Virtual Airlines (VA's) generally aim to offer the flight simulator pilot a more structured experience as well as the chance to make friends from around the world.
Download the Standard Operating Procedures in Word Format -
Orange Air (OA) is a global
virtual carrier first "registered" in the Netherlands in 1996, using a fleet of
Boeing, Airbus and some of the finer turbo-props. We operate in the Microsoft
Flight Simulator 2004 virtual world (Of course you may use any other version of
FS but we cannot offer any e-Mail support. We do not currently support
FS2006 [FSX]). There is perfect competition in
the virtual world and we assume that our products (the service) are homogeneous.
This means that we may operate weekly flights, against the competition offering
multiple-daily flights, yet have no problems winning passengers. We can start-up
on any route we wish and any passengers seeking to travel will be as likely to travel
with us as any other carrier.
Please note that to comply with European law, you must be at least 14 years or older
to join Orange Air Virtual Airline.
MISSION STATEMENT:
Orange Air is a special type of virtual airline which seeks to provide not
only fun, but extra enjoyment and satisfaction from our unique goals of realism,
professionalism and having fun.
Fewer rules, less regulations = More Fun!
These goals are accomplished with the experienced team here at OA. We reward
excellence with promotions, non-fleet aircraft and bonus flights. Furthermore
we use schedules and our timetables are frequently updated and expanded. All
our aircraft models are chosen because they offer the most realistic appearance
and flight characteristics currently available. We also have, possibly, the
largest fleet of any VA!
ORGANISATION:
Orange Air is a Non-Profit Organisation run entirely by volunteers who are
devoted to flight simulation. We offer education to those who know little
about the real aviation industry and an enjoyable sideline for pilots and airline
managers who love aviation so much that they devote their free time to it.
Our management structure is based on real airline organisational structures yet
seeks to be informal and adaptable.
Volunteer Officers at Orange Air:
CEO: David
Morris
Cargo Director:
Vincent de Jager
Fleet Officer:
Tom Ryan
Operations Officer: Stephen Jones
Events Officer: Frank Wijnsma
Training Officer:
Rob Wolzak
What makes Orange Air different ?
For maximum realism and to encourage professionalism all flights should be flown
using real weather en-route and at departure and arrival airports, from no more
than 7 days ago and follow a route which has been planned in advance (Such as those
you can download from the OA site), using suitable NAV-Aids, airways or accepted
direct routing and published STAR and SID procedures. Approaches should be
flown with the aid of published instrument approach plates, gate departure and arrival
time should be recorded.
Current real world weather is available from
http://www.menet.umn.edu/~curt/weather/
or
http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/data/observations/metar/cycles/ Orange
Air highly recommends the use of
FSMeteo or
ActiveSky to supply real world
weather info to FS.
Pilots are encouraged to obtain real world en-route charts, STAR, SID and Approach/Terminal Plates either by purchase, second-hand purchase, or second-hand donation. Because they are updated often, there are many real pilots and airlines who will supply out-of-date charts either free or at low cost, HERE or HERE. Where no relevant charts are owned, pilots should use a suitable flight planning utility (e.g. NAV, FS-Navigator or Route Finder etc) or seek help from the Operations Officer. Approach plates may be viewed online with Final Approach 6.. For UK operations go HERE.
Provided for you are flight plans for each route in FS format, these
maybe downloaded by clicking the link on each of the flight numbers on the Timetable.
Orange Air uses aircraft painted in our own livery. Pilots are at their
own discretion as to which type to use as long as it is in Orange Air livery.
It is suggested that you visit our Fleet Hanger prior to seeking out your own model.
If you find a better model then let us know about the newer aircraft. There
have been many changes lately with aircraft design tools and performance editors.
New aircraft are being released often. What was the best yesterday can quickly
become second rate today.
Orange Air utilizes a hub-and-spoke route network, with most flights originating
from our major hubs: Amsterdam-Schiphol, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle,
Lisbon Intl, Moscow-Sheremetyevo, Montréal-Dorval, Rotterdam, St. Maárten and Sydney Intl.
OA also has Charter flights, a Round The World trip and many varied tours.
Note that Orange Air Operations use the ICAO four letter codes, not the three letter IATA codes used by passengers.
General Operating Rules for Orange Air:
1.1 Joining and Your Pilot ID Number
To be part of Orange Air involves no money or extra fee other than what
you already pay for using the Internet. After you have submitted the
Joining Form, you will be placed
on the Pilots Roster and given
a Pilot ID Number. You must use this Pilot ID when you communicate with any
member of the airline staff. All we insist on is that you fly and log at least
one flight every eight weeks of your membership. New members are expected to log
their first flight within 14 days of joining.
1.2 Training and Check rides
Orange Air encourages all of our pilots to join the Orange Air Training
Academy. Once a pilot joins they will receive their Virtual Students Pilot
License (VSPL). We encourage all of our pilots to complete the Virtual Commercial
Pilots License (VCPL).
Orange Air encourages pilots that use FS2004 to join the online Training
Academy of our Flight School.
Whether your a novice or you think your a good pilot,
do what the pro's do... Keep Training! Join our Flight School
HERE.
1.3 Prior Experience / Transferred Flight Time
Pilots with logged hours from Real World Aviation or another Virtual Airline
and whose hours are accepted by management may also be transferred to OA.
The hours must be verified by providing the URL of the VA or by having
the other VA's management team verify the hours with Orange Air management.
You are free to fly for other VA's not just OA.
1.4 E-Mail
Pilots should feel free to e-mail any member of management with their questions
or concerns. You are encouraged to first try to work out the problem with
the Operations Officer prior to e-mailing Head Office. When e-mailing airline
management, in the subject line of your message, include your Pilot ID number
and then your subject.
1.5 No Flight Bidding at Orange Air
In developing our Standard Operating Procedures, we have
tried to reach equilibrium between true realism and fun. The fact that pilots
should only fly aircraft for which they are able, provides enough restrictions,
and so there is no bidding for flights.
1.6 Routes
All flights should be flown using actual routes made with a flight planner,
by using Radar Contact or
the on-line services of GlobalSIM,
IVAO or
VATSIM. Also see "Flight
Plans" above. See our on-line flying page for full details,
HERE.
1.7 Rank
Orange Air Pilots are ranked according to their logged hours with the airline.
Orange Air rank structure is as follows:
 |
Trainee | 00 - 15 Hours |
 |
Junior Officer | 15 - 30 Hours |
 |
Deck Officer | 30 - 50 Hours |
 |
Second Officer | 50 - 75 Hours |
 |
First Officer | 75 - 100 Hours |
 |
Flying Officer | 100 - 150 Hours |
 |
Engineer | 150 - 200 Hours |
 |
Flight Engineer | 200 - 250 Hours |
 |
Master Engineer | 250 - 300 Hours |
 |
Chief Pilot | 300 - 350 Hours |
 |
Senior Pilot | 350 - 400 Hours |
 |
Master Pilot | 400 - 500 Hours |
 |
Junior Captain | 500 - 600 Hours |
 |
Captain | 600 - 700 Hours |
 |
Fleet Captain | 700 - 800 Hours |
 |
Commander | 800 - 1000 Hours |
 |
Fleet Commander | 1000 - 1250 Hours |
 |
Commodore | 1250 - 1500 Hours |
 |
Fleet Commodore | 1500 - ++++ Hours |
 |
Award for more than 100 hours | |
|
|
Award for more than 200 hours | |
 |
Award for more than 500 hours | |
 |
Award for more than 1000 hours | |
An Award will be given to pilots logging more than 100 hours. Further Awards will be made to pilots exceeding 200, 500 and 1000 hours.
1.8 Pilot Status
The following status definitions shall be used in reports and logs:
ACTIVE:
An active pilot who flies at least one flight per 60 days or a manager who serves
actively at any level of management.
ON LEAVE:
An active pilot or manager who goes on leave for 90 days maximum and provides a
return date.
INACTIVE:
A pilot or manager who has gone on permanent leave without returns date and cannot
fly their regular flights. These pilots retain their pilot rank at Orange
Air.
DISCHARGED:
A pilot or manager who is about to be terminated (voluntarily or involuntarily)
from the airline.
2. General Flight Procedures aboard any Orange Air Aircraft
2.1 Crew Conduct
You should have all information relevant to your flight at hand !
No Orange Air pilot or manager should exhibit any behaviour which projects
anything other than a highly professional image. This is especially important
when flying on-line.
2.2 Autopilot, Auto land and Accelerated Time
When your aircraft is on autopilot, Flight Simulation Accelerated Time with Orange
Air is authorised as long as the actual time is accounted for and this does
not cause you to get disoriented with true flight times. Accelerated time
can only be used after autopilot has been activated for stabilized flight, NEVER
before, and is up to a speed of x4 max. Unless you are using a "waypoint"
navigation adventure, flying FMS or GPS which is automatically capable of updating
the autopilot, you should return to 1:1 time when approaching a waypoint (VOR, NDB
or GPS fix). We don't require our pilots to convert simulated hours to real
hours! Since pilots are simulating real time it's the simulated hours
that count. Explanation: If a pilot makes a long flight, lets say a
12 hour flight in flight simulator. If the pilot used x4 acceleration in the
simulation then the 12 simulated hours are valid for logged hours. The pilot
wouldn't have to divide his/her 12 simulated hours by the amount accelerated (12
/ 4 = 3 real hours). Other VA's require that conversion and we think that sucks
!!!
Accelerated Time is NOT allowed above x2 whilst flying on-line, and only whilst
at cruise altitude.
2.3 Deviations and Alternate Airports
The pilot in command [PIC] is expected to do everything within his/her ability to
ensure the safe arrival of passengers and plane on time to the correct destination.
All deviations in departure time, (departure time begins as soon as you push back
from the gate at the departure point) or arrival time (arrival time is defined as
the time you apply the parking brake at the arrival gate) must be explained in the
"Comments" section of the flight report (PIREP). Pilots are expected to attempt
at least two instrument approaches at the arrival airport, unless visibility is
below that required to complete an instrument approach or the pilot is restricted
to VMC and the weather changes to IMC en-route, prior to proceeding to your alternate
airport.
2.4 Flight Proficiency
All pilots shall maintain proficiency in manual flight at all altitudes and all
phases of flight. The Training Officer is free to request an unannounced flight
check at any time. If a pilot is unable to complete an unannounced flight
check then the Training Officer may revoke the pilot’s type rating or require the
pilot to complete additional training. Unannounced flight checks will be conducted
fairly and may only be carried out twice per year, per pilot.
2.5 Flight Planning
Pilots, acting as the Pilot in Command [PIC], are expected to work out their own
flight plan using suitable navigation charts or flight planning programs.
Or use the pre-made plans available from our Timetables. Pilots that need
assistance in flight planning should request help from the Operations Officer.
Real world weather, no older than 7 days, should always be used. In the virtual
world you are “legal” to fly in any weather, but if you cannot land at your destination
you should divert to your alternate. Note: FAA regulations (FAR 91.169) require
the primary airport to have 2,000 ft ceiling above ground and 3 miles visibility.
The alternate airport shall have 600 ft ceiling above ground level for precision
ILS approaches, 800 ft ceiling above ground level for non-precision ILS approaches
(glide slope), and 2 miles visibility. Take-off minimums are 1 mile visibility
or RVR of 5,000 ft or more. (FAR 91.155).
2.6 Cruising Policy
As per FAA regulations (FAR 121.639(c)) requires a 45-minute reserve plus one hour
(at cruise altitude and speed) for fuel. Your cruising altitude will, typically
be between FL210 (21,000 ft) and FL410 (41,000 ft). This is governed by FAR 91.179 IFR cruising altitudes / flight altitudes.
• East bound - Heading 0 to 179 magnetic: FL 190, 210, 230, 250, 270, 290, 310,
330, 350, 370, 390, 410, 430, 450
• West bound - Heading 180 to 359 magnetic: FL 180, 200, 220, 240, 260, 280, 300,
320, 340, 360, 380, 400, 420, 440
Aircraft are not authorized to cruise at or below 10,000’ unless (a)
aircraft must do so to comply with A.T.C directives, (b) the aircraft must do so
due to an emergency situation or (c) the aircraft is a prop/turboprop and the cruising
time is less than 60 minutes.
2.7 Maximum Operating Speeds
FAA regulations (FAR 91.117) require that unless authorized by the C.A.A / F.F.A
no person may operate an aircraft below 10,000 feet MSL at an indicated airspeed
of more than 250 Knots. (The B747 and Concorde are often exempt from this
rule [on take off]). No pilot may operate any Orange Air aircraft in excess of
the stated maximum operating airspeed for that aircraft.
· No pilot will operate an aircraft in excess of 200 knots below Class B
airspace (FAR 91.117).
· No pilot will operate an aircraft in excess of 180 knots within 4 nm of
the primary airport in Class C or D airspace when below 2,500 ft AGL (FAR 91.117).
· No pilot will operate an aircraft in excess of 250 knots within Class B airspace
(FAR 91.117).
· Holding (AIM 5-3-7 j 2).
· No Pilot will operate an aircraft in excess of 220 knots while operating at an
altitude between MHA to 6,000 ft MSL.
· No pilot will operate an aircraft in excess of 250 knots while operating at an
altitude between 6,001 ft MSL to 10,000 ft MSL.
· No pilot will operate an aircraft in excess of 320 knots whilst climbing to cruise
altitude above 10,001 ft MSL.
NOTAM: The B747 and Concorde are often exempt from the above speed restrictions and may climb at 280 KIAS on take off up-to 10,000 ft MSL.
3.0 On-Line Flying Procedures
After logging on to GlobalSIM, pilots should aim to file a correct flight plan within 10 minutes and depart within 30 minutes. After arrival you must not remain logged on for more than 20 minutes after shutting down your engines.
If, during your flight, you need to leave the cockpit, for any reason, you should set your TeamSpeak to "Away". If you are flying in an active ATC airspace you must inform your controller of your absence. This absence will not be for longer than 15 minutes. Longer periods of absence from the cockpit are permitted, on long haul oceanic flights. Such prolonged absence is a privilege, so do not abuse this and keep it to a minimum.
Pilots must always connect to TeamSpeak. If there is active ATC in your location you must connect to their channel and declare your intentions. If no ATC is available you should connect either to UNICOM or the Orange Air Company channel. All communications are conducted in English.
IFR flight plans should contain the waypoint, airway, waypoint, airway. Do not include the SID, STAR, Destination or Departure details. Unless directed otherwise by active ATC, you must set your squawk code to 2000 for IFR flights and 7000 for VFR flights. You must also state your intended departure time and an alternate airport.
VFR flight plans should give the route as "Own Navigation". Your squawk code must be set to 7000.
4.0 Conversions
|
Indicated Airspeed / True Airspeed
|
|
Mach Number/Airspeed Conversion (Knots)
|
5.0 Dates and Times
Timetable departure times are in local time unless otherwise stated. You
should be aware of how this differs from Zulu time.
Clocks showing both local and Zulu time are displayed on all hub timetables.
Our web page, "World Time Info" available
from the menu, shows the time in many major cities around the world.
Orange Air uses the 24 hour clock. Four digits dates should be in the DD/MM/YY format to avoid any confusion.
SOP Version: 7.5
Copyright © 1996-2008 Orange Air Virtual Airline ™
