Jump to content

How to set up virtual airlines


CNAO208

Recommended Posts

Hello, and welcome to the forum.

If you are looking to create a virtual airline, then you could not have made a better choice than using phpvms. It is very easy to use, once you get used to it. I am not sure of the exact details you are looking for but I hope the following can give you an idea:

The Plan

Making a virtual airline is not easy, well a successful one at least. To get you started you will need to come up with an 'image' for your virtual airline, this includes finding a name, a logo, a domain name(ex. www.website.com). The next step is to layout your plans, including what aircrafts will be in your fleet, your hubs, and your destinations. With that you will be ready to get started.

phpVMS

Phpvms integrates in the website, to provide you a free and comfortable environment to build your virtual airlines quicker and easier. Before starting the virtual airline, be sure to look at the documentation located here to help you set it up.

The website

Once your plans are setup, its time to build the backbone of your virtual airline, The website. You will need to pick a host and find someone to design your skin(Check out zumeweb.com or pm me :D). If you are not looking to spend money then an alternative can be to pick one of the available free skins here. I recommend you have at minimum basic skills of HTML to be able to customize your virtual airline.

ACARS

There are two options for a customized acars: kAcars($40 + options) and smartCARS($70). a free alternative is kAcars_free. You will need to set it up in your website.

Staff(optional)

This is optional, but I recommend you gather some of your friends to help you out in the virtual airline. It will not be easy to manage yourself. Try finding 2-3 other people to help you out with schedules(Probably the most difficult part, lol), fleet management, and Pilot support.

Money(optional)

A virtual airline can be started without a cent, but If you are looking to stand out you are looking to spend about $30 -> $120+. Before you start planning, you need to be sure to be dedicated enough and have alot of time to invest.

Forum(optional)

You will need a forum or some kind of environment where your pilots can ask questions, share pictures, etc... There are many free softwares that can help you out, I find phpbb to be the best.

Patience

Creating a virtual airline requires alot of patience, You will not be successful the day you launch you have to build that success.

There are many more detailed tutorials on how to start a virtual airline, here is one to start you off: http://www.flightsim...ontent.php?2188

I hope I was able to help you out,

Ryan Rinaldi

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pretty much all summed up by magicflyer above, the most important thing about your virtual airline is that you enjoy it.

Before you spend any money, have the premise of your virtual airline ready because you don't want to buy a domain, hosting and only then realise 3 months in you've just got the concept right, and want to get a new domain.

Jon

P.S.If you're looking for a cheap design for your website, I'm currently offering a discounted price of £30 throughout the month of January for site designs, shoot me an email office@jpderrick.co.uk if you're interested.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There is a nother thing, you are making a VA for others to use, so you will have to put a lot of what you want on the back burner, as the people joining may not like it, and wont use it. There are two typs of VA's personnel where you dont have a web site, and are not online, you just have it for yourself and do what you want, that way you can be as realistic as you want or unrealistic. The other one is public, that is where, you can't just put as many planes as you want, or put everything you want into it. VA's that are public but try to be personnel VA's just dont work, and look bad. They also don't get many pilots. It will be a little while before you get loads of pilots, you will need to advertise your VA, let others know about it. Try to create some hype about it. And it can take a few months to plan a VA properly, none of these VA's that start the second they think of it, ever work. Get things worked out, get the livery sorted. Also determine whether you want to replicate a real world airline or not. If you choose to replicate a real world airline, get permission first. There is a way around it though, you can choose your own name, but use the schedules from the real world airline. You will need to get staff to help you too.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

You said that you might be able to help. I hope so. I have been running and paying for a Flight Service for a long time. We are currently ranked #3 at the moment,

and doing well, but want to setup a system all our own. Long story short, I've done our web site (long time ago) , And had great success getting everything installed

to Our Hosted Server. (paid). Everything is working great, however, for some reason I just can't figure out how to get a custom skin,get it to point and click(I'm a dummy), and figure out this Kcars thingy. Any Help would be greatly appreciated. This of course I do NOT expect for Free. We need Help! Please.

Jim Lyman CEO / Heritage Virtual Airline my email; jimbonewhampshire@yahoo.com

http://heritagevirtualairline.net/e107/'>http://heritagevirtualairline.net/e107/ <---- soon to get rid of

http://heritageva.net/ee107/'>http://heritageva.net/ee107/ <--- new and will be permenant

http://heritageva.net <--- new and will be permenant

http://heritagevirtualairline.net <--- soon to get rid of

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...