Frequently Asked Questions

Stevens FAQ's

Topics:

May I do other flights than those listed in my duty notification?
May I use other simulators/addons than PS1, PMDG and Level-D?
I have serious problems with a flight and need to divert. May I do so and how do I handle it?
I don't have any more flights in my duty notification. What do I do?
I see a specific aircraft listed in my duty notification, but it is different than listed on the rotations page. Why?
You're always talking about an "economics simulation". What's this all about?
What is the appropiate procedure to leave the aircraft at the arrival destination?
I can not fly for a certain period of time. What should I do?
I have been set to INACTIVE status. Why?
The weather briefing does not work. What's wrong?
Why don't you have a Company Route (CR) available for my flight?
May I use time acceleration in Flight Simulator?

Q:     May I do other flights than those listed in my duty notification?
A:     Yes, you may, of course, do so.
        However, we kindly request that you choose one from the actual rotations. If you like to fly a totally
        different route from what STV normally operates, please make sure that you don't abuse the aircraft
        (e.g. flying many Intra-European shorthauls with a 744). Please use a flight number from 900 to 999
        or your 4-digit pilot ID. You can log your flight time using the "Free Flight PIREP" function in the STV
        FlyBase. However, as we're all into realism, these flights should be kept to a minimum.
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Q:     May I use other simulators/addons than PS1, PMDG and Level-D?
A:     No, this is not allowed.
        These addons have been thoroughly tested by Stevens Staff members and only these meet the high
        standards that Stevens VA sets for approved flightsim addons. We are aware that we're restricting our-
        selves to a handful of addons, however we think that we can meet our goal of realism with these only.
        If you know of an addon that you think would be suitable for STV operations, please let us know.
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Q:     I have serious problems with a flight and need to divert. May I do so and how do I handle it?
A:     It is always up to the Captain to decide if a diversion is necessary. When you want to file a PIREP
        in the FlyBase, you can do so by clicking on the link "File a PIREP for this flight" in your personal
        pilot folder. BUT you need to enter the diversion airport in the appropriate box.
        By doing this, the flight will be cleared from your duty notification. For the remainder part of your flight
        to the planned destination, you must file a "Free Flight PIREP".
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Q:     I don't have any more flights in my duty notification. What do I do?
A:     Crew Scheduling will receive any automated eMail from the FlyBase once the number of remaining flights
        reaches a certain level. CS will then add further duties in due time, but since it still isn't an automated
        process, please be patient. You can also request a new duty in our forum. If you haven't received a new
        new duty, yet want to take to the skies, you can also select any suitable flight from the rotations page
        and fly without a duty notification. Please use the FreeFlight PIREP fuction to then submit your PIREP.
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Q:     I see that a specific aircraft is listed in my duty notification, but this aircraft is different than
          listed on the rotations page. Why?
A:     As in real-world operations, changes occur very often. The aircraft may be different because of scheduled
        maintenance, or the inbound aircraft has been severely delayed or has been going tech.
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Q:     You're always talking about an "economics simulation". What's this all about?
A:     As one of our main goals is realism, it would not make sense to run a VA without some sort of economics
        behind the actual operation. That's why we have developed a rather complex and realistic economics model
        which is tied to the actual operations. The success of Stevens is directly dependant on the activity of our
        pilots. You can find more details here
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Q:     What is the appropiate procedure to leave the aircraft at the arrival destination?
A:     Please take a look at our Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's). (In general: Fuel control -> shutoff, HYD
        DEM Pumps-> Off, FUEL Pumps -> OFF, IRS -> OFF, PACKS -> Off, APU -> Off, Electrics -> Leave busses
        powered if ground power available, NAV lights -> On, Recirc Fans -> Off, Trim air -> Off, Gasper -> Off, Humid
        -> Off, EMER LIGHTS -> Off.
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Q:     I can not fly for a certain period of time. What should I do?
A:     If you're not able to fly, for whatever reason, for a longer period of time, we appreciate if you let us know.
        Either by a short mail to OPS, or in the "Stevens Requests" forum. Depending on how long this period will be,
        we might choose to set you to INACTIVE status. But this is just to save on bandwidht and traffic in the
        FlyBase. None of your flights, schedules or records will be lost when we do that. If you're able to fly again,
        drop us a note via eMail or the Forum, and we'll set you back to ACTIVE.
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Q:    I have been set to INACTIVE status. Why?
A:    Stevens has agreed on the following regulations:
        1) Pilots who have already completed a flight
              Pilots, who have already flown for Stevens will be set to INACTIVE status, if they have not flown for five
            (5) months [two months after your last flight turns red in the "Pilot Flight Hours" statistics in the FlyBase].
        2) New Pilots
            New pilots will be deactivated, if they have not completed their first assignment within four (4) weeks
            after their application. If they, nevertheless, want to fly for Stevens, they need to send a request for
            re-activation to the Management. Please note that your STV eMail address will be deactivated also.
        3) Re-Activated Pilots
            Pilots who have requested to be reactivated after a period of inactivity, will be set INACTIVE if they do not
            fly for four (4) weeks after their re-activation request.
            NOTE: This does not apply to pilots who have themselves requested to be set to INACTIVE status (e.g. re-
                      quested a vacation due to lack of time or other commitments).
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Q:     The weather briefing does not work. What's wrong?
A:     We're in the process of udating the complete weather briefing for the current Stevens schedule. Links to wx
        charts change quite often or some charts are not available anymore, and as you can imagine there is a lot of
        manual work involved. We'll do our best to keep it up-to-date, but it might take some time. We ask for your
        patience.
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Q:     Why don't you have a Company Route (CR) available for my flight?
A:     Company Routes (CR) are not provided with Stevens. Since we are a Virtual Airline providing pure realism, we don't
        offer any CR. Our pilots are equipped with up to date planning tools. The routes on longhauls flights are different all
        the time, depending on winds. There's no way to cover every route possible. For destinations that use the NAT Track
        System or is normally flown via so called "Random Routes", CRs are normally not provided - as in real-world OPS. If you
        should find one available, it only serves as an example and needs to be verified and amended according to the conditions
        prevailing at the day of flight (e.g. NATs, NARs, Pacific Tracks).
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Q:     May I use Time Accelaration in FS?
A:     No, the use of time acceleration in flight simulator is not allowed at Stevens.
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