Captain Bert Kuiper

PetriSuni · Post by **PetriSuni** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 3:50 am

"I would like to start by saying that I am not against realism and I enjoy flying for this VA a great deal! And maybe this subject should already be left alone, but...I just know that our VA has many members (including myself), who work full-day jobs and have a family, in addition to flight simming. Thus, I could not help being slightly displeased to see a comment like this: ""4x on a 12 hour flight is 3 hours dedicated to an extreme long haul. I think there's plenty of shorter trips to chose from if 3 hours is too much time....3 hours is regional jet territory in real flying"" No offense meant to anyone, but I'd like to point out two things: 1) One only uses accelerated time during the high level cruise portion of a flight, so a twelve-hour flight never becomes three hours with 4x accel. time, more like 5 hours, which (believe it or not) is many times not possible for a man with a job and a family, and 2) In the Europe region (where I fly) we do not have anything but cross-atlantic flights and flights to middle east/Asia regions -> no short hauls inside Europe (at least I didn't see any in the bid-process when I put in my bids for May). Now, it may be argued that people who cannot put in 5 to 6 hours a day for flying should not be part of this VA. Fair enough. But just as well it may be argued that if some of us need to use accelerated time during high level cruise due to other obligations in life, it will not in any way harm those of us who do not use accel. time! It will simply allow all of us to enjoy this great hobby together. And I sincerely hope that we can maintain such flexibility and mutual respect in our VA. Wishing enjoyable flights for everyone, Petri PS: Once again: I am not defending the guys doing fake flights at 10000 feet and 16x time. THAT is rediculous and goes against the very essence and purpose of this VA!"

globecar · Post by **globecar** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 1:25 pm

"Hi Petri You have brought up some valid points and it is hard to argue with many of them. The trick now is to find a good balance that will satisfy everyone. The admins and myself do take time to look at some of the PIREP's being filed and it does show how a few pilots are taking advantage of the current system we have in place. We have pilots that bid and never fly. We have piots who fly and never bid. We have pilots flying routes of their own and not bid routes or open board routes. We have pilots flying 3800 nm flights at 12,000 feet or less. We have pilots flying at 16x accelerated time and doing 2 or 3 flights a day so that hours can be logged. We need to make changes so that these infractions can be addressed or our whole purpose of the VA is in the toilet. Like I said, we do need to find a balance and we are always looking for it. Suggestions are always welcomed."

mikesb · Post by **mikesb** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 1:53 pm

"<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(globecar @ Apr 19 2005, 07:25 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'>Hi Petri We need to make changes so that these infractions can be addressed or our whole purpose of the VA is in the toilet. Like I said, we do need to find a balance and we are always looking for it. Suggestions are always welcomed. [right][snapback]3335[/snapback][/right] </div> Hi Petri, hi Ralph, I can follow the points Petri mentioned as I am in a similiar situation: I like simming but have not enought time to do it very often. So what's to do? Some essential ""nogos"" would obligingly pay attention for. So in my opinion these could be: 1. Fly the bidded/open board route as it is announced in the dispatch. 2. Never fly in restricted areas or unsafe flight levels. Perhaps a minimum cruise altitude can be mandatory given (btw for the sake of fuel saving we never should fly in 10,000 ft or less too long ,-) 3. Start and stop at the gate and never start your flight on the runway or at the holding point (like some pilots like to do). So we get a most realistic Block to Block time. 4. Don't use acceleration modes until you have reached your cruising altitude. That are some of the points I was thinking about when making my first GlobeCargo flights. In my opinion that degree of realism could perhaps be a compromise between our committed Admins and the need of pilots not to spend their real lifetime in an one to one flight of about 12 hours. If we are to restrictive the consequence could be that ""time compressed"" pilots or others who haven't got enough spare time will not ""dare"" to bid on flights anymore. I think the balance between realism like filling one's flightplan, fuel calculations, getting weather reports and flying a route in accordance with the GlobeCargo rules on one hand and allowing some relaxing flight modes in special conditions like a reached FL could maybe satisfy all parties. And to make it more real in the future: The correct flight profile like holding flight levels putting not too much fuel on board, touching down with an appropriate vertical speed without braking gears and so on could enhance resp. satisfy our common desire for more realism. Perhaps we can develop some tools which will help us to assess the professionalism of our pilots. Mike "

hawkeyeted · Post by **hawkeyeted** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 2:03 pm

"Does FSACARS log ""actual"" flight time vice ""simulated"" flight time? By that, I mean that if you fly a 12 hour leg at 4x, does it only log 3 hours (12 hours / 4x=3 hours). That will eliminate the ""taking advantage"" of flight time. You only get credit for what you fly. I don't want to see this VA loose sight of the sole purpose: Having Fun! Real lives and real revenues aren't on the line. Fly what you can in the most realistic manner possible. I think that those that take gross advantage of the system aren't interested in the art of flying. That is thier loss, not mine. That said, I am one of those that flys legs in addition to what I bid, but are outside the ""open bids"". Reason is, I'd like to see other parts of the world that aren't accessable through my current hub. I have asked the question if this is acceptable via the forum and never got an answer. I have always stuck to the published Polar schedule, never ""freelancing"" anything. Again, I'm here to have fun and don't want to see us cannibalizing ourselves by loosing sight of that. Regards, Ted Barkley P.S. My appologies to Bert for hijacking his thread. Congrats on the incredible flight hours! That is why I look forward to retirement!"

globecar · Post by **globecar** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 2:26 pm

"Hi Ted <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>Does FSACARS log ""actual"" flight time vice ""simulated"" flight time? By that, I mean that if you fly a 12 hour leg at 4x, does it only log 3 hours (12 hours / 4x=3 hours). That will eliminate the ""taking advantage"" of flight time. You only get credit for what you fly. </div> FSACars logs the simulated flight time and not actual flight time. A 12 hours flight is a 12 hour flight even when time is accelerated to 16x. Where one of the problems comes in as that a few pilots use this method to fly more than their legal limit of hours per day/week/month if you know what I mean. It is not uncommon for us to see a pilot log 20 or 30 hours in a single day and this is not working well for those that are dedicated. Our pilots manual does state the maximum number of hours that a pilot can fly in a given time period and this is based on the real world. Maximum Hours Allowed With reference to FAR Part 121 sec. 121.483 the maximum hours of duty for Globe Cargo pilots are; 1) 120 hours during any 30 consecutive days 2) 300 hours during any 90 consecutive days 3) 1000 during any 12 calendar month period. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>That said, I am one of those that flys legs in addition to what I bid, but are outside the ""open bids"". Reason is, I'd like to see other parts of the world that aren't accessable through my current hub. I have asked the question if this is acceptable via the forum and never got an answer. I have always stuck to the published Polar schedule, never ""freelancing"" anything. </div> Of course you can fly the bird wherever you want and at any altitude you want but PIREP's should only be submitted for Bid flights, Atlas Charters and Open Board Flights. We are currently implementing a system that will allow us to do quick checks on the logs and match them up to the routes bid, Charters and Open Board selections. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>Again, I'm here to have fun and don't want to see us cannibalizing ourselves by loosing sight of that. </div> Fun is what it is all about but we still need some type of structured enviroment to put everyone on an even playing field. Our VA is about 10 months old now and has come a long way in a short period of time. We are probably more automated than most VA's and are constantly upgrading our systems to make things better. Our bid and open board systems do not take a backseat to any others that I have seen and there is so much running in the background that is not seen by anyone other than administrators. "

hawkeyeted · Post by **hawkeyeted** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 2:37 pm

"<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(globecar @ Apr 19 2005, 10:26 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'>FSACars logs the simulated flight time and not actual flight time. A 12 hours flight is a 12 hour flight even when time is accelerated to 16x.</div> Having FSACARS log only actual flight time will cure that problem. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>PIREP's should only be submitted for Bid flights, Atlas Charters and Open Board Flights. </div> Disappointed to hear that, but OK. I'll discontinue to PIREP flights outside of Bids and Open Boards. Regards, Ted "

globecar · Post by **globecar** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 2:48 pm

"As I said, FSACars logs flight time correctly. No changes are required. It takes into consideration the accelerated time. This is why flight times logged are correct and is the only way to have it."

bb1134 · Post by **bb1134** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 7:24 pm

"<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PetriSuni @ Apr 19 2005, 02:50 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'> Thus, I could not help being slightly displeased to see a comment like this: ""4x on a 12 hour flight is 3 hours dedicated to an extreme long haul. I think there's plenty of shorter trips to chose from if 3 hours is too much time....3 hours is regional jet territory in real flying"" [right][snapback]3330[/snapback][/right] </div> Petri: Appreciate your position as well. I'm quite certain Ralph and team will be able to distinguish the abusers from the flyers. My understanding signing up was that the airline is a long haul operation and would require several hours a month to enjoy this. If acceleration helps fit one's schedule and helps retain dedicated pilots, that sounds like a good solution. Perhaps FAR Part 121 enforcement may be the answer. Either way, safe flying... BB"

Post by **nwadc10** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 8:29 pm

"<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bb1134 @ Apr 19 2005, 11:24 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'> Perhaps FAR Part 121 enforcement may be the answer. [right][snapback]3342[/snapback][/right] </div> Good idea...I will take some time to think about that and discuss with Admin. Justin"