Promotions & Ranks
Your road to success!
Promotions & Ranks
For Pilots New to Virtual Flight and Flight Simulator
By referencing the Microsoft Flight Simulator Help system and following the accompanying Ground School lessons you will soon become familiar with your cockpit surroundings. Air SeaTac Virtual will compliment these tutorials with additional material, available through the Flight Academy, which will focus on the requirements for online flying in a virtual airline.
The table below details the requirements of each rank and the requirements to achieve the next and higher ranks.
| Rank | Roster Status |
Minimum Hours |
Minimum Flights |
Online Events |
Lessons (see notes) |
Homework (see notes) |
Checkride (see notes) |
| Pilot | Active | 0 | - | - | - | - | NO |
| Senior Pilot | Active | 15 | - | - | - | - | NO |
| Second Officer | Active | 30 | - | - | - | - | NO |
| First Officer | Active | 40 | - | 1 | Student | Class 1-6 | YES |
| Flight Officer | Active | 60 | 25 | 2 | Private | Class 7-12 | YES |
| Senior Flight Officer | Active | 100 | 50 | 4 | Instrument | Class 13-18 | YES |
| Captain | Active | 150 | 75 | 8 | Commercial | All Previous | YES |
| Senior Captain | Active | 300 | 150 | 16 | ATP | All Previous | YES |
| Commander | Active | 750 | 450 | All Previous | All Previous | All Previous | All Previous |
Flight Academy
Aimed at providing reference material, lessons and flights to enable pilots new to Virtual Aviation and Flight Simulator to get off to a flying start (no pun intended). Further information and training courses wil be made available as they are developed by the Air SeaTac Virtual Flight Academy team.
Lessons
If you are new to Virtual Flight it is recommended that you take a look at the flight lessons available within Microsoft Flight Simulator. These provide the basic information you will require to pass the check-rides and move up the ranks.
Homework
Not really ! ... but Rod Machado's Ground School Manual, available from within Flight Simulator contains all the information you need to get to grips with Virtual Flight. Take time to read it, it will explain all of the procedures you require.
As Rod say's in his introduction....
I'm the fellow who is going to give you the essentials you need to make sense of what you see during your flight lessons....so buckle up...because we're going to learn a lot and have fun in the process
The Checkrides
All of the higher ranks require the submission of a flight checkride certificate. Air SeaTac Virtual accepts the cerificates awarded for the check-rides available via Microsoft Flight Simulator. For more details, see the checkrides at the Flight Academy.
Online Events
Each month, Air SeaTac Virtual will host pre-arranged flights on our own Flight Server. These events range from flights held over a 24 hour period, the whole month and the Tours including a mega 159 leg "Around the World" flight to be taken at your leisure. Details of all events are advertised in advance and can be found on the front page and the News and Events archives. Additional information may be provided through the Pilot Lounge.
In addition to the check-ride requirements, promotion to the rank of Fleet Commander will also be based on your contribution to and participation in Air SeaTac Virtual. This rank is only available by the consent of the Air SeaTac Virtual board.
Flight Hours
Promotions within Air SeaTac Virtual are based upon many aspects including but not limited to flight hours. This shows our commitment to make your stay with us as varied and realistic as possible. Air SeaTac Virtual does not accept the transfer of flight hours from another VA.
This is a major departure from the accepted norm within the Virtual Airline community. It recognises that involvement in a Virtual Airline does not necessarily mean posting the most hours, but rewards participation and contribution.