Getting Started

Introduction

Welcome to NZ Virtual Aviation!

I know what you are thinking now. Where are the airplanes? How do I know what flights to fly? How do I log my flights? This is a brief Getting Started Guide for finding your way around the website, finding aircraft and getting involved. There are more documents on the website that will help you with the more detailed rules and technical details.

Login to Site

Using the Pilot ID and Password emailed to you login to the site and look around! You will find the relevant documents, timetables, announcements and other important parts of the airline.

Join the Forums

More than likely you have already joined through the inital signup process, continue on.

At the moment our website does not link the site login to the forum login. You will need to login using your site login then register on the forums. Please use the following format for registering for the forums: 

[Pilot ID] - [Full Name]

for example: "NZ123 - Bob Brown"

All forum accounts are validated and Forum Names approved by the administrators. Go ahead and Introduce yourself in the New Pilots Information Centre in the forums.

Download Aircraft

Use the website navigation to make your way to the fleet hanger to select the aircraft for download. As a trainee you are cleared to fly the following aircraft:

  • Dash8-Q300

We suggest that you register (for free) with flightsim.com and avsim.com to locate the most appropriate models. See the Resources Section following for links to these sites. Install the aircraft in accordance with the instructions contained within the downloaded files.

If you need any help go to the Fleet Hangar in the forums.

It is recommended that you use the specified freeware models as the fuel consumption forms a major part of the promotion procedure for the airline.

Where available the recommended pay ware model is also listed.

Select Flights

From within the Crew Centre you will find a searchable list of currently available origins and destinations. Click on the city you wish to travel from, then the city you wish to fly to. A list of available flights, sorted by departure time is displayed. From that page you can also click a link to see return legs in the opposite direction.

Click on the flight number to get all of the flight details for your flight, including flight number, aircraft type, departure and arrival times. If you are unable to select the flight then you are not cleared to fly the aircraft on this route.

It is a requirement that you select a flight that is within 1 hour of your current local time. If none is available within one hour of your local time then a flight of your choice can be selected.

Fly & Log Flight

NZ Virtual Aviation uses the FSACARS flight logging software for the recording of flights. Please download the FSACARS operation manual from our downloads area for instructions on recording and submitting your flights.

Please note that NZ Virtual Aviation does not permit the use of accelerated time on domestic flights. A Simulation Rate of 1x must be used while flying on New Zealand domestic routes.

Check Website for Logged Flight

Once your flight is logged successfully you can check your months flight time at the Crew Centre, click the Pilots Area link, then "View Log Book"

Promotions, Advancement, Online Flying & Training

At the moment NZ Virtual Aviation operates an advancement system based on the number of hours flown. However the promotion will be dependent on the quality of flights, fuel consumption and possibly a test on aircraft type knowledge, civil aviation rules and flight theory where the Board feels necessary further knowledge is required for that promotion.

To get a more realistic flying experience and to help build the NZ Virtual Aviation Flight Simulator community we support flying online using the VATSIM network. NZ Virtual Aviation is an affiliated airline with VATNZ, the New Zealand VATSIM Division and we encourage our pilots to join VATSIM with New Zealand as their home division.

If you are not 100% sure you are flying correctly there are two things that we recommend:

  1. Complete the Private Pilot, Airline Transport Pilot & Commercial Pilot Lessons and check rides in Flight Simulator.
  2. Post a help question in the Fleet Hanger Forum. We have a number of training captains that can help you.

Resources Links and Downloads

Aircraft

Freeware verisons of the majority of aircraft can be downloaded from:

Other Resources

We hope you enjoy your time with NZ Virtual Aviation and that we can help you become a pilot in the most beautiful country in the world.