FlightGear wiki - User contributions [en]

Howto:Make an airport

2009-12-22T04:21:46Z

Detra: /* What you need: */

For changing [[scenery]] and airports you needed [[TerraGear]], which was always very hard to use and only for Linux. With the [[FlightGear Scenery Designer]] it is also possible to make custom airports or to change existing airports in [[FlightGear]].

===What you need:===
* [[FlightGear Scenery Designer]] - ftp://ftp.ihg.uni-duisburg.de/FlightGear/Win32/fgsd-win32-20060423.zip
* [[TaxiDraw]] - ftp://ftp.ihg.uni-duisburg.de/FlightGear/Win32/taxidraw-win32-20061010.zip
* Runway layout data - either from the USA Airport & Scenery Database or from other free imagery
* other data about the airport you want to make
* shapes for the whole earth - ftp://ftp.ihg.uni-duisburg.de/FlightGear/TGShapes
** But that's a lot of data, so there is a another possibility - http://mapserver.flightgear.org/download.psp
* Heightmaps - <strike>http://telascience.sdsc.edu/tela_data/SRTM/version2/SRTM3/Eurasia/</strike> Link Broken
* Of course FlightGear - any version

[[Ubuntu]] users, can use the script in [[Ubuntu fg tools]].

=== Let's start with making the runway layout- taxidraw ===
At first we have to define the runways and taxiways. So we use [[TaxiDraw]]. A tutorial about using TaxiDraw could be find here: http://taxidraw.sourceforge.net/taxidraw/tutorial.html

So if we have done the airport in TaxiDraw, we save it as "airport.dat". That's the X-plane-fileformat, which is used by FlightGear too. Now we unpack apt.dat.gz in the data folder of FlightGear and paste and copy our new "airport.dat" into it. Don't use any special character like "/" - it could causes a 2h long troubleshooting on your pc system ;-) Now we pack it again to apt.dat.gz. For user of Linux it is easy, windows user can use [http://www-7-zip.org 7-zip].

=== Preparation for FGSD ===
#We create a file for the shapefiles like ./shapefiles.
#Now we download all the v0-layer and save them into the folder. Don't forget to unpack!
#Now we create a folder for the heightmap like./heightmap and download the required data. Here we don't need to unpack!
# Now we open FGSD and prepare it for our work "Tools" -> "Chop HGT-Files": Set the root to the file of the "heightmaps.zip" and change it to heightmaps.arr.gz by replacing ".zip" with ".arr.gz"
# Now set the roots in "Tools"-> "Option": General: ./flightGear/scenery Our new tile will be find there later.
# FlightGear: set the root to the data-file and the root for FlightGear Scenery to the file "shapefiles"

=== FGSD ===
We have now all what we need prepared for the work, so let's start:
In "File" we look for our requested ".arr.gz" and open the requested tile.
If we don't know the name, we can use the [[UFO from the 'White Project' of the UNESCO|UFO]] and place any object at the spot we want to have the new airport. We have to look now in the generated .xml-file and we see something like 3531408.stg. So we open in our case here the tile with the name 3531408.arr.gz.

You should see now your tile. If not, play a little bit with the buttons in the scenery toolbar. "Option" and "Landcover-DB" and check the required layers. You don't need the layer "v0landmass"

Sometimes you could only see the standart-layers, but we want to have our downloaded layers. So unckeck all, exit the program and launch it again. We have to order the layer and define which texture matches to the layer. ( so as an example the v0railroads really have the right texture). We also define the weidth.

The larger textures are always above the smaller one like that:

[x]mixcrop - ein grooßes polygon, größer als urban

[x]urban

[x]drycrop - ein grooßes polygon, größer als road

[x]road

Play a litte bit with it, so you can see how it works.
Now click "Simplify Terrain" in "Scenery" the heightmodel is now beeing simplified so we can use it in FlightGear. Click "embedded Curves" - the shapefiles will now being embedded and we can see our landclasses. Our airport is still missing - select "Tools" and "Select Airport" and choose our airport. You can see it now on the tile.

"Scenery"->"embeddes airports"

Ready!

Now we export it now: "File"->"Export"

We will find our airport in <tt>./FlightGear/Scenery</tt> and copy this into <tt>./data/scenery</tt>. If we have made a airport which was not yet existing in FlightGear, so put in the IACA-Code in <tt>./application data/flightgear.org/fgrun</tt> into the list.Now we launch FlightGear and start from our new made airport!

=== next time ===
Your preparations are saved, so the next time you have just to do following things:

# open "tile.arr.gz"
# Import curves
# simplify terrain
# embedded curves
# import airports
# embedded airports
# export!

Don't forget to send your new "airport.dat" to Robin Peel, so we all will benefit from!

===Sources of errors and FAQ===
*The new made airport has no lights, towers, beacons and windsocks?
**That's right - in the moment it is only possible with terragear. But you can place in FGSD the towers, beacons and windsocks with the object editor.
*I don't see any roads and rivers?
**You have to define the width: "Tools" - "landcover DB" -> "width" maybe. 10 for smaller ones and 20 for bigger ones.
*I only see the default-texture?
**Uncheck v0-landmass
*I see only red-white chequered surfaces in FlightGear?
**Look if you have used in taxidraw the textures: others- they don't work in FlightGear.
*I can't start FlightGear?
**Look if you used special characters in apt.dat.gz - No use of special characters!

== Thanks==
'''Thanks to:'''
* Vadym who discovered this function in FGSD and showed it on the devel-list!
* Frederic Bouvier, who wrote FGSD!
* Martin Spott and Ralf Gerlich for the Landcover DB!

[[Category:Howto|Make an airport]]
[[Category:Scenery enhancement|Make an airport]]

Howto:Make an airport

2009-12-22T04:21:00Z

Detra: /* What you need: */

For changing [[scenery]] and airports you needed [[TerraGear]], which was always very hard to use and only for Linux. With the [[FlightGear Scenery Designer]] it is also possible to make custom airports or to change existing airports in [[FlightGear]].

===What you need:===
* [[FlightGear Scenery Designer]] - ftp://ftp.ihg.uni-duisburg.de/FlightGear/Win32/fgsd-win32-20060423.zip
* [[TaxiDraw]] - ftp://ftp.ihg.uni-duisburg.de/FlightGear/Win32/taxidraw-win32-20061010.zip
* Runway layout data - either from the USA Airport & Scenery Database or from other free imagery
* other data about the airport you want to make
* shapes for the whole earth - ftp://ftp.ihg.uni-duisburg.de/FlightGear/TGShapes
** But that's a lot of data, so there is a another possibility - http://mapserver.flightgear.org/download.psp
* Heightmaps - <strike>http://telascience.sdsc.edu/tela_data/SRTM/version2/SRTM3/Eurasia/</strike>
* Of course FlightGear - any version

[[Ubuntu]] users, can use the script in [[Ubuntu fg tools]].

=== Let's start with making the runway layout- taxidraw ===
At first we have to define the runways and taxiways. So we use [[TaxiDraw]]. A tutorial about using TaxiDraw could be find here: http://taxidraw.sourceforge.net/taxidraw/tutorial.html

So if we have done the airport in TaxiDraw, we save it as "airport.dat". That's the X-plane-fileformat, which is used by FlightGear too. Now we unpack apt.dat.gz in the data folder of FlightGear and paste and copy our new "airport.dat" into it. Don't use any special character like "/" - it could causes a 2h long troubleshooting on your pc system ;-) Now we pack it again to apt.dat.gz. For user of Linux it is easy, windows user can use [http://www-7-zip.org 7-zip].

=== Preparation for FGSD ===
#We create a file for the shapefiles like ./shapefiles.
#Now we download all the v0-layer and save them into the folder. Don't forget to unpack!
#Now we create a folder for the heightmap like./heightmap and download the required data. Here we don't need to unpack!
# Now we open FGSD and prepare it for our work "Tools" -> "Chop HGT-Files": Set the root to the file of the "heightmaps.zip" and change it to heightmaps.arr.gz by replacing ".zip" with ".arr.gz"
# Now set the roots in "Tools"-> "Option": General: ./flightGear/scenery Our new tile will be find there later.
# FlightGear: set the root to the data-file and the root for FlightGear Scenery to the file "shapefiles"

=== FGSD ===
We have now all what we need prepared for the work, so let's start:
In "File" we look for our requested ".arr.gz" and open the requested tile.
If we don't know the name, we can use the [[UFO from the 'White Project' of the UNESCO|UFO]] and place any object at the spot we want to have the new airport. We have to look now in the generated .xml-file and we see something like 3531408.stg. So we open in our case here the tile with the name 3531408.arr.gz.

You should see now your tile. If not, play a little bit with the buttons in the scenery toolbar. "Option" and "Landcover-DB" and check the required layers. You don't need the layer "v0landmass"

Sometimes you could only see the standart-layers, but we want to have our downloaded layers. So unckeck all, exit the program and launch it again. We have to order the layer and define which texture matches to the layer. ( so as an example the v0railroads really have the right texture). We also define the weidth.

The larger textures are always above the smaller one like that:

[x]mixcrop - ein grooßes polygon, größer als urban

[x]urban

[x]drycrop - ein grooßes polygon, größer als road

[x]road

Play a litte bit with it, so you can see how it works.
Now click "Simplify Terrain" in "Scenery" the heightmodel is now beeing simplified so we can use it in FlightGear. Click "embedded Curves" - the shapefiles will now being embedded and we can see our landclasses. Our airport is still missing - select "Tools" and "Select Airport" and choose our airport. You can see it now on the tile.

"Scenery"->"embeddes airports"

Ready!

Now we export it now: "File"->"Export"

We will find our airport in <tt>./FlightGear/Scenery</tt> and copy this into <tt>./data/scenery</tt>. If we have made a airport which was not yet existing in FlightGear, so put in the IACA-Code in <tt>./application data/flightgear.org/fgrun</tt> into the list.Now we launch FlightGear and start from our new made airport!

=== next time ===
Your preparations are saved, so the next time you have just to do following things:

# open "tile.arr.gz"
# Import curves
# simplify terrain
# embedded curves
# import airports
# embedded airports
# export!

Don't forget to send your new "airport.dat" to Robin Peel, so we all will benefit from!

===Sources of errors and FAQ===
*The new made airport has no lights, towers, beacons and windsocks?
**That's right - in the moment it is only possible with terragear. But you can place in FGSD the towers, beacons and windsocks with the object editor.
*I don't see any roads and rivers?
**You have to define the width: "Tools" - "landcover DB" -> "width" maybe. 10 for smaller ones and 20 for bigger ones.
*I only see the default-texture?
**Uncheck v0-landmass
*I see only red-white chequered surfaces in FlightGear?
**Look if you have used in taxidraw the textures: others- they don't work in FlightGear.
*I can't start FlightGear?
**Look if you used special characters in apt.dat.gz - No use of special characters!

== Thanks==
'''Thanks to:'''
* Vadym who discovered this function in FGSD and showed it on the devel-list!
* Frederic Bouvier, who wrote FGSD!
* Martin Spott and Ralf Gerlich for the Landcover DB!

[[Category:Howto|Make an airport]]
[[Category:Scenery enhancement|Make an airport]]

Virtual airlines

2009-12-19T21:57:27Z

Detra: /* Current Flightgear Virtual Airlines */

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.

[[Image:virtualairlines.jpg|thumb|430px|The logos of most of the currently existing Virtual Airlines operating in FlightGear.]]

==Virtual Airlines in FlightGear==
Currently, some number of virtual airlines exist, with airlines made of various experiences, fleets and operations. Here is a list of some of the known virtual airlines to have existed.

===Current Flightgear Virtual Airlines===
These are the current virtual airlines in operation. Major Virtual Airlines include (In order of start announcement):
* Detra Airlines
* [[Island Virtual Airways]]
* [[Airlink Virtual]]
* [http://transgear.treborlogic.com TransGear Airways]
* [[Japan Pacific Airlines]] - Cargo Only
* [[Skynet International]]
* [[Coastal Air Systems]]
* [[Coastal Air Orient]]
* [[Europe Airlines]]

===Current Alliances===
* [[Star Alliance]]
* [[SkyTeam]]
* [[Skygear Alliance]]
* Sky Alliance

===Proposed Airlines===
These are the airlines proposed but not seen actual operations as of today.
* Sandy Oceania Airlines

===Inactive Airlines===
The term "inactive" is debated on the forums. Here, deserting of the website and/or operations are defined as inactive.
* Gisi Airlines
* [[Euroair]]
* [[Wisma Virtual Airways]]
* [[Americair]]
* [[Air San Francisco]]

As the concept of virtual airlines is fairly new, it is unknown how active these virtual airlines are. Some are fairly active, including Skynet International, Coastal Air Systems or Euroair, or are inactive (decommisioned), such as Air San Francisco and Americair.

==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.

==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

----

==Controversies==

===Copyright Issues===
When a virtual airline is created in the image of a real world airline legal issues can arise out of copyright violations. In 2003, a real world airline, Qantas Airways Ltd, announced a new low-cost carrier by the name of Jetstar Airways. However, a virtual airline named Jetstar International Airlines already existed, complete with a web site. As part of their startup promotion, Qantas sold 100,000 airline tickets at a discount price, and the virtual airline's web site was swamped with would-be customers, job-seekers, and prospective vendors. The virtual airline sued Qantas, claiming that Qantas stole the virtual airline's livery and trademark.

* If you wish to create a virtual airline- Which Flightgear would be eager for you to do, Please do not base it on real life airlines to save copyright issues!

===Association with terrorism===
Claims have been made of the use of both flight simulators and virtual airlines as training devices for terrorist activities, although to date no conclusive link has ever been provided to indicate a situation where a virtual airline has provided flight simulation training to anyone involved in a terrorist activity.
Jermaine Lindsay, one of the four 7 July 2005 London bombings, may have used flight simulators to practice flying an airliner, with an accusation that he was registered with a virtual airline. A person of the same name listed his nearest major airport as Heathrow and clocked up 30 hours in two months with SimAirline.net. The website later denied the member's linking with the bombing, and indicated it was working with the Metropolitan Police to establish whether its former member was the bomber. The website stated that it provides information about airlines and free add-on software for Microsoft Flight Simulator and does not provide flight instruction to its members.
The 9/11 Commission in the US concluded in 2004 that those responsible for flying the planes into World Trade Center and Pentagon had used PC-based flight simulators for training. Despite the initial concerns of the involvement of virtual airlines in these terrorist activities, largely little has come from these claims to date and no changes have been noted as occurring in their operation as a result.

===Underpopulation===
So far, a mere estimate of one hundred people use the FlightGear multiplayer community. Despite this, more and more virtual airlines are emerging and cannot collect as many people as it wishes. Theories of "college students wanting power" and other ideas have been brought up several times inside the FlightGear forum, but has not been dealt with yet in the present. The underpopulation and overorganization issue has made the multiplayer networks confusing to use, possibly scaring users away to other simulators such as X-Plane and Microsoft Flight Simulator, where virtual airlines and multiplayer services are more organized and population-managed. Due to underpopulation, some airlines were forced to close due to hardship of managment, including former major airline Euroair.

Virtual airlines

2009-12-19T21:57:09Z

Detra: /* Current Flightgear Virtual Airlines */

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.

[[Image:virtualairlines.jpg|thumb|430px|The logos of most of the currently existing Virtual Airlines operating in FlightGear.]]

==Virtual Airlines in FlightGear==
Currently, some number of virtual airlines exist, with airlines made of various experiences, fleets and operations. Here is a list of some of the known virtual airlines to have existed.

===Current Flightgear Virtual Airlines===
These are the current virtual airlines in operation. Major Virtual Airlines include (In order of start announcement):
* [[Detra Airlines]]
* [[Island Virtual Airways]]
* [[Airlink Virtual]]
* [http://transgear.treborlogic.com TransGear Airways]
* [[Japan Pacific Airlines]] - Cargo Only
* [[Skynet International]]
* [[Coastal Air Systems]]
* [[Coastal Air Orient]]
* [[Europe Airlines]]

===Current Alliances===
* [[Star Alliance]]
* [[SkyTeam]]
* [[Skygear Alliance]]
* Sky Alliance

===Proposed Airlines===
These are the airlines proposed but not seen actual operations as of today.
* Sandy Oceania Airlines

===Inactive Airlines===
The term "inactive" is debated on the forums. Here, deserting of the website and/or operations are defined as inactive.
* Gisi Airlines
* [[Euroair]]
* [[Wisma Virtual Airways]]
* [[Americair]]
* [[Air San Francisco]]

As the concept of virtual airlines is fairly new, it is unknown how active these virtual airlines are. Some are fairly active, including Skynet International, Coastal Air Systems or Euroair, or are inactive (decommisioned), such as Air San Francisco and Americair.

==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.

==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

----

==Controversies==

===Copyright Issues===
When a virtual airline is created in the image of a real world airline legal issues can arise out of copyright violations. In 2003, a real world airline, Qantas Airways Ltd, announced a new low-cost carrier by the name of Jetstar Airways. However, a virtual airline named Jetstar International Airlines already existed, complete with a web site. As part of their startup promotion, Qantas sold 100,000 airline tickets at a discount price, and the virtual airline's web site was swamped with would-be customers, job-seekers, and prospective vendors. The virtual airline sued Qantas, claiming that Qantas stole the virtual airline's livery and trademark.

* If you wish to create a virtual airline- Which Flightgear would be eager for you to do, Please do not base it on real life airlines to save copyright issues!

===Association with terrorism===
Claims have been made of the use of both flight simulators and virtual airlines as training devices for terrorist activities, although to date no conclusive link has ever been provided to indicate a situation where a virtual airline has provided flight simulation training to anyone involved in a terrorist activity.
Jermaine Lindsay, one of the four 7 July 2005 London bombings, may have used flight simulators to practice flying an airliner, with an accusation that he was registered with a virtual airline. A person of the same name listed his nearest major airport as Heathrow and clocked up 30 hours in two months with SimAirline.net. The website later denied the member's linking with the bombing, and indicated it was working with the Metropolitan Police to establish whether its former member was the bomber. The website stated that it provides information about airlines and free add-on software for Microsoft Flight Simulator and does not provide flight instruction to its members.
The 9/11 Commission in the US concluded in 2004 that those responsible for flying the planes into World Trade Center and Pentagon had used PC-based flight simulators for training. Despite the initial concerns of the involvement of virtual airlines in these terrorist activities, largely little has come from these claims to date and no changes have been noted as occurring in their operation as a result.

===Underpopulation===
So far, a mere estimate of one hundred people use the FlightGear multiplayer community. Despite this, more and more virtual airlines are emerging and cannot collect as many people as it wishes. Theories of "college students wanting power" and other ideas have been brought up several times inside the FlightGear forum, but has not been dealt with yet in the present. The underpopulation and overorganization issue has made the multiplayer networks confusing to use, possibly scaring users away to other simulators such as X-Plane and Microsoft Flight Simulator, where virtual airlines and multiplayer services are more organized and population-managed. Due to underpopulation, some airlines were forced to close due to hardship of managment, including former major airline Euroair.

Virtual airlines

2009-12-19T21:54:07Z

Detra: /* Current Alliances */

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.

[[Image:virtualairlines.jpg|thumb|430px|The logos of most of the currently existing Virtual Airlines operating in FlightGear.]]

==Virtual Airlines in FlightGear==
Currently, some number of virtual airlines exist, with airlines made of various experiences, fleets and operations. Here is a list of some of the known virtual airlines to have existed.

===Current Flightgear Virtual Airlines===
These are the current virtual airlines in operation. Major Virtual Airlines include (In order of start announcement):
* [[Island Virtual Airways]]
* [[Airlink Virtual]]
* [http://transgear.treborlogic.com TransGear Airways]
* [[Japan Pacific Airlines]] - Cargo Only
* [[Skynet International]]
* [[Coastal Air Systems]]
* [[Coastal Air Orient]]
* [[Europe Airlines]]

===Current Alliances===
* [[Star Alliance]]
* [[SkyTeam]]
* [[Skygear Alliance]]
* Sky Alliance

===Proposed Airlines===
These are the airlines proposed but not seen actual operations as of today.
* Sandy Oceania Airlines

===Inactive Airlines===
The term "inactive" is debated on the forums. Here, deserting of the website and/or operations are defined as inactive.
* Gisi Airlines
* [[Euroair]]
* [[Wisma Virtual Airways]]
* [[Americair]]
* [[Air San Francisco]]

As the concept of virtual airlines is fairly new, it is unknown how active these virtual airlines are. Some are fairly active, including Skynet International, Coastal Air Systems or Euroair, or are inactive (decommisioned), such as Air San Francisco and Americair.

==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.

==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

----

==Controversies==

===Copyright Issues===
When a virtual airline is created in the image of a real world airline legal issues can arise out of copyright violations. In 2003, a real world airline, Qantas Airways Ltd, announced a new low-cost carrier by the name of Jetstar Airways. However, a virtual airline named Jetstar International Airlines already existed, complete with a web site. As part of their startup promotion, Qantas sold 100,000 airline tickets at a discount price, and the virtual airline's web site was swamped with would-be customers, job-seekers, and prospective vendors. The virtual airline sued Qantas, claiming that Qantas stole the virtual airline's livery and trademark.

* If you wish to create a virtual airline- Which Flightgear would be eager for you to do, Please do not base it on real life airlines to save copyright issues!

===Association with terrorism===
Claims have been made of the use of both flight simulators and virtual airlines as training devices for terrorist activities, although to date no conclusive link has ever been provided to indicate a situation where a virtual airline has provided flight simulation training to anyone involved in a terrorist activity.
Jermaine Lindsay, one of the four 7 July 2005 London bombings, may have used flight simulators to practice flying an airliner, with an accusation that he was registered with a virtual airline. A person of the same name listed his nearest major airport as Heathrow and clocked up 30 hours in two months with SimAirline.net. The website later denied the member's linking with the bombing, and indicated it was working with the Metropolitan Police to establish whether its former member was the bomber. The website stated that it provides information about airlines and free add-on software for Microsoft Flight Simulator and does not provide flight instruction to its members.
The 9/11 Commission in the US concluded in 2004 that those responsible for flying the planes into World Trade Center and Pentagon had used PC-based flight simulators for training. Despite the initial concerns of the involvement of virtual airlines in these terrorist activities, largely little has come from these claims to date and no changes have been noted as occurring in their operation as a result.

===Underpopulation===
So far, a mere estimate of one hundred people use the FlightGear multiplayer community. Despite this, more and more virtual airlines are emerging and cannot collect as many people as it wishes. Theories of "college students wanting power" and other ideas have been brought up several times inside the FlightGear forum, but has not been dealt with yet in the present. The underpopulation and overorganization issue has made the multiplayer networks confusing to use, possibly scaring users away to other simulators such as X-Plane and Microsoft Flight Simulator, where virtual airlines and multiplayer services are more organized and population-managed. Due to underpopulation, some airlines were forced to close due to hardship of managment, including former major airline Euroair.

File:Virtualairlines.jpg

2009-12-19T21:52:18Z

Detra: uploaded a new version of "File:Virtualairlines.jpg": Added Detra Airlines

File:Skygear.png

2009-12-18T20:58:32Z

Detra: uploaded a new version of "File:Skygear.png": This is the new smaller Skygear Logo. It can also be re-sized/changed as needed.

Skygear Logo may be resized for aircraft

File:Skygear.png

2009-12-18T20:55:09Z

Detra: uploaded a new version of "File:Skygear.png": Skygear Logo may be re-sized for aircraft

Skygear Logo may be resized for aircraft

File:Skygear.png

2009-12-18T20:54:48Z

Detra: Skygear Logo may be resized for aircraft

Skygear Logo may be resized for aircraft