I want people to believe that it isn’t impossible to start a virtual airline at a younger age.
Answers are published as the CEO wrote them, spelling included.
About the CEO
Can you tell us a bit about yourself? For example; how old you are, what your background with flying in general is and what brought you to creating your own Virtual Airline.
I’m 13. I want people to believe that it isn’t impossible to start a virtual airline at a younger age. I’m 14 soon, and I’ve had an interest in flying since I was about 7.
How it started
When did you start your Virtual Airline?
We opened our doors on the 27th October 2018.
Success
Do you consider your Virtual Airline successful?
It really depends on what aspect. We’re competing for publicity rather than pilots and when we roll the dice sometimes it will land on a success and sometimes it doesn’t, and it’s a vicious circle. We have no point of success and we will continue to strive in providing what we currently do.
Best moment
What is your most interesting experience with your Virtual Airline, what has happened that makes you think so?
The point where people cared for us. In my previous years I have owned a couple of ROBLOX Airlines, and after I quit and moved to FSX many followed. Nobody had really believed that I was going to continue with Aer Arann Islands since of my past with ROBLOX. Now, after much deliberation I think I’ve got the sweet spot and we’ll be sticking there for a while. Thankfully we’ve settled in, and people are convinced that it will remain. And here we are.
Hard times
Did you have any bad experiences with your Virtual Airline?
Fortunately, not at this stage, and hopefully never. We don’t encourage or condole in conflict but rather teamwork.
Pilots coming and going
What do you think of your Virtual Airline’s flow of new and leaving VA pilots? Is there something you do to attract more pilots? And why do you think some pilots leave your Virtual Airline?
People seem to like what they’re given. We give you the basics, and we let you do whatever with that information, with some guidelines. They can have the freedom to do what they want, and that way we keep the pilots we already have.
Fleet and liveries
What types of planes does your Virtual Airline use and do you have all the custom liveries available for your VA?
All 3 Islander Registration are created, and our fictional aircraft are all equipped with custom liveries.
Online networks
Does your VA fly on a network? If so, what do you think about it? Do you feel it supplements the general flying experience, what do you think of the network in general and is it required for your pilots to fly on this network?
The only network we officially fly on is projectFLY. This is a requirement, but if pilots feel the need to use other software’s such as VATSIM they are more than welcome to do so. We don’t have specific set rules for it. Most pilots will benefit from this as it brings a next level of experience to them. I’m personally not a fan of online networks other than projectFLY, but once again it’s all up to the pilots of what they do with it.
Flight tracking
Do you use any flight tracking software? If so, which one, and are you happy about the service it provides? Would you like to improve it for example?
projectFLY is our main source. I’m completely satisfied – every request I make will take less than an hour to be sorted. For example when we were founded I asked a staff member to add Aer Arann Islands as it was not an airline choice option. It was done and dusted in about 10 minutes.
Developer offers
Do you make use of the offers some developers / distributors have for Virtual Airlines? Do you think these developers / distributors have good offers? And does it fit your Virtual Airline policy?
We don’t accept developers. As a certified cheapo I think it’s fair to say we’ve got a good number without having to pay anything. Occasionally we might get someone to do something, but extremely rare, especially with me.
Website
Does your Virtual Airline have a custom made internet web page or do you use, for example, PHPVMS and equivalents? Are you happy about your VA’s web page?
It’s only a google sites with no custom domain but it still serves it’s purpose.
The year ahead
And lastly, what are your expectations for your Virtual Airline in the coming twelve months?
If we gain by 30 pilots I’ll be as happy as larry.
The original questionnaire
This is the questionnaire as the CEO sent it to us, in PDF.
