The Flying Programme is an expansion of the P0 Initial Pilot rating aimed at assisting pilots starting on the network, pilots who are not confident on the network, or any pilots who feel they may benefit from 1-on-1 sessions to improve their VATSIM and flying skills. The programme helps pilots flying either the Boeing 737NG series or Airbus A320 family get started on the network and become fully competent pilots on the VATSIM network flying from A to B with training for any rare occurrences that may happen, such as holds and the different IFR approaches found across the world.
The programme consists of 3 different areas for members to engage with a mandatory Moodle course, one-on-one sessions, and group sessions.
The Flying Programme's Moodle is designed to expand upon and reinforce the principal topics found in the P0 Online Pilot, with emphasis on UK-specifics. As such, completion of the Moodle and the open-book assessment is mandatory for one-on-one and group flight sessions, which allows mentors to focus on applying these concepts.
The Moodle course contains the following topics:
The final assessment is open book, with a time limit of 1 hour and a pass grade of 75%. The exam may be retaken after a cooldown period, allowing you to revise the necessary areas.
One-on-one sessions can be requested via CTS once a member has been granted permissions by the Initial Flight Instructor. Once a session is booked, the mentor will communicate with the student in Discord to select a route and coordinate any further details for the session.
A student can request an IFR route from our list of beginner friendly flights, available as a pinned comment in the students’ channel. These routes have been planned and verified by the Pilot Training team for their short duration (under 1 hour flight time) and simple procedures (eg SIDs, STARs).
A member can request a maximum of TWO one-on-one sessions per 12 months, with the 12 months starting from the date of the second session. This allows a member to return after absence from the network and get assistance in starting to fly again. The Initial Flight Instructor may allow exceptions to this rule in very specific circumstances.
Group flights will be flown once every two weeks (depending on the demand) along one of the routes as listed in the student’s channel.
Members with the relevant Flying Programme permissions to book a slot in CTS and will be allocated a specific flight number for the flight, with the ficticious callsign ‘TANGENT’. Members who have not enrolled via CTS are still welcome to attend the group flight and be in the Discord channel.
Group flights will take place in one of the public group_flight_1/2/3 Discord channels with at least one mentor present. The mentor is there to help everyone attending but will give priority to helping members who booked via CTS.
Members taking part in The Flying Programme can attend an unlimited amount of group flights.
Group seminars will be hosted regularly on a rotating series of topics. Additionally, event-specific briefings for events in the UK such a Cross the Pond will be held.
Members who have completed The Flying Programme will be announced weekly in the VATSIM UK Discord. To quality, members will have to attend:
Members who signed up for The Flying Programme will have their CTS permissions revoked after the following time has elapsed:
* The 2 sessions in 12 months rule in enforced using the removal of CTS permissions.
Do you think you would enjoy and/or benefit from The Flying Programme?
The mandatory Moodle course is available for any home member of VATSIM UK to join: https://moodle.vatsim.uk/course/view.php?id=63
Upon completion of the moodle exam, please submit a ticket to Pilot Training department on the helpdesk stating your completion of the moodle to move onto the next step.
Any feedback on the course can be sent via the Helpdesk (Help Topic: Pilot Training).
One of the most important aspects of The Flying Programme is the involvement of ALL VATSIM UK members. As such, these are the requirements to become a mentor:
Above these requirements, a mentor is required be engaging and make sessions exciting for new members. You are now the face of the VATSIM network for a new member!
Want to sign up? Send us a ticket via the Helpdesk (Help Topic: Pilot Training) and the Initial Flight Instructor will coordinate with you to arrange an Over-The-Shoulder (OTS session).