This morning I did the flight 'Wellington 4' from Auckland (NZAA) to Wellington (NZWN) in my Air New Zealand 737-800.
As the co-founder and CEO of New Zealand Virtual Airlines, I thought I might share with you the awesomeness of VAFS3 - Virtual Airline Financial Systems version 3.
New Zealand Virtual Airlines uses this programme to track our pilots flight data, hours, and pretty much everything you would expect from a flight tracking system.
The VAFS database houses all of our Flights which happen to be most Air New Zealand routes, excluding the Q300 as we do not operate that aircraft at this time (due to no good add-on Q300's for FSX).
Righto, lets get into this.
When you log into the VAFS3 Pilot Client, after registering on our site you will see this window.
When you click "Track Flight" you will be able to veiw all flights available to you. As you can only fly flights from your last destination. However, you are able to 'Jumpseats' to a location and fly from there, at a cost to you.
When you join our Virtual Airline you may choose any one aircraft out of the 7 that we operate to fly as a First Officer. Then, when you feel you have the experience and knowlege and you have met the minimum required hours you may apply for a position as a Captain.
As we have a Skill based rank structure, not hour based. Pilots are able to progress onto flying larger aircraft due to their skill, not because they have '150' hours for example.
VAFS3 has so many features, and looks fantastic!
Now, getting back to the flight.
When you have chosen the flight you wish to fly, and VAFS has checked that your engines have been shut down (if they haven't it will shut them down for you) you will see this window.
Before you start your engines, you may view the Passenger Manifest for your flight (you may also veiw this in flight).
While doing your pre-flight briefing you can view the current weather at your destination airport to plan your arrival.
You can also view the estimated Fuel that you should have for this flight and aircraft as provided by VAFS3.
Now lets get away from the gate and taxi to the runway.
We also have a Live Flights map that you can view on our website, that shows all current flights that are been flown by pilots in our Virtual Airline. This shows your position, whether you are Taxiing to the Runway, Climbing, Descending, or Taxiing to the gate. The Live Flights map is integrated into a modifed version of Google Maps.
VAFS3 relays all of your data into one window, your Airspeed, groundspeed, FPM, everything!
We have landed at Wellington and are now taxiing to the gate.
Your flight will stop once you have landed and your parking brake is set.
If you are a dial-up user, or just don't want to be connected to the internet while you fly, you can still fly on VAFS3 while you are offline and upload your flight data later!
NOTE: You will need to be connected to the internet when you log into VAFS3.
When you feel like it you can upload your flight data.
You can view all of your past flights on VAFS3.
Your flight data will look like this.
You can also view our fleet, and our entire flight schedule.
If you think you can imagine yourself using this fantastic programme by Michael Smith, then visit our website and sign up today!
We are currently only supporting FSX, but are discussing the benefits of opening up to FS2004 (FS9).
If you are interested in becomming the NZVA - FS9 Division Manager, then you can contact me here
Cheers,
Max
NZVA CEO
