Operations
and Policy Manual
Revision Number: 2
Effective Date: 01 FEB 2020
Historic Airline Group
is in no way affiliated with any real-world airline, past or present. We are a
non-profit group of flight simulator enthusiasts simulating airline operations.
___________________________________
Revision
1: Changes in organization structure. Aircraft substitution guidelines added.
Revision
2: Charter section revised.
From: Management Team, Historic
Airline Group
To: All Historic Airline Group
Members
Subject: Historic Airline Group
Operations and Policy Manual
A. INTRODUCTION - The
staff and management of Historic Airline Group are dedicated to enhancing the
experience of flight simulator enthusiasts by providing a practical and
realistic simulation of real-world airline operations.
We know that everyone flies for
different reasons. Some enjoy the hobby, others are in it for the hard-core
simulation of flying an airplane and others may use it as a training platform
to enhance their real world flying skills. Regardless of their reason for
choosing to fly with Historic Airline Group, we endeavor to give our pilots the
resources they need to get the most out of their experience.
This manual is designed to help
you learn about the operations and procedures that govern our day-to-day
operations. Every effort has been made to ensure that this manual contains
useful and applicable information. In the event that any of these policies are
unclear or an item is not addressed specifically, please contact Staff for
further assistance.
The diverse nature of our
operation prevents this manual from addressing every unique situation that may
arise. Ultimately, your success as a virtual pilot with Historic Airline Group
will depend on a mixture of acceptable practices, sound judgment and common
sense.
B. APPLICABILITY - The
policies and procedures outlined in this manual are applicable to all Historic
Airline Group pilots. Acceptance into our organization and use of its systems
signify your agreement to review and abide by the guidelines set forth in this
document. This manual may be revised from time-to-time. All personnel will be
informed when a new revision is imminent. Executive Staff is responsible for
the maintenance of this manual. Any changes to this manual shall be approved by
the President/CEO prior to implementation.
C. CANCELLATION - This document shall
remain in effect until a new/revised manual has been put in place.
Historic Airline Group Management
Team
___________________________________
Table of Contents
1. General
Information
1.1 Legal
Information and Disclosure
1.2 Corporate
Leadership Structure
1.3 Historic
Airline Group Hubs (Domiciles)
2.
3. Membership
3.1 Application
Guidelines
3.2 Rehires
and Inactivity
3.3 Hub
Transfer Request
3.4 Leave
of Absence
3.5 Transfer
Hours from other VA's
4. Pilot
Ranks and Privileges
5. Flight
Operations
5.1 Flight
Assignments
5.3 Aircraft
Substitutions
5.4 Pilot
Currency
5.5 ACARS
Usage
5.6 Accelerated
Flight Time
5.7 Charters
6. Code
of Conduct
6.1 General
Conduct
6.2 Company
Website, Forums, Resources, Etc.
6.3 Other
Websites, Forums, Social Media, VATSIM, Etc.
______________________________
1.
General Information
1.1. Legal Information and Disclosure
1.1.1.
Real World Affiliation and Copyrights
Historic Airline Group is in no
way affiliated with or endorsed by any real world airline, past or present. We
are not a real world airline; we do not hire people for real world employment
positions or have any physical office space. Historic Airline Group exists
solely to provide an enjoyable experience to users of Microsoft Flight
Simulator, Prepar3D and X-Plane. All material published on our website is to be
used for flight simulation purposes only and shall not, under any
circumstances, be used for real world aviation purposes.
1.1.2.
Commercial Use
The Historic Airline Group website
is not for use in any commercial purpose, Historic Airline Group is a
not-for-profit organization that does not generate any income for its members
or owners.
1.1.3.
Historic Airline Group Copyright Statement
No part of any Historic Airline
Group website shall be transmitted or reproduced in any form or by any means
(electronic or otherwise). Any such act represents copyright infringement and theft of intellectual property
solely owned by Historic Airline Group.
1.2.
Corporate Leadership Structure
The Historic Airline Group leadership structure is designed
to distinguish the responsibilities of each staff member. We will be operating
with a small corporate staff. Currently, we have five staff positions, as
follows.
1.2.1.
President - Directly responsible for the continued development and
administrative oversight of the organization. Leads the Management Team charged
with developing policies and procedures, and is responsible for strategic
planning of goals, objectives and operations within the organization.
Responsible for overseeing the implementation and long-term success of the
decisions and programs developed by Staff. In charge of the airline and makes
final decisions for the airline. Maintains overall responsibility and authority
to hire, suspend, demote and terminate personnel (staff and pilots) and is
authorized to hear and determine a course of action on all personnel matters.
Works directly with the staff concerning all operational issues and policies.
1.2.2.
Vice President - Pilot Development (VP/PD) - Oversees day-to-day
management of our pilots, is responsible for new hire induction, multi-player
and TeamSpeak server availability. Assists with development and achievement of
organizational goals. Promotes policy and code of conduct compliance. Oversees
hiring process of new pilots. Oversees pilot dismissals. Other duties as may be
assigned.
1.2.3.
Vice President - Operational Development (VP/OD) - Responsible for verifying
accuracy of airlines, routes and aircraft. Responsible for developing new
airlines, expansion of, and modification to, existing airlines, subject to
approval by the President.
1.2.4.
Website
Administrator - Responsible for maintaining overall functionality and operation
of the Historic Airline Group website, forums and other site software. Works
directly with the President to establish and maintain data backup procedures in
an effort to ensure continuous availability of all IT systems and applications.
In addition, the VP-TD is responsible for additional development projects or
programs that involve the website and IT systems. Other duties as may be
assigned.
1.2.5.
Collectively,
the President and Vice Presidents make up the Historic Airline Group Board of
Directors. The web site administrator acts in an advisory capacity.
1.3. Historic Airline Group Hubs
(Domiciles)
Historic Airline Group operates out of several hubs.
Each airline has a designated hub. Pilots are assigned to a hub based on their
own personal preference.
2.
To
provide the community of flight simulator pilots with a virtually realistic
environment in which to fly. The only requirements are that you have a love of
aviation, and a desire to participate.
3. Membership
Historic
Airline Group does not require new members to have prior virtual aviation
experience to join. We do expect new members to have a basic understanding of
flight operations and aircraft navigation. New members are also expected to
understand the basic functionality of MS Flight Simulator, Prepar3D or X-Plane
prior to joining.
Historic
Airline Group is for use by adults, although it may be used by children. If you
are under 18, you may use the Historic Airline Group website only with the
involvement of a parent or legal guardian. Historic Airline Group does not
knowingly obtain or retain personal information from children under 18.
Historic Airline Group operates in compliance with the United States Children's
Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). This law states that identifiable
personal information cannot be collected from minors under the age of thirteen.
Under no circumstances will an applicant under the age of sixteen (16) be approved.
Persons found falsifying their age will be terminated from Historic Airline
Group.
It
is the applicant's responsibility to supply truthful, valid information.
Members are required to submit and maintain an active, current, valid email
address at all times. Members found to have an invalid email account are
subject to removal. Historic Airline Group reserves the right to reject any and
all applications at our discretion, for any reason, with or without explanation
regarding the decision.
All
pilots are eligible and encouraged to participate in all online events from day
one. This includes the Historic Airline Group forums, TeamSpeak, multi-player
servers and any other Historic Airline Group provided resources.
NOTE:
Once membership with Historic Airline Group has been confirmed, the member is
subject to the Currency requirements outlined in this document. Deviations from
the currency requirements require approval of the VP/PD.
3.1. Application Guidelines
Prospective members may submit an
online application for membership via the "Pilot Application" link,
under "About" on the Historic Airline Group website. Applications
must be completed in their entirety.
3.2. Rehires and Inactivity
3.2.1.
Members
who have left the airline voluntarily should contact the VP/PD to institute the
reactivation process. Members returning from voluntary leave will be
reinstated.
3.2.2.
Members
wishing to return after being terminated for inactivity should contact the VP/PD
- outlining the reasons behind their inactivity and to confirm their commitment
to fulfilling the minimum flight requirements to maintain pilot currency.
3.3. Hub Transfer Request
Hub
Transfers can be requested by clicking on the "Request Hub Transfer"
icon. Please note that you must include a reason for the transfer. Only one (1)
hub transfer may be requested every six (6) months. Reassignment to another hub
may not be immediately available due to hub staffing requirements.
3.4. Leave of Absence
Pilots
may request a leave of absence (LOA) status. A LOA is limited to three months.
After this period the pilot would need to reapply as a new hire. LOA’s are
subject to approval by the VP/PD.
3.5. Transfer Hours from other VA's
The
Historic Airline Group does not accept transfer hours.
4.
Pilot Ranks and Privileges
|
New Hire |
0 |
|
|
Flight Officer |
10 |
|
|
Flight Engineer |
25 |
|
|
First Officer |
50 |
|
|
Captain |
100 |
|
|
Senior Captain |
200 |
|
|
Master Captain |
500 |
|
|
Fleet Captain |
1000 |
|
|
ATP Captain |
2000 |
|
|
Senior ATP Captain |
3500 |
|
5. Flight Operations
5.1. Flight Assignments
All pilots
may fly any flight they desire, regardless of airline or equipment. Flights
must be listed in the Historic Airline Group’s List of Flights.
5.2. Voluntary Route Continuation Program
Pilots may participate in the
Voluntary Route Continuation Program. This program requires each participant to
depart from the last station they landed at. The program is strictly voluntary
and is contained within the website scheduling software. Pilots may begin, end
or restart their participation at any time.
5.3. Aircraft Substitution
Pilots may substitute an aircraft
normally assigned to a flight. While substitutions are allowed, the airline
must remain unchanged and the aircraft substitute must have been operated by
that airline.
5.3.1.
Substitution
guide:
|
Original equipment |
Substitution aircraft |
|
3-4 engine jet (Heavy) |
3-4 engine jet (heavy) |
|
4 engine jet |
4 engine jet |
|
2-3 engine jet |
2-3 engine jet |
|
Turboprop |
Turboprop |
|
4-engine prop |
4-engine prop |
|
2-engine prop |
2-engine prop |
5.4.
Pilot Currency
You
must fly at least one Historic Airline Group approved scheduled route every 45
days using our automated ACARS system (kACARSII) or manual Pirep form to
maintain your currency.
New or re-hired (returning) members must file their first report within 30 days
of hire (Probationary period). Failure to do so will result in termination for
inactivity without notice.
Pilots who have not flown a flight in
excess of 45 days may be terminated without notice. Such pilots may reapply as
new hires.
5.5. ACARS Usage
All
scheduled flights shall be flown using the kACARSII program or manual PIREP
form and submitted automatically to the Historic Airline Group website.
5.6. Accelerated Flight Time
Use of Accelerated Flight (increased sim rate) shall adhere to the
following policy:
5.6.1. Use of accelerated flight time is optional – the
maximum rates shown below are mandatory
5.6.2. Pushback at departure gate to TOC (Top of Climb) =
1x
5.6.3. TOD (Top of Descent) to engine shutdown at arrival
gate = 1x
5.6.4. Total scheduled flight time 2 hours or less = 1x
5.6.5. Total scheduled flight time greater than 2 hours up
to 4 hours = up to 2x maximum
5.6.6. Total scheduled fight time greater than 4 hours = up
to 4x maximum
5.6.7. Use of accelerated flight time shall be limited to
level cruise flight only
Note: If you choose to use accelerated flight time, you will only
receive hour’s credit for the actual real time it took to complete the flight,
not the sim hours. So, if the flight took 6 hours in sim time, but you flew it
in 4 hours real time (because you used accelerated flight time), you will
receive 4 hours credit in the PIREP system. This is hard-coded into the
kACARSII program.
5.7 Charters
Charters begin and end at the charter base selected.
A pilot may select any departure and arrival airport, but the origination and
final destination must always be the charter base selected.
5.7.1 Charter
flights are organized by charter base and aircraft. A particular flight number
refers to a particular aircraft and a particular base.
5.7.2 You may
use any aircraft that is assigned to the base. Pilots should select the charter
base closest to the actual charter location. For example, for a flight from San
Francisco to Reno, the pilot should use any aircraft found at the Hayward CA
charter base. Aircraft substitution is not allowed in charter flying.
5.7.3
When a flight is carrying people or cargo, it is a
charter flight. When the flight is empty for positioning purposes, it is a
dead-head or positioning flight.
Examples:
·
A charter originates at the charter base, flies to
airport A with four passengers, then returns with passengers to the charter
base. This is an originating charter, as it began and ended at the charter
base.
·
A charter dead-heads to Airport A, picks up four
passengers, flies them to Airport B, then returns home empty. This is a
non-originating charter, as the actual revenue legs neither began nor ended at
the charter base.
5.7.4 When
filing a pirep (kACARS or manually), use the appropriate flight number and file
a pirep for each leg. In the remarks section, write CHARTER and note the city
pairs for that flight. You may add amplifying information as you desire.
5.7.5 Charter
example: You fly from St Louis (KSUS) to Springfield (KSGF), fly six people to
Jonesboro (KJBR), then fly home empty. You would file three pireps, KSUS-KSGF
(Remarks- CHARTER-positioning); KSGF-KJBR (Remarks- CHARTER-SGF-JBR 6 pax);
KJBR-KSUS (Remarks-positioning).
6.
Code of Conduct
6.1.
General Conduct
We understand that from time to
time there may be differences of opinion. While we respect these differences
and promote active discussion, the following are classified as unacceptable
behavior. Participation in any of the following constitutes violation of the
Historic Airline Group Code of Conduct:
·
Use
of foul or unsuitable language toward ANY member of the Historic Airline Group
community via any means (including forums, PM's, email, TeamSpeak, etc.).
·
Defame,
abuse, harass, threaten or otherwise violate the rights of others.
·
Publishing,
posting, uploading, distributing or disseminating any inappropriate, profane,
defamatory, infringing, indecent, obscene or unlawful material, topic, name or
information to any Historic Airline Group venue (including pornographic or
sexually explicit materials).
·
Upload
files that contain software or other material protected by intellectual
property or privacy laws, unless you own or control the rights thereto or have
received any necessary consent in writing.
·
Upload
files that contain viruses, corrupted files or other similar programs or
software that may damage the operation of another member's computer or any
Historic Airline Group venue.
·
Restrict
or inhibit any other member from utilizing and enjoying the communication
services available through Historic Airline Group and its resources.
·
Harvest
or otherwise collect personal/identifiable information about others (including
email addresses) without their explicit consent.
·
Hacking
or attempting to hack any of Historic Airline Group's online systems or
services.
·
Violate
any applicable US/local laws or regulations.
·
Willfully
initiate, instigate or participate in any political discussions. There are
other forums on the web for political discussion, please use them.
·
Advertising
of any type, without the express consent written consent of the Board of
Directors.
You are expected to conduct yourself in a professional
manner when using any Historic Airline Group resource. This can be accomplished
by abiding by the Historic Airline Group Code of Conduct. Any violation of the
Code of Conduct may result in the suspension and/or termination of your
Historic Airline Group accounts and termination of Historic Airline Group
membership.
6.2.
Company Website, Forums, Resources,
Etc.
6.2.1.
Forums
The forums are a place for
friendly discussion, debate and making new friends. They are not the place for
inappropriate or aggressive arguments of any sort. Any persons found to be
engaging in aggressive/inappropriate behavior on the forum will be subject to
code of conduct violation.
6.2.2.
TeamSpeak / Discord
All members of Historic Airline Group are welcome and
encouraged to utilize TeamSpeak or Discord. Push-to-talk is required for all
users of TeamSpeak. During your chatting and discussion on TeamSpeak or Discord,
you are expected to respect all members participating in the discussion. We
encourage free thought and expression (you may discuss your own personal
views), but know when to stop. Comments classified as derogatory to any group
of people, including but not limited to race, sexual orientation,
political/religious affiliation and/or nationality will not be tolerated.
Harassment, name-calling, spamming, constant channel switching, etc. will not
be tolerated. Always be positive, friendly and helpful.
If your conversation is limited to only certain members
connected to the server, you should move to another (private) channel.
If you are unable to follow the rules on TeamSpeak or
Discord, you will be warned, kicked from a channel or banned from the server
entirely for a period of time. That time period will vary depending of the
nature of the offense.
6.2.3.
Other Historic Airline Group Resources
Use of other Historic Airline Group resources (automated
ACARS client, multi-player, site hosted chat, etc.) which are available or may
become available to members shall carry the same code of conduct rules as
outlined in sections 6.2.1 and 6.2.2 above.
6.3.
Other Websites, Forums, Social
Media, VATSIM, Etc.
Historic
Airline Group is committed to promoting a positive environment within the VA
and in the general virtual flying community in all forms of media. It is
imperative for all of us to act in a manner that reflects positively on
ourselves and that does not bring undue or unjust criticism on Historic Airline
Group.
Like any
other organization in today’s technological world, Historic Airline Group has
found a need to set some guidelines and rules for the use of social media and
other forms of media used by Historic Airline Group, whether offered through
third-party providers, or Historic Airline Group itself. This media has been
created for promoting our VAs and to help with information sharing, training
and to build a sense of community. In an effort to maintain a professional and
comfortable environment for pilots of all ages and backgrounds, we are asking
for your cooperation and compliance with the following:
6.3.1. Facebook
Please do not post any pictures, links or make any comments that may
reflect poorly on you, or bring undue and unjust criticism of Historic Airline
Group.
Please limit the nature of the Facebook page for the promotion of our shared
hobby and interests
6.3.2 Other Websites,
Forums, VATSIM, IVAO, Etc.
When using sources outside of Historic Airline Group, please adhere to
the code of conduct stated above. Present a professional attitude when
discussing or representing Historic Airline Group.
6.3.3
Participation with outside VA’s
There is NO restriction on pilots being
a pilot here and with another VA.
Pilots
with this VA can be on staff at another VA.
Staff
at Historic Airline Group cannot be on staff at another VA.