Page 1 of 1

Training flights

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2019 8:06 pm
by joefremont
Hi Flyers,

I have though for some time that 'training flights' could be used as a free way to transfer aircraft and that was a hole that should be fixed, but was not sure if there was a fair way to fix it, but the other day I had a brain wave I though I would share.

Lets say when a pilot take a plane on a training flight, we record the airport where they started, from then on, until they return to that airport the plane can only be used for training flights. The VA could always transfer the aircraft back to the starting airport with no cost and no delay.

I have to go into the booking system a bit for cargo because once packages are loaded onto an aircraft that aircraft can not be used for training flights so if there is any positive feedback I could include this feature also.

Let me know what you think.

Re: Training flights

Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 3:17 pm
by MrJTSZ
It's a good idea, only that it occurs to me that maybe they make a school flight to an airport to move a pilot or plane to operate at another airport.

Re: Training flights

Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 5:24 pm
by joefremont
MrJTSZ wrote:
Mon Jun 10, 2019 3:17 pm
It's a good idea, only that it occurs to me that maybe they make a school flight to an airport to move a pilot or plane to operate at another airport.
Exactly, using a school flight as a free transfer. I suppose we could always just charge the VA for the actual fuel used in the training flight (at 1x) which would be a simpler solution. It's really not that much of a problem right now, just one of those perceived holes in the system that could be exploited, and having the free transfer back if the student pilot quits would be an advantage to the VA, but I am not sure if it's worth the complexity.

Re: Training flights

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 4:23 pm
by Cat
Makes no fiscal sense to use a training flight to transfer airplanes when you can be making money instead. We often prefer to fly our planes to new base instead of transfer them so they can be profitable on the way there.

Re: Training flights

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 11:50 pm
by joefremont
Cat wrote:
Wed Jun 12, 2019 4:23 pm
Makes no fiscal sense to use a training flight to transfer airplanes when you can be making money instead. We often prefer to fly our planes to new base instead of transfer them so they can be profitable on the way there.
Good point, that's the way I always transferred aircraft, when I had time that is. Never mind on this idea then.

Re: Training flights

Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2019 11:42 am
by CaptainPrecious
I was thinking that you could also use training flight as some kind of requirement, either for the pilots, the VA, or for both.

I mean in real life pilots do regular training flights in real aircraft too, don't they? It could at least become a requirement for a type rating.

But if you think that's too harsh, maybe just make it an option. Say if you do a training flight once in a while you like at least one landing in crosswinds >25 knots / at least one stall recovery / at least one single engine failure every 6 months then your airline can keep up a good multiplier. If not, you lack obligatory certifications and your multiplier goes down.

And also I think for your training fuel you should always have to pay. The airport doesn't care what kind of flight you do, they won't give you fuel for free.

Re: Training flights

Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2023 1:35 am
by CaptainPrecious
CaptainPrecious wrote:
Mon Nov 11, 2019 11:42 am
I was thinking that you could also use training flight as some kind of requirement, either for the pilots, the VA, or for both.

I mean in real life pilots do regular training flights in real aircraft too, don't they? It could at least become a requirement for a type rating.

But if you think that's too harsh, maybe just make it an option. Say if you do a training flight once in a while you like at least one landing in crosswinds >25 knots / at least one stall recovery / at least one single engine failure every 6 months then your airline can keep up a good multiplier. If not, you lack obligatory certifications and your multiplier goes down.

And also I think for your training fuel you should always have to pay. The airport doesn't care what kind of flight you do, they won't give you fuel for free.
That's actually a good idea to keep the multiplier interesting and challenging!
I guess programming this wouldn't be so easy...?

Re: Training flights

Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2023 2:59 am
by joefremont
CaptainPrecious wrote:
Wed Feb 15, 2023 1:35 am

That's actually a good idea to keep the multiplier interesting and challenging!
I guess programming this wouldn't be so easy...?
I guess I don't understand how the multiplier would keep related to this as training flights have no revenue.

But I figured if an airline wanted to require training flights they can always do that manually so I will leave it alone and not overcomplicate things.