New Website Launch!
It is with great pleasure that the GCVA Staff has the opportunity to welcome you to our new website!
The new website has been a project several years in the making. Let me explain…
The current website was released over a decade ago. The site is our 3rd generation, while it served us well, we realized it was beginning to show its age. This website is the 4th iteration and will be the platform on which we continue to improve our virtual airline. The new website did not come without its challenges. Our virtual airline is unlike most in terms of complexity and size.
Fast forward to last year and the current staff got serious about finding the help we needed because the current site was so old. We estimated potential members were going elsewhere for their virtual flying needs solely because of the website. Something had to be done and we began the process of finding someone to commission the project with.
Even after we decided this project was not going to be completed unless we pay someone, we still struggled to obtain a contract. The first developer we approached declined to take on our project. They cited “the project was too complex for the budget and resources we allot for each project”. We understood the complexity of our website and thanked them for their time. However, we saw this as a blessing, we all agreed early on that we would not compromise on features that made Globe Cargo unique.
I approached Shaun, a skilled programmer who also shares our love for simulation games. He agreed to look at our current website and thankfully agreed to take on our project. We admired Shaun’s previous work, and his ability to work with a complex database driven website. With the agreement signed Shaun got to work immediately, working every day for several months.
Shaun took the project and ran with it. He worked almost every day for the last few months designing the visual and data functions of the new website. He was able to accomplish features that we had not considered all the while making the new site look polished and professional. We are extremely excited to release this project to you and we hope you enjoy all it has to offer!
The new site is dramatically different than the old. For as much change as you see on the public pages, the administration side of the site has had as many improvements. There are new functions for the staff to more effectively and efficiently serve the members.
Along with the new website, an updated version of GCP was created. Everyone must download and install GCP 3.1.0. There is not a UI update to GCP, this update is largely behind the scenes creating and sending new data that the website will use for its functions.
This project was a group effort, and I would like to thank our project team and beta tester for a job well done. More especially to Shaun. Our new website will be the platform for which we will continue to grow and enjoy this hobby for years to come, thanks to Shaun’s skill and hard work. Feel free to add your own messages of appreciation to these guys on Discord. The website developer is Shaun Ortolano (@Shaun). None of what we are going to enjoy for years to come is possible without Shaun. He did fantastic work.
| GCVA Staff (@Management) | GCP Beta Testers (@GCP Testing) |
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All the folks above have put in many hours testing the new site, testing GCP and/or discussing with Shaun what their department can use for new functions. To all of you, I hope I speak for everyone at GCVA, Thank You!
There are several lesser-known features and over the coming days and weeks we will point out some of those items. In the meantime, look around our new home.
Lastly, thank you to all our members. We know our old site was sub-par and we appreciate your patience and continued membership for all the time it took to release a new website worthy of GCVA standards.
We are not done yet. As long has Shaun is willing to continue working on our site, there are more projects we have in mind to enhance the website.
Everyone, please enjoy!
Regards,
Justin Erickson
CEO
Globe Cargo Virtual Airlines