My home airline is notorious as being difficult when it comes to Virtual Airlines, so chose Malaysia Airlines to replicate and got permission from them.
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 am 33 years old, I am a bus driver but my main interest is aviation. I got into aviation through a game called Airport Inc. Then from there got Fly! then onto MS FS2002 then 2004 and FSX. I started a VA due to interest in running a Virtual Airline. And had a few false starts with different kinds of VA's fictional I decided I wanted to replicate a real world airline. My home airline is notorious as being difficult when it comes to Virtual Airlines, so chose Malaysia Airlines to replicate and got permission from them.
How it started
When did you start your Virtual Airline?
I started it in its current form in 2010. I originally created it in 2005 but had a poor system and only a free host.
Success
Do you consider your Virtual Airline successful?
Yes I consider it successful.
Best moment
What is your most interesting experience with your Virtual Airline, what has happened that makes you think so?
We have a few real world Malaysia Airline pilots as members. My VA site was used on Malaysia National TV when MH370 disappeared or when MH19 was shot down.
Hard times
Did you have any bad experiences with your Virtual Airline?
Due to financial problems I had to shut the VA down for a year, then when I started it back up the host eventually closed down with no notice.
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?
It is a bit slow at times but it comes and goes.
Fleet and liveries
What types of planes does your Virtual Airline use and do you have all the custom liveries available for your VA?
We have everything from the DHC6 Twin Otter right up to the A380..
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?
We fly on both vatsim and IVAO. I think it adds a bit more realism to a pilots flight. We do not have it as a requirement to join.
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?
Yes, we use smartCARS and kACARS which we have a custom made one called mACARS. We also allow our pilots to use xacars and fspassengers.
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?
Currently we don't have any agreements with developers, but it is something we are looking into.
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?
Yes we use PHPVMS and are currently working on a new system custom made for our VA.
The year ahead
And lastly, what are your expectations for your Virtual Airline in the coming twelve months?
To grow and launch our new site.
The original questionnaire
This is the questionnaire as the CEO sent it to us, in PDF.
