A virtual airline (VA) is a dedicated hobby organization that uses flight simulation to model the operations of an airline. Virtual airlines generally have a presence on the internet, similar to a real airline. There are over 100 virtual airlines of significance currently active in the internet (supporting a number of flightsims), with thousands of participants involved at any one time each using different simulator platforms.
Purpose
Virtual airlines were started to give a sense of purpose to activities conducted within a flight simulator. This basic premise has evolved over time, along with available technology, to provide increasing levels of immersion but always with the same core purpose. When combined with increasingly powerful personal computers, advancing flight simulation software, and communications networks, virtual airlines are often able to provide compelling, realistic, experiences similar to operations inside a real airline. Virtual airlines also provide an avenue for members to gain access to additional content, such as aircraft and scenery, for use with their simulator. The appeal varies; for younger members, virtual airlines provide a sandbox environment where they can experience the corporate environment of commercial business in the airline industry, without the risk of financial loss. These organizations also provide an outlet for those who are interested in aviation but unable to fly themselves in real life due to financial, health, or other reasons.
Most of all, its one step closer to enthusiasts feeling more involved in an airline environment and share their interests with others.
Virtual Airlines also benefit the flight simulator community by providing valuable services such as ATC, events, and general help and knowledge.
Common elements
There are several elements that are common across many virtual airlines:
- A website as the focal point of the community
- Internet forum where discussion and social interaction can occur
- Customized livery that users can download together with aircraft and install in their flight simulator
- Route schedules for members to fly in their simulators
- Multiplayer events, often on a game network such as VATSIM or IVAO
- Less common elements include:
- An Online database for recording and reporting flights and membership statistics
- Dedicated game server hosting to provide private areas for members to complete flights
- Award, rank and recognition systems
- Voice over Internet Protocol servers for members to communicate freely by voice
Current FlightGear Virtual Airlines
Air Lanaudière - NorskAir |
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| | Main hub |
CYUL |
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Airline details |
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| Status |
Active |
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| Hubs |
- CYUL (ALQ, ALE)
- CSK3 (ALE)
- CSM5 (ALE)
- CYMX (ALX)
- ENGM (ALX, NKA)
- ENBR (NKH)
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| Fleet |
Cessna Caravan
ATR72-500
Embraer E-170LR
Embraer E-190LR
Airbus A318
Airbus A319
Boeing 777-200LR
Boeing 787-8 |
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| Callsign format |
ALQxxxx
ALExxxx
ALXxxxx
NKAxxxx
NKHxxxx |
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| Website | |
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BRT Virtual Airlines |
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| | Main hub |
UKBB |
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| Established |
Nov 2010 |
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|
Airline details |
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| Status |
Active |
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| History |
Founded in Nov 2010, BRT has strived to achieve excellence in flying in FlightGear, and to create a quality community in flightsims. |
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| Hubs | |
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| Fleet |
737-300 (8)
747-800i (4)
777-200ER (17)
787-800 (8; all grounded)
E190-200 (22)
DHC6-300 (5) |
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| Has ATC |
Yes, FGCom / FlightGear |
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| Callsign format |
BRT<pilot> |
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| Website | |
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Century Airlines |
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| | Main hub |
SKBO |
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| Established |
March 2012 |
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Airline details |
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| Status |
Active |
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| History |
Century Airlines was born on March 25, 2012 from an idea to change the system used by the virtual airlines in FlightGear and allow virtual pilots to have more freedom when flying. The airline began with a diffusion through FG community forums (not official), then it began a gradual expansion of a new system for pilots and their way of flying in a virtual airline. On January 25, 2013 Century Airlines got more than 500 reported flights from its virtual pilots. |
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| Hubs | |
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| Fleet |
Airbus A330-243 (2)
Airbus A340-600 (2)
Airbus A321-231 (2)
Airbus A320-214 (5)
Airbus A319-111 (4)
Airbus A318-111 (4)
CRJ-700 (9)
787-8 (3)
747-8i (3)
777F (5)
777-200ER (5)
777-200LR (4)
CRJ-200 (1)
Citation X (1)
DHC8-Q300 (3) |
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| Has ATC |
FGCom, RaidCall, Mumble |
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| Callsign format |
CAxxxxx |
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| Website | |
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| Forum | |
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Global Virtual Airlines |
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| | Main hub |
EDDF |
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| Established |
April 2010 (as Atlas Virtual Airlines) |
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Airline details |
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| Status |
Active |
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| Hubs | |
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| Fleet |
737-300
737-900
747-8i
777-200ER
787-8
B1900D
CRJ700LR
DHC6-300
DHC8-400Q
Il-96-400
MD-81 |
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| Has ATC |
YES, FGCom |
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| Callsign format |
GVAxxxx |
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| Website | |
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| Forum | |
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Merlion Virtual Airlines |
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| | Main hub |
WSSS (MIA/MCA) |
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| Established |
November 2010 |
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Airline details |
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| Status |
Active |
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| Hubs |
- WSSS (MIA Hub)
- KLAX (MIA Hub)
- EGKK (MIA Hub)
- ELLX (MCA Hub)
- KMEM (MCA Hub)
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| Fleet | |
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| Callsign format |
MIAxxxx (Merlion Intl.), MCAxxxx (Merlion CARGO) |
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| Website | |
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| Forum |
A part of the website. |
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Virtual Air Canada |
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| | Main hub |
CYYZ |
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| Established |
May 2013 |
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Airline details |
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| Status |
Just Opened, looking for pilots |
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| History |
Founded in May 2013 on the 11th. We hope to bring realism to the airline and community. We hope that this'll turn into a good airline in the future. |
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| Hubs | |
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| Fleet |
B1900D
Embraer E175
A320NEO (Will be leased out soon for 737NG)
ATR72-500
777-200LR
A330-300 |
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| Callsign format |
ACAxxx
ACTxxx |
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| Website | |
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| Forum |
Soon be added onto the website |
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Union Virtual Airlines |
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[[File: |100px]] | Main hub |
LYBE |
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| Established |
May 2013. |
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Airline details |
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| Status |
Active,but we are allways looking for pilots. |
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| History |
Started in May 2013,Union VA itself,emerged out of the need for a diferrent VA. Out of the need for a VA which will have the freedom as the priority. Out of the need to explore the world,to land at most exciting airports,to search for some hidden places,thriling airports... To give a chance to our pilot to fly on some of the best airliners of today,and to fly where and when they want to,when flying for our charter division,called Union International. To give our pilots a chance to make this airline better,the freedom to suggest,change,quote..the chance to activly participate in the growth of this airline. |
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| Hubs | |
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| Fleet |
Cessna 208 Grand Caravan
DHC-8 400
CRJ 900
Boeing 737-300
Boeing 757-200 |
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| Has ATC |
No |
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| Callsign format |
UVAxxx |
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| Website | |
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| Forum | |
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Defunct Flightgear Virtual Airlines
Cresder Nixrof |
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| Established |
November 2010 |
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Airline details |
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| Status |
Defunct |
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| History |
Dissolved January 2012 |
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| Hubs |
- OLBA
- WMKK
- EGKK
- YSSY
- KSTL
- SBGR
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| Has ATC |
No |
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| Callsign format |
CNAxxxx |
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