80! The more people we can get in flying positions the better we'll be able to simulate an airline :-)!

Exciting times, I'm glad to see progress on something realistic for a change!

[Caribflyer]

I'll try to get as much info as I can...all for now the only available info is what's available online.

www.flightglobal.com/blogs/airline-business/2010/11/redjets-burning-ambitions.html

www.airliners.net/photo/REDjet/McDonnell-Douglas-MD-82/1812860/M/

h t t p://u.jimdo.com/www29/o/s762b6d2a8c43c4a9/img/i9300258a1df61e07/1287846709/std/das-offizielle-farbschema-von-redjet-courtesy-redjet.jpg

This post has been edited by Caribflyer: 15/11/2010, 11:55

[Rhen Nathe]

I am absoultely interested in RedJet Virtual, just like you all have been suggesting! I would love to help make this happen. I don't have much web-design expirence, but with over 450 hours (I'm also a Chief Pilot) with Southwest Virtual flying PMDG and Wilco/Feelthere 737's, I can say I'm pretty expirenced with flightsimulator as well as VATSIM and many add-ons.

This post has been edited by Rhen Nathe: 21/11/2010, 21:59

[Rhen Nathe]

Another Pic:
h t t p://www.flickr.com/photos/fabster-pics/5192633194/sizes/o/in/photostream/

[Andrew]

Not REDjet Virtual, Simulated REDjet. Virtual is for noobs and kids. We have now secured a web developer so we'll have a site of some sort up shortly with a forum to discuss what's going on. I see the actual REDjet website was changed in the last couple of days, almost seems like it went back in time. Hopefully we'll hear some news from them soon.

[Rhen Nathe]

Haha alright, Simulated REDjet! If you need anything, I would love to help!

[Andrew]

We've secured a domain and web space, so we'll be working to have an operational site soon. The site is located at:

h t t p://www.simredjet.com

[Caribflyer]

We've secured a domain and web space, so we'll be working to have an operational site soon. The site is located at:

h t t p://www.simredjet.com

this is great news...glad to see things moving along.

[Molders]

I too would be interested in this kind of VA and I have some PHP/MYSQL experience and would be willing to lend a hand with the web site if needed.

[Bertie Bott]

This VA sounds like the answer to what I've been looking for forever! I've been seeking that level of realism for the longest time and with the aircraft I like to fly the most, the MADDOG! The only thing I wish we could do is transfer panel states so if A/C001 has an INOP APU GEN and it isn't repaired before the next flight (as long as the MEL allows it, can't recall), the next pilot to fly the a/c will also have the APU GEN INOP.

I'd also like to learn how to properly dispatch my Maddog flights... maybe that can be part of the VA system, a Dispatcher training?

This post has been edited by Bertie Bott: 16/12/2010, 15:12

[Andrew]

Hi Guys,

Glad to see there's still interest building for this! It looks like the real REDjet is now slated to start flying on January 14th, and we are on track to start hiring pilots for February 1st and for a first flight around March 1st.

Bertie - we will be making use of the MEL's and relying on flight crews reporting faults upon arrival and are working out a system that will allow the incoming crew to transfer their panel states to the website so the outgoing crew can download them before setting up to fly! Any MEL-able items will work their way into system/online logbook and be transferred over to the next crew picking up the airplane, and they'll be made aware of the MEL by the notations on the dispatch release. All you'd have to do is pick the MEL from the list and apply it to the airplane you're scheduled to fly and you'll be set.

With a live Operations Control Center system, someone else does all the planning for you. All you'll need to do is show up, pick up your paperwork, brief and fly, just like in real life! Now if you want to learn how to dispatch so you can become a dispatcher for Simulated REDjet, then that can be arranged too ;-).

[Bertie Bott]

Not sure if you are overwhelmed with setting up the VA, but I would like to learn how to dispatch as well... if you could help me out and show me the way, that would be much appreciated

[Caribflyer]

Not sure if you are overwhelmed with setting up the VA, but I would like to learn how to dispatch as well... if you could help me out and show me the way, that would be much appreciated

Redjet has arrived at BGI

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqkLucLZ0IY

[Bahadir ALKES]

Well, as a Maddog user, and a future Simulated Redjet pilot (if you accept of course) I'd like to give you some points about Flight Recording. Sorry about some English mistakes, and I hope I'd be grammatically understandable.

I am a member of FlyTHY virtual Airlines (A virtual airline that simulates Turkish Airlines - www.flythy.org ), and we are using a unique flight recording program which is called FFR (FlyTHY flight recorder). It's an external program which picks data from FS at every phase of flight by the help of FSUIPC. We start it at gate, and once it is started, you can not change fuel state and simulation speed rate from then on. Our pilots can not change simulation speed whatever distance they fly, and if the pilots make a mistake on fuel calculation, they just run out of it in the middle of the flight. The program does not allow the user to make offline flight, and you have to be online during all the flight. At the end of the flight, it gives you the score you get. For example, "you forgot to close the doors before starting engines or pushback...: -10 points", "you forgot to set the altimeter to standart pressure before reaching FL180 ... : -40 points", "Your landing was terrible....: -100 points", "The landing gear was not down while you still were at 500 ft AGL....: -100 points", "Your landing lights were not on when you lined up ...... ", "your flap config was wrong.....", "your final approach was too high....", "your parking brakes were on when the N1 was over 40 percent...", "You stalled the aircraft....", "You made an OVERSPEED....", "Your fuel calculation was wrong, you have too much fuel on the tanks - or you don't have enough fuel left on the tanks...", "You should have equally loaded the tanks...." etc. etc.

It's just a great program, and I'm sure, the best one for a freeware. It recognizes where your aircraft is, on your next flight, you have to start from there. It makes the cabin anouncements, like, "Cabin crew seats for departure please" on lining up, taxi anouncements, security anouncements, everything...

If we have a good programmer, I have some Delphi Codes on how to pick up data from FS, and how to create some actions by some dll files. (automatically gear up when passing 1000 ft AGL and on positive rate)

I'd say that, Simulated Redjet must have a perfect flight recording program like FlyTHY does. This program should know how many aircraft our airline has, and it should be aware of their destinations. If someone crashes, that aircraft should be deleted off the registration.

This post has been edited by Bahadir ALKES: 02/01/2011, 13:17

[Molders]

Redjet @ Barbados

This post has been edited by Molders: 10/01/2011, 19:00

Attached File(s)

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 redjet1.jpg ( 335.48K ) Number of downloads: 41

 

[CaptKornDog]

I have always longed for such a VA as well; I dreamed of making one but simply didn't have the resources or web technical know-how.

Not necessarily for just the MD-80 but other aircraft like the PMDG MD-11, LDS 767, and other systems-oriented addons. I would love to explore some of the airline options on aircraft (e.g. PMDG MD-11 FMS software versioning or GPS/INS installs, MD-80 LED colors/autopilot options, deferring MEL items). I simply just finding myself sticking to one configuration for a lot of aircraft that I enjoy (usually things like a split cue flight director over single cue, etc.).

I've always envisioned different aircraft programs with first officers/captains, real seniority (rather than...everyone with 1000+ hours can fly any airplane), with real flight lines/bidding. Of course, those with unpredictable schedules can fly leftover reserve routes. I've also envisioned keeping track of CAT II/III currency, etc.

While I do fly for a handful of those "flexible" VAs, because I do enjoy that type of flying to, I think it'd be fun for a realistic VA (but not necessarily require 30 flights a month to remain active...perhaps just 3 landings every 90 days to keep aircraft currency).

It sounds like you've decided on a company already but I'd certainly be interested in one that included some of the States. New York Air perhaps or Midwest, or RenoAir.

This post has been edited by CaptKornDog: 28/01/2011, 3:06

[Andrew]

Hi Kyle,

It's been a while - I haven't seen you around since MidCon/America West I don't think! We're sort of in limbo right now on account of RedJet's actual launch date getting pushed back more and more every month, but I imagine we'll launch at some point before the summer. We're also having problems trying to match the fonts used in their logo in order to paint the planes. We've asked RedJet a couple of times if they'd provide us with some guidance on that and they haven't replied. In the off chance they don't ever take to the skies (there's always that possibility in aviation!), we are also playing with 5 airplanes out of San Jose, likely under the CalJet banner, that will hit up Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Portland, San Diego, Santa Ana and Seattle. They're all short segment flights so the possibility of maximizing multi-crew flying is more readily available. Not quite a Reno Air but close to it. We lucked out and had some generously skilled web people step up to the plate so the complications of developing operational support for any carrier operating the MD80 really becomes limited to changing logos on documents/material and the cosmetic aspects of the website. I suspect at the current rate, CalJet will be flying before RedJet.

The airplanes for the CalJet 'concept' come from multiple sources on the used aircraft market, which means the deck configurations are varied. We have, at the moment, two aircraft equipped with EFIS/EIS and the Marconi GFMS, one EFIS/EIS with the Honeywell FMS, an analog machine with the Marconi GFMS and an ex-Finnair machine with EFIS and Analog EI with the Honeywell FMS. Couple of those have autobrakes but the rest do not. The panel configurations for these aircraft match the serial numbers/current configuration of these aircraft in real life as they currently sit for sale on the used market. So the variations exist not 'just because', but rather because these are the better of the aircraft available for sale (at the right price mind you) for a small start-up. When the time comes to grow and pick up additional aircraft, the same rules will apply - what's available is what we get, not much choice in the matter. Fleet standardization of used aircraft usually takes years or doesn't happen to begin with, and you'll commonly see operators with 'Differences' cards in each aircraft outlining exactly what each particular tail is equipped with, within reason or as allowed by the applicable FAR's. One of the nice things from an operational perspective is that operating a mixed fleet like this keeps it interesting for the pilot, because it breaks the monotony role - although having done this for almost 19 years I'd argue if people stepped up their game they'd realize that the flying itself is never monotonous when you do things to a highly realistic level!

Like with MidCon/AWE, only First Officer's and Captain's here and seniority based on date of hire. CAT II/III pilot and aircraft currency will be tracked, along with high minimums Captain's, regular recurrent training, GPS/RNAV Approach policies, and all that other fun stuff! Also on that note, no gimmicky software that awards you points for landing at the right airport or other crap like that, strictly hard-core realism.

The PMDG MD11 is an excellent package too, but not in the operational scope of our concept airline. The Level-D package on the other hand is an archaic piece of junk from 2001 that was never truly outstanding to begin with and definitely not up to 2011 standards - not something I would ever support in any concept airline to be honest. The only other aircraft I'd probably consider, and it would be really hard to justify a business case for it, is the Fokker 70/100. That's another great, albeit not quite finished gem that also comes standard equipped with multi-crew capabilities. If you're looking for MD11 flying at a much higher standard than the plethora of generic VA's, I'd recommend checking out Fusion Airways (fusionairways.com). They operate 5 MD11F's to an almost-MidCon like standard, with Dispatch Releases, etc., and are stepping up their game more and more every month. The CalJet concept will be supported by a number of the people behind Fusion.