1. travel
2. transports
3. air travel
4. airlines

Standard Operations Manual
Version 2.3
August 31, 2014
Updated and Published by: Sean Paul Jackson, Director of Human Resources
Reviewed by: Emerson Senden, Executive Vice President;
Robert Reifsnyder, Director of Corporate Events
Approved by: Jimmy Reistad, Chief Executive Officer
Virtual United Airlines is not affiliated with or sponsored by United Airlines, Inc. The trademarks “United”, “United
Airlines”, the Globe Design, and other such marks are the property of United Airlines and its affiliates. Information
contained in this manual is for simulation use only and should not under any circumstances be construed or used
for real world flight instruction or advice.
1
Virtual United Airlines – Standard Operations Manual – August 31, 2014
June 14, 2014
From: Director of Human Resources, Virtual United Airlines (vUAL)
To: All vUAL Members
Subject: Standard Operations Manual 2.2
Introduction. The staff and management of Virtual United Airlines (vUAL) are dedicated to
enhancing the experience of flight simulation enthusiast by providing a realistic simulation of
United Airlines airline operations.
We know that our pilots all fly for different reasons. Some may want to utilize their time with
vUAL for the development of a hobby, while the many real-world pilots on our roster may strive
to further develop and practice their skills. Regardless of the reason for choosing to fly with
vUAL, we pledge to give our pilots the resources they need to get the most out of their
experience.
This official manual has been created to outline the policies and procedures that govern the
day-to-day operations of the organization to our personnel. All efforts are being exhausted to
ensure this manual contains useful and applicable information in respects to the many different
facets of the vUAL operation. In the event any of these policies are unclear or there is an iss ue
that is not being addressed in this manual please contact the Director of Marketing.
The nature of our operations prevents this manual from covering every unique situation that
may arise. Ultimately, your success as a virtual pilot will depend on a mix of acceptable
practices, judgment and common sense.
Application. The policies and procedures outlined in this manual are applicable to all vUAL
personnel. Acceptance into the organization and use of its systems signify your agreement to
review and abide by the guidelines set forth in this document. The Director of Marketing is
responsible for the management of this manual. Any changes shall be approved by the
President/CEO prior to implementation.
Cancellation: This document cancels the Standard Operations Manual version 2.2
Sean P Jackson
Director of Human Resources
Virtual United Airlines
2
Virtual United Airlines – Standard Operations Manual – August 31, 2014
Revision Log
Version
1.0
2.0
2.1
2.2
2.3
3
Notes
Original Standard Operating Manual
Complete Re-Write of Standard Operating Manual
Updated Section 3.3 – Initial PIREP and Minimum Flight Requirements,
to change first flight requirement from 10 days from membership
acceptance to 14 days. Section 5.4 – Flight Procedures, to change
maximum allowed landing feet per minute (FPM) to -600fpm
Added Revision Log and added section 5.7 - Livery and Fleet Selection
Added Section 4.1.4 – Globe Connection Forum
Virtual United Airlines – Standard Operations Manual – August 31, 2014
Table of Contents
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
4
Legal Information and Disclosure …………………………………………………………. 5
Corporate Leadership Structure …………………………………………………………… 5
Membership ……………………………………………………………………………………… 10
Code of Conduct …………………………….………………………………………………….. 14
Flight Operations ……………………………………………………………………………….. 16
PIREP Filing Methods …………………………………………………………………………. 18
Support ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 21
Virtual United Airlines – Standard Operations Manual – August 31, 2014
1.0 Legal Information and Disclosure
Ba ck to Top
1.1 Real World Affiliation and Copyrights
Virtual United Airlines (vUAL) is a virtual airline. The organization is not a real world airline, nor
are there any real world offices in our “hub” or “station” locations. The organization does not
hire individuals for any sort of real world employment. All published virtual flight information
(including charts, airport diagrams, flight schedules, etc.) is for the use of vUAL pilots in their
simulation experience and are not to be substituted for use in real world aviation.
vUAL’s purpose is to proved entertainment and education to its voluntary members. Any
operation or documentation that is similar to any actual airline is purely coincidental and is no
way intended to violate copyrights, trademarks or other protection laws. All airline logos and
trademarks displayed on the vUAL site remain the property of the respective airline.
vUAL is in no way associated with United Airlines, Inc., its subsidiaries or affiliates.
vUAL is a non-profit entity and generates no revenue whatsoever. The vUAL website does not
have the ability to accept or allow consumers to purchase actual airline tickets.
Actual customers of United Airlines carefully research prices, book flights, create itineraries,
etc and the vUAL public website does not have flight schedules or booking pages available that
may confuse a customer to believe they were booking a flight with vUAL instead of United
Airlines.
2.0 Corporate Leadership Structure
Ba ck to Top
The vUAL corporate leadership structure is designed to make clear the responsibilities of each
staff member. The vUAL Human Resources department is expecting continued growth, so new
and modified positions will likely be created as we continually evaluate the level and quality of
service provided to our pilots.
The corporate leadership structure is composed of three divisions: Administration, Operations
and Human Resources. There are currently three levels of management: President, Executive
Vice President, Director and Station Manager.
5
Virtual United Airlines – Standard Operations Manual – August 31, 2014
2.1 Corporate Structure
Executive Management Team
 President / Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
 Executive Vice President, Chief of Operations (COO)
Operations and Station Management
 Director of Eastern Operations (DEO)
 Dulles Station Manager (WSM)
 Newark Station Manager (NSM)
 Director of Western Operations (DWO)
 San Francisco Station Manager (SSM)
 Los Angeles Station Manager (LSM)
 Director of Midwest Operations (DMO)
 Chicago Station Manager (CSM)
 Houston Station Manager (HSM)
 Denver Station Manager (DSM)






Director of Human Resources (DHR)
Director of Corporate Events/Events Coordinator (DE)
Director of Marketing (DM)
Director of Scheduling (DS)
Director of Information Technology (DIT)
Director of Learning and Development (DT)
2.1.1 Administration Division
President/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO): The President/Chief Executive Officer is
responsible for the continued development and administrative oversight of the organization
as a whole. He/she leads the Executive Management Team that is charged with creating and
implementing policies and procedures, and is responsible for the planning of goals,
objectives and operations within the entire organization.
The CEO establishes and maintains the corporate leadership structure (modifying it as
organizational needs grow or decrease) and delegates authority to all staff members. The
CEO maintains the overall responsibility and authority to hire, suspend, demote, promote
and terminate personnel and is authorized to hear and determine a course of action on all
personnel complaints.
Staff who report to the CEO: Executive Vice President/Chief Operations Officer, Director of
Information Technology
6
Virtual United Airlines – Standard Operations Manual – August 31, 2014
Director of Human Resources (DHR): The Director of Human Resources ensures the ongoing
development and implementation of corporate human resources policies and procedures.
His/her responsibility includes (but not limited to):





Monitoring all aspects of HR operations and delegating tasks as necessary.
Reviewing and approving Leaves of Absence.
Managing all terminations and their implementation.
Auditing all promotion requests and implementing pilot promotions.
Overseeing the overall hiring of all new staff members.
Staff who report to the DHR: Director of Learning and Development
In addition to daily responsibilities, the DHR is also responsible for ensuring all issues or
violations relating to organizational policies are address in a timely and professional manner.
Additionally the DHR coordinates with the Operations Personnel to ensure proper
documentation of actions taken by Directors and Vice Presidents.
Director of Marketing (DM): The Director of Marketing is appointed by the CEO and has the
responsibility of maintaining all internal and external communications. To execute these
functions the DM uses a diverse mix of organizational announcements, public press rel eases
and external publicity for vUAL and applicable events/activities. In addition to the above the
DM is responsible for researching, identifying and implementing creative methods for
promoting vUAL. The DM will also serve as the Editor-in-Chief of the organizations magazine.
He/she solicits, authors and edits articles and content submissions, develops graphics and
publishes each issue of the magazine on monthly (or, if content submissions cannot support
monthly editions, bimonthly) basis.
Director of Information Technology (DIT): The Director of Information Technology is
appointed by the CEO and is responsible for maintaining the overall functionality and
operation of the vUAL website and flight tracking software. The DIT will work directl y with
the CEO and COO to establish methods for backing up system information and software to
ensure continuous availability of all IT systems and applications.
2.1.2 Operations Division
Executive Vice President/Chief Operations Officer (COO): The Executive Vice
President/Chief Operations Officer is appointed by the CEO and is responsible for managing
day-to-day operations (Events, Schedules, Fleet and Station Operations) of the organization.
He/she is a member of the executive management team and assists with the development
of all organizational goals. The COO’s primary function is to ensure the airline runs
efficiently. Some specific responsibilities include:


7
Recommending the modification of existing or implementation of revised policies,
procedures and programs based on operational/organizational needs.
Working with the Director of Corporate Events to organize and release new events.
Virtual United Airlines – Standard Operations Manual – August 31, 2014

Determines the agenda for the vUAL Management Team meeting and schedules the meeting
on a monthly basis.
Staff who report to the COO: Director of Human Resources, Director of Corporate Events,
Director of Eastern Operations, Director of Western Operations, Director of Midwest
Operations, Director of Pacific Operations, Director of Scheduling, Director of Marketing
Director of Operations (DEO, DWO, DMO): All Directors of Operations are appointed by the
COO and are responsible for the day-to-day operations of their region. Specific
responsibilities include (if a station has a station manager, some operational duties may be
delegated to the SM):









Processing Pilot Reports (PIREPs) and ensuring they are submitted via an acceptable
source and comply with all vUAL flight standards prior to approval.
Attending regular staff meetings and utilizing TeamSpeak to communicate with all staff
and pilots.
Selecting his/her region’s Pilot of the Month and notifying the COO (Must be submitted
within the first seven days of the calendar month). Criteria used should include: hours
flown, landing rates, fuel consumption, on-time arrivals, etc.
Providing assistance to all personnel within their region in regards o any issue related to
flight operations and airline procedures.
Communicating with executive management regarding pilot conflicts/situations and
working to find and implement and acceptable solution within the parameters of policy
and code of conduct.
Issuing written warning to personnel within his/her region and ensuring that written
warnings are documented by HR in personnel files.
Adheres to and promotes policy and code of conduct compliance within the region
Reviewing applications, hiring and terminating Station Managers (if applicable to their
region). Must submit an approval request to the COO for the hiring and firing of a Station
Manager.
Serving as first line supervisor in an effort to screen and resolve minor personnel issues
before they are sent to administration/human resources.
Station Manager: The Station Managers are appointed by their respective Director of
Operations and are responsible for assisting in the day-today operations of their hub. Duties
include (but are not limited to):




Reviewing and approving PIREPs.
Acting as a part of the first-line supervisory team for his/her station to all station personnel.
Assisting with the management and oversight of station operations
He/she is accountable to their respective Director of Operations for the assistance in
administration and training of members of their station.
Director of Corporate Events/Events Coordinator (DE): The Director of Corporate Events is
appointed by the COO and is responsible for developing and planning vUAL events. The DE
is also responsible for coordinating event management (ATC coverage, etc) with VATSIM,
8
Virtual United Airlines – Standard Operations Manual – August 31, 2014
VATUSA and or individual ARTCCs as necessary. Additionally he/she will assist the DM and
COO in representing the organization to VATSIM personnel and leadership.
Director of Learning and Development (DT): The Director of Learning and Development is
appointed by the DHR and is responsible for assisting the DHR with the maintenance of a
vUAL training program in accordance with vUAL flight standards. He/she is expected to
work to identify organizational training needs and implement the training program. The DT
will also cooperate with the individual Directors of Operations to identify common flight
deficiencies specific to each station and distribute new training programs to all personnel.
Director of Scheduling (DS): The Director of Scheduling is appointed by the COO and is
responsible for developing, updating and maintaining the vUAL flight schedules. His/her
primary responsibility is to ensure the vUAL flight schedules are in sync with the most
current released of real-world United Airlines flights.
2.2 Staff Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Corporate Leadership team, an announcement will be made to the
organization by the DM in four ways. First, a post on the public news feed will be made;
second, a mass email will be sent to qualified applicants; third, a post on the organizations
blog; fourth, a post on the organizations staff facebook page.
Applicants must submit a virtual resume to the Director of Human Resources, who will
document that the member posted for the position. Upon receipt of a qualified candidate, the
DHR will forward the resume on to the appropriate reviewer (The CEO for administrative
vacancies, the COO for operations vacancies or the Director of Operations in the case of
Station Manager vacancy).
The hiring staff member will conduct a required interview with the candidate, preferably on
TeamSpeak, alternatively through written response to submitted questions. At the conclusion
of the process, the hiring staff member will notify the DHR, COO and CEO of the selection.
Once the hire is approved by Executive Management, the DM will release an announcement
using the same four methods above and the new hire will be granted all website rights needed
to execute his/her position.
9
Virtual United Airlines – Standard Operations Manual – August 31, 2014
2.3 Station Operations
vUAL mirrors the flight operations of United Airlines and its subsidiaries by maintaining the
same station structure. We offer pilots the opportunity to select their station, if available, and
later transfer to others. Between our seven stations, our pilots are able to experience domestic
and international flight operations. The current station cities include:







O’Hare International Airport (KORD), Chicago, Illinois
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (KIAH), Houston, Texas
Denver International Airport (KDEN), Denver, Colorado
Washington Dulles International Airport (KIAD), Dulles, Virginia
Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR), Newark, New Jersey
Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX), Los Angeles, California
San Francisco International Airport (KSFO), San Francisco, California
2.4 Station Transfer
Pilots are permitted to transfer stations by sending an email to the DHR, with the station they
want, and why they want to transfer. After reviewing the request, the DHR will contact the DO
of the region the member is requesting transfer to. The DO will then take over the transfer
process and notify you of final decision.
It is important to note you can only transfer if you have completed five (5) flights, and have not
transferred in the past 90 days. You also must have been a pilot for vUAL for at least 30 days.
3.0 Membership
Ba ck to Top
Membership is free and open to individuals thirteen (13) years of age or older. Virtual United
Airlines operates from within the United States of America and must operate in accordance
with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) regulations. This law states that
identifiable personal information cannot be collected for minors below the age of thirteen. In
an effort to adhere to that regulation, under no circumstances will an applicant under this age
be hired. Any pilot who is found falsifying their age will be banned from vUAL indefinitely.
vUAL does not require its new member to have prior virtual aviation experience to join,
however we expect new members to have a basic understanding of flight operations and air
navigation. It is for this reason all new applicants must pass the initial entrance exam. In
addition you are expected to have a basic understanding of the functionality of Microsoft Flight
Simulator prior to joining.
vUAL reserves the right to reject all applications with information found to not be truthful in
any way. In addition, all members are required to submit and maintain an active e-mail address
for communications. Members found to have an invalid email account are subject to removal
from the vUAL roster.
10
Virtual United Airlines – Standard Operations Manual – August 31, 2014
3.1 Transfer Hours
New members are encouraged to transfer prior hours accumulated while serving at a different
Virtual Airline. The maximum allowable transfer hours are 125 hours. Any transfer hours
should be submitted along with the application for employment and must be verifiable by our
Human Resources division. Please include a link to a roster page that shows your full name and
hours earned. VATSIM hours are not verifiable for transfer purposes. Only hours on a VA’s
roster are accepted.
Should you not include any transferrable hours in your application, you may submit your hours
within fourteen (14) days of hire for inclusion. Submitted hours after that period will be
rejected.
3.2 Rehires
Rehires to the organization are handled by the Human Resources department. Any member
who left the organization (did not leave for disciplinary action taken against them) should
contact the Director of Human Resources directly to begin the process of reactivation. All
members who left voluntarily will be reinstated.
Should a member wish to return after being terminated for inactivity, that member must
immediately contact the Director of Human Resources, explaining the reasons for their
unexcused absence and to confirm they are committed to fulfilling the minimum flight
requirements set forth in this document.
It is important to note that once membership with vUAL has been confirmed and the member
has been returned to active status, he/she is immediately subject to the Minimum Flight
Requirements set forth in this document.
The decision to rehire inactive members is at the sole discretion of the DHR
3.3 Initial PIREP and Minimum Flight Requirements
vUAL has set an initial flight requirement for all new hires within the organization. New
members are required to submit their first flight report (PIREP) within the first fourteen (14)
days of membership. If a new member fails to file a PIREP in the first two weeks of membership
their account will be deleted without notice. During this probationary period, you are unable to
file for a LOA, so you MUST fly a flight within the first fourteen (14) days.
We recognize that each vUAL pilot has activities outside of vUAL that affect their ability to fly on
flight simulator. So as not to interfere with those pilots whose time is very limited, we have
developed a flexible flight requirement that will allow everyone to maintain their acti ve status.
To remain active and prevent a termination warning, a pilot must fly one flight per month. (Not
per 30 days, but per calendar month). Failure to meet this flight requirement will lead to a
termination warning. If this happens, a pilot has fourteen (14) days to file a report before
termination.
11
Virtual United Airlines – Standard Operations Manual – August 31, 2014
If unable to meet these requirements, you have the ability to file for a Leave of Absence
assuming you have passed the probationary period.
3.4 Membership Suspension
Failure to comply with vUAL Policies and Procedures (to include the attached Code of Conduct)
is prohibited and may lead to a suspension from the organization. Should you receive a
suspension notice, please contact your Director of Operations for more information. If
necessary, Human Resources may intervene.
3.5 Terminating Membership
Each member of the organization retains the right to terminate their membership at any time
by contacting Human Resources. Should you desire to reapply, we ask you observe a 60 day
cooling off period before submitting a new application. vUAL Corporate Leadership may
terminate a member at any time should it be deemed necessary by the contents of this
document or for the protection of other members experiences.
3.6 Leave of Absence
As mentioned above, all personnel have the right so file for a Leave of Absence should they be
unable to meet the minimum flight requirements set by this document. To do so, you must
contact the appropriate staff member to begin processing. When you request a Leave of
Absence, please make clear its anticipated duration and the reasons you cannot meet the
minimum flight requirement.
3.7 Pilot Rankings, Required Hours and Aircraft Qualifications
12
Virtual United Airlines – Standard Operations Manual – August 31, 2014
3.8 Promotions
The vUAL website automatically promotes members when they have reached the necessary
hour threshold to be promoted to the next level. If you believe you are due a promotion to the
next level and have not been promoted, please contact the Human Resources Department.
3.9 Resignation
vUAL recognizes that real world circumstances can prevent a pilot from giving any time to flight
simulation. As such, pilots have the option to resign their position with vUAL at any time.
(Please note that a LOA is a secondary option) To resign, please notify your Director of
Operations via email.
If a pilot resigns voluntarily without disciplinary action against him/her, they are eligible for
rehire in the future.
3.10 Conflict Resolution
In the event that a member should find him/herself in conflict with another member of the
organization or a member of Corporate Leadership, the member should utilize the following
chain to resolve the situation:





Station Manager
Director of Operations for their station
Director of Human Resources
Chief Operations Officer
President & Chief Executive Officer
Members are expected to enter the conflict resolution process in accordance with the following
chain of communication (this is based on who the member is in conflict with). If you are in
conflict with:






13
Another member, contact the Station Manager for your station
Your Station Manager (if applicable to your station), contact the Director of Operations for
your station
Your Director of Operations, contact the Chief Operations Officer
Any Administrative Staff (Non-Executive), contact the Director of Human Resources
The Chief Operations Officer or Director of Human Resources, contact the Chief Executive
Officer.
The Chief Executive Officer, contact both the Chief Operations Officer and Director of Human
Resources.
Virtual United Airlines – Standard Operations Manual – August 31, 2014
4.0 Code of Conduct
Ba ck to Top
In order to succeed at meeting our goal of providing the most realistic and enjoyable virtual
aviation experience to every pilot, we have established a General Code of Conduct. This code
serves to set minimum standards of conduct by which all members of United Virtual Airlines
(vUAL) are required to adhere to. The code is not designed to confine or restrict our member’s
activities, but rather ensure that vUAL remains a safe, friendly, and fun environment for all.
Submission of a pilot application and acceptance into the organization signifies your agreement to read, review,
and abide by all parts of our code of conduct. Failure to be in compliance with any se ction will result in
disciplinary action up to (and including termination).
4.1 Code of Conduct Contents
We understand that from time to time there will be differences in opinion. While we respect
these differences and promote active discussion, the following are classified as unacceptable
behavior. Participation in any of the following cons titutes violation of the vUAL Code of
Conduct:










Use foul or unsuitable language toward ANY member of the vUAL community via any means of
communications (to include the blog, email, TeamSpeak, etc.)
Defame, abuse, harass, stalk, threaten, or otherwise violate the legal rights of others.
Publish, post, upload, distribute or disseminate any inappropriate, profane, defamatory,
infringing, obscene, indecent or unlawful topic, name, material or information to any vUAL
venue. (To include pornographic/sexually explicit materials).
Upload files that contain viruses, corrupted files, or any other similar software or programs that
may damage the operation of another's computer.
Restrict or inhibit any other member from utilizing and enjoying the communication services
available to them by vUAL.
Harvest or otherwise collect personal/identifiable information about others (including email
addresses), without their explicit consent.
Violate any applicable US/local laws or regulations.
Hacking, or attempting to hack, any of vUAL’s online systems (which will result in immediate
termination of membership).
Upload files that contain software or other material protected by intellectual property laws (or
by rights of privacy of publicity) unless you own or control the rights there to or have received all
necessary consents.
Discussing any piracy on any of vUAL web pages, TeamSpeak, ACARS chat or blog.
4.1.1 TeamSpeak
All members of the organization are welcome and encouraged to utilize TeamSpeak. During
your chatting and discussion on TeamSpeak, you are expected to respect all members
participating in the discussion. We encourage free thought and free expression (you may
discuss your personal views), but know when to stop. Comments classified as derogatory to
any group of people, including but not limited to any race, any sexual orientation,
political/religious affiliation and/or nationality, will not be tolerated. Harassment, name
14
Virtual United Airlines – Standard Operations Manual – August 31, 2014
calling, constant channel switching, spamming, etc. will not be tolerated. Always be
positive, be friendly, and be helpful.
If your conversation is limited to only certain members connected to the server, you should
move to another channel. In other words, try to have one conversation per channel.
If you are unable to follow the rules on TeamSpeak, you will be warned, kicked from a
channel, or banned from the server entirely for a period of time. That period of time will
vary in length depending on the nature of the offense.
4.1.2 Globe Connection Blog
The blog is a place for internal announcements and friendly discussion. It is not the place for
inappropriate or aggressive arguments of any sort. Any persons found to be engaging in
aggressive arguments on the blog will be subject receipt of a code of conduct violation.
4.1.3 ACARS Chat
All pilots are welcome and encouraged to chat using the ACARS application while in-flight.
During your chatting and discussion on ACARS, you are expected to respect all members
participating in the discussion. We encourage free thought and free expression (you may
discuss your personal views), but know when to stop. Comments classified as derogatory to
any group of people, including but not limited to any race, any sexual orientation,
political/religious affiliation and/or nationality, will not be tolerated. Harassment, name
calling, constant channel switching, spamming, etc. will not be tolerated. Always be
positive, be friendly, and be helpful.
If you are unable to follow the rules on ACARS, you will be warned. The continued noncompliance of this rule will result in other actions that could result in the termination of
your membership with vUAL. More detail on the exact procedures follows below.
4.1.4 Globe Connection Forums
The forums are a place for friendly discussion, debate and making new friends. On the
forums you will find official announcements from the staff as well as useful links and
downloads for pilots. The forums are not the place for inappropriate or aggressive
arguments of any sort. Any person found to be engaging in aggressive arguments or
behavior on the forum will be in risk of receiving a code of conduct violation.
4.2 Disciplinary Procedures
If any member intentionally violates any sections of the vUAL Operations Manual or
aforementioned Code of Conduct, the following actions will occur:



15
First Offence: Seventy-two (72) hour suspension
Second Offence: Two (2) week suspension
Third Offence: Termination
Virtual United Airlines – Standard Operations Manual – August 31, 2014
The Disciplinary Board (appointed by the CEO) will meet within one week of the offense and
will request the presence of the offending member on TeamSpeak in a private room. The board
will interview the member and consider all mitigating circumstances of the offense. Once the
interview is complete, the Board will determine necessary consequences (if any) that should be
taken against the member. The board will draft and forward its recommendation to the Chief
Operations Officer and Chief Executive Officer for review. The CEO will make a final decision on
the matter within a 24 hour period.
The CEO has the authority to execute any level of punishment (up to and including
termination), but will primarily consider the recommendations of the board. Once a decision is
made, the CEO will notify the DHR who will contact the member inform him of final decision,
executing the consequences as published.
The offender must meet with the Disciplinary Board on TeamSpeak if he/she desires to defend him/herself and
present any evidence or testimony in the issue. Email correspondence is not permissible. If you waive your right
to an interview, you are signifying your acceptance of whatever disciplinary action is levied against you and
understand that you will not be able to appeal the final decision.
5.0 Flight Operations
Ba ck to Top
5.1 Category Flight
The category of aircraft a pilot can utilize to accumulate flight hours is based on their rank
within the airline. Please refer to the rank chart in this document to determine the category of
aircraft your rank can fly. PIREPS that are submitted utilizing an aircraft in a higher category
than one’s rank will permit are automatically rejected.
5.2 Jumpseating
While we would like to provide the most realistic flight environment possible our members are
able to jumpseat to any location without penalty, cost or reduction in accrued hours
5.3 Schedule
vUAL utilizes a current schedule of flights from United Airlines. In order for flight hours to
count, pilots may only operate flights that are listed in the current vUAL schedule (accessible by
choosing “Schedule” at the top of the website). If you notice that we do not have a flight route
that is included in the current United Airlines timetable, please contact our Director of
Scheduling to ensure it is added to our online schedule.
Clicking the “Book” link displayed on the schedule listing, you will be able to add flights to your
itinerary. All pilots must depart from the listed departure airport and at the specified time for
your flight. You can fly the flight at any real world time but you must set your simulation to the
time for the flight. Flights flown that do not have the proper time reported are subject to
rejection. The times listed on the flights are in the local time of the departure and arrival
airports, not GMT.
16
Virtual United Airlines – Standard Operations Manual – August 31, 2014
5.3 Flight Routing
vUAL does not allow direct-to GPS routing. All pilots are required to follow a published flight
plan in order for flight credit to be awarded. You can download published routes that are
available through websites such as FlightAware and Simroutes and load it into Flight Simulator’s
Create a Flight feature.
5.4 Flight Procedures
The following procedures will be applied to ALL flight operations:




Time Acceleration is not permitted. All flights must be flown at 1x simulation speed, regardless
of the scheduled flight length.
All flights must be completed according to the published timetable in order for flight credit to be
rewarded. You must takeoff from the published airport at approximately the published
departure time and land at the destination airport at approximately the published arrival time.
Each pilot must adhere to proper FAA outlined cruising altitudes. In the United States,
eastbound (heading 0-179 degrees) IFR flights must cruise at an "odd" flight level in 2000 foot
increments starting at FL190 (i.e., FL190, FL210, FL230, etc.); westbound (heading 180-359
degrees) IFR flights must cruise at an "even" flight level in 2000 foot increments starting at
FL180 (i.e., FL180, FL200, FL220, etc.). However, Air Traffic Control (ATC) may assign any flight
level at any time if traffic situations merit a change in altitude.
The maximum landing rate considered for PIREP submission is -600fpm. Anything higher than
this landing rate will result in damage to the aircraft. If you land with a fpm rate higher than -600
your flight will be rejected. Once you complete 5 consecutive flights at an acceptable rate, your
rejected PIREP will be approved. Please contact your Station Manager for the change.
5.5 Online Flying
Although not required, every pilot is encouraged to join and fly with an online ATC network
such as VATSIM. Flying online with live ATC coverage will add a new dimension of realism to
your experience at vUAL. With VATSIM, you'll be working around other aircraft flown by real
people with vUAL and other VAs. In addition, vUAL participates in many events on VATSIM.
For more information on VATSIM and online flying, contact a member of the corporate
leadership team.
Whenever you are flying online (and therefore representing vUAL), we require pilots to follow
these procedures:
• You will need to register for a free new pilot account if flying on VATSIM.
• You must have an Internet connection and a valid copy of FS2004 or FSX.
• To connect to VATSIM you will need to download the pilot client software.
• To communicate with ATC via voice, you will need a working headset or microphone.
• You must present yourself in a professional manner, recognizing that when flying online, you
are representing vUAL.
• No foul, vulgar, or racially charged remarks will be tolerated here at vUAL or while operating
on any online network (Compliance with the Code of Conduct is required on VATSIM as well).
Any complaint received from anyone at VATSIM will be grounds for immediate termination.
17
Virtual United Airlines – Standard Operations Manual – August 31, 2014
• The flight prefix and call sign should be UAL followed by the flight number of the flight being
flown (ex: UAL5439) as their call sign. Flight numbers as call signs are no longer permitted. Your
voice call sign to controllers is “UNITED.”
You don't need to be an aviation expert. However it is important that:
• You are already familiar with your version of Microsoft Flight Simulator (FS2004 or FSX)
• You are comfortable flying in the aircraft you will use online.
• You have a basic understanding of Air Traffic Control and have read the network manuals and
documentations.
• You are able to fly a SID/STAR and follow an IFR flight plan with waypoints.
5.5 Time Reporting
In order to maintain consistency with our timetable and route schedule, all reported departure
and arrival times must be listed and filed in the local time zone of the airport you depart and
arrive in. (e.g., If you depart an east coast airport at 7:00a and arrive at a west coast airport at
8:00a, your report times would be 0700 departure and 0800 arrival showing your flight time as
4.0 hours.).
5.6 Aircraft Substitutions
vUAL is one of a few virtual airlines that allows for aircraft substitutions. This allowance is useful
if you do not have access to or cannot find the correct model listed for the flight. In using these
aircraft substitutions, you should check to be sure the s ubstituted model you have selected is
capable of flying the distance for the route. If you have any questions on a desired substitution,
please ask your Station Manager or Director of Operations prior to your flight to avoid a
possible rejection.
Below are the currently approves aircraft substitutions:
18
Virtual United Airlines – Standard Operations Manual – August 31, 2014
5.7 Livery and Fleet Selection
vUAL is a part of the Star Alliance Network and has many code-share flights in our schedule. The
type of aircraft to be flown on each flight is listed in the ‘A/C’ column of the schedule. It is an
expectation that each flight will be flown with the livery of the airline on that schedule line. If
you are unsure which livery to use please refer to the ICAO code before the numerical flight
number in the ‘Flight’ column of the schedule. Should you not have the livery of that airline,
you are allowed to use a Star Alliance, unmarked or the manufacturer’s house livery. The use of
any other livery is not allowed and if used runs the risk of your flight being rejected.




UAL123 – United Airline Livery or Star Alliance United Livery
DLH465 – Lufthansa Livery or Star Alliance Lufthansa Livery
AIC654 – Air India Livery or Star Alliance Air India Livery
LOF, TCF, GJS, ASH, ASQ, SKW airline codes – Any United Express livery
6.0 PIREP Filing Procedures
Ba ck to Top
6.1 Accepted Filing Methods
Our system currently allows for two types of pilot reports (PIREPS) to be filed. Any other form
of filing cannot and will not be accepted. vUAL has some requirements and restrictions for each
method of filing.


vUnited ACARS (Address Communications Addressing and Reporting System)
Pilots may use vUnited ACARS program to file a vUAL flight report. vUnited ACARS is a free
program (downloadable on our website through your pilot center) that communicates with
vUAL online servers and your Microsoft Flight Simulator. It captures flight information and
periodic position and status updates the Live Map section of our website as well as to a .xml file
in your c:\users\Program Files\vUnited ACARS\flights folder.
Manual Flight Report
Manual reports are not accepted unless one or more of the following conditions exist:





19
vUnited ACARS is not functional.
vUnited ACARS crashed during flight.
vUnited ACARS does not allow you to file a flight
Malfunction of vUnited ACARS during a flight
Prior approval by Station Manager/Director of Operations
Virtual United Airlines – Standard Operations Manual – August 31, 2014
6.2 Manual Reporting
We understand that malfunctions occur from time to time so we have established new
guidelines in order for manual reports to be filed:
YOU MUST PROVIDE DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE THAT YOU FLEW YOUR FLIGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH
OUR PUBLISHED TIMETABLE FROM A RELIABLE SOURCE IN ORDER FOR YOUR PIREP TO BE APPROVED.
RELIABLE SOURCES ARE AS FOLLOWS:





FSPASSENGERS
VUNITED ACARS
VATSIM
VATSTATS
FS FLIGHT KEEPER
We recommend you fly with two of the above flight tracking systems in the event the primary
system fails, so you can file your PIREP with the secondary system.
7.0 Support
Ba ck to Top
7.1 Training
One of the most enjoyable aspects of any hobby is working to become better at what you do.
We want to help all of our members grow through their experiences in their abilities. While
outlined more specifically in subsequent operations manuals for training, our training program
will be designed to provide pilots of every level the opportunity to grow their knowledge of
operating a vast variety of aircraft. It will also provide a way to refresh prior knowledge for our
most experienced pilots. Our training strives to provide a dynamic learning environment for all
of our employees. Our dedicated training staff is also working to create advanced training
courses that will allow pilots of all skill levels to improve. Topics may include handling
emergencies, international flying, advanced simulator techniques, fuel management, and
cockpit resource management.
If there is a particular topic of interest that is currently unavailable, please contact your Director
of Operations who will work with the Director of Training to have a course designed.
7.2 Website
We constantly update our website to ensure we are providing all information and tools needed
for successful employment with vUAL. We have unique features not available with other Virtual
Airlines. You should begin each visit to the website by logging in using your Pilot ID and
password. If you forget either of those, contact BOTH Human Resources and your Station
Manager. All emails are included on the website under contact us.
The Pilot Center is the life blood of activity for the airline. Visiting the pages contained therein
will help direct your activities.
20
Virtual United Airlines – Standard Operations Manual – August 31, 2014