Flight Selections:

Pilots are required to fly at least one flight every four months to remain on the roster. To access the flight assignment system, go to your crew base from the Crew Operations menu. Then click "Flight Bids". For detailed information on how to use this system, refer to the SOPs (SOP Link). Before selecting the flight, you must check that the aircraft assigned to the flight is one that you are certified to fly at VAC. VAC pilots may only fly flights which are operated by the following companies: Air Canada & Jazz. Once you select your flight, enter it into the bid sheet, or, "Part II". The system will then generate the assignment, and you must then click "Accept Assignment". We recommend printing the flight release for future reference. If you have any trouble with this, please contact Flight Operations at vac003@vacanada.org.

Flight Report:

Once you have completed a flight, you must fill out a Flight Report. Most of the flight information is already on file from your flight assignment. But you will still be required to enter some flight details including total flight time.

The report will be added to the database and will be sent to management for review. Any pilots who submit false flight reports will be terminated. Any pilots to fly routes or aircraft that are not authorized may be suspended.

Note: Please do not enter your hours to more than one decimal place. Example – 5.6 and not 5.58

Flight Bids:

Your user ID and password are required to access this. First complete Part I to view the flights available on the selected route. When you find a suitable flight, enter the details as seen in Part I into the fields on Part II. The schedule system will then forward you to the assignment system.

Flight Assignments:

Once you have selected a flight from the schedules, you will be sent to an assignment page. If you are not permitted to operate the flight you selected, you will be informed. Otherwise, you will see an assignment generated. The assignment will give you all of the necessary information to begin planning your flight. If you are happy with the assignment, click the Accept button. Otherwise, simply return to the schedules to choose another flight.

When you accept an assignment, it will be added to the flight assignments page. This page lists the flights assigned to each pilot within the hub. If you decide you no longer wish to fly one of the flights you have been assigned, you may simply delete it but clicking the delete button on the right. If you wish to print or see the Flight Release, click Print. Only flights which have been assigned to you may be submitted as flight reports.

Airport Information:

This feature is currently offline. It is being updated to provide detailed information on all Virtual Air Canada destinations, as well as charts.

Preferred Routes & Route Map:

The preferred routes section is coming soon.

To view the route maps you will require Macromedia Flash. This map is an interactive graphic of all Air Canada routes. Note that some routes on this map are not serviced by VAC, such as partner routes.

Weather Information:

This is a link to the NavCanada website, where you will be able to obtain current aviation weather information such as METARs, TAFs, and GFAs.
 

Request Leave of Absence:

If you plan to be inactive for more than four months, you must submit an LOA. This will prevent you from being removed from the roster due to inactivity. LOA requests are handled by the VP Flight Crews, and can be granted for a maximum of 365 days. Your status will be returned to Active the next time you submit a flight report.

Modify Email Address:

This page will allow you to change the email address you have on file with us. To do so, you will simply require your VAC ID and password. You must maintain a valid email address on file, otherwise you will be removed from the roster.

Modify Password:

You may change your VAC password to anything you please so that it is easier to remember. To do so, you will require your current VAC ID and password.

Forgot Password:

If you have forgotten your VAC password, use this form to have it sent to the email address we currently have on file for you.

Resignation:

Pilots who no longer wish to fly for VAC must submit a resignation form to have their names removed from the roster. This will also remove you from the VAC mailing list. Once you have been removed from the VAC roster, you can not get your old hours back should you wish to rejoin as they have been permanently deleted.

 

Pilot Roster:

The rosters are sorted by hub. Pilots are listed in order of their pilot ID numbers.


Log Books:

To access your log book, find your name on the roster, and then click the VIEW link across from your name. In your logbook you will find the following information:

Name: Pilots Full Name

From: Pilots geographic location

Hub: Assigned hub

Total Hours: Total flight hours flown

Rank: Pilots Rank and stripes

Pilot Since: Date of hire

Status: Active, Inactive, Leave of Absence, Vacation, etc.

Accumulated salary: Pilots virtual earnings to date.

Promotion Dates: Display the date the pilot obtained each rank.

Perks & Awards: Display any perks or awards the pilot may have received.

Flight Log: A list of all flights flown, along with their information.

Hours per category: How many hours the pilot has flown in each category.

Please contact Flight Operations if there are any errors in your logbook.
vac031@vacanada.org

Hub Transfers:

Please contact the VP Flight Crews at vac031@vacanada.org if you would like a transfer to another hub. At this time we only accept transfers into Winnipeg.
 

Aircraft:

Our fleet is FS2004 and FSX compatible.  Please review the info for each aircraft under the rank section. If you have any trouble with the fleet, please contact the Fleet Department at vac033@vacanada.org.

Here are our aircraft categories:

Small Aircraft = DH8-100, DH8-300, CRJ-200, CRJ-705

Medium Aircraft = EMB-175, EMB-190, A319, A320, A321

Heavy Aircraft = B767-300, A330, B777-200, B777-300,

ACARS:

The Virtual Air Canada ACARS system is an in-flight tool for pilots to access many VAC features. Please note that it does NOT automatically record your flight times, nor is it required that you use the ACARS system. It is included in all VAC aircraft downloads. To use ACARS in a non-VAC provided aircraft, please visit the Add-Ons page.

To access the VAC ACARS system, open the Kneeboard from the flight deck, and select the "Reference" button. This will allow you to connect to the system. VAC ACARS has the following features:

Datalink Messages: This feature allows pilots to communicate with other pilots and staff while in flight. Simply type in your message and hit send. Your message will then be visible to other pilots. You will not be notified of a reply however, and must check the messages from time to time for responses.

Release Summary: This feature will allow you to display all active assignments for any pilot. Once displayed, you may click on the "Display" link on the right of each assignment to display the Flight Release Summary. For full flight release display, please use the Flight Assignments page on the website.

Flight Report: This feature will allow you to file your flight reports from the aircraft in the same way as the main website.

Weather Data: This system will display real time METAR data from NOAA for any airport. Simply enter the 4 letter ICAO code of the airport, such as CYYZ.

Crew Alerts: This feature is used by VAC staff to communicate important messages to VAC pilots as necessary.

Event Info: This feature will provide information on upcoming events. Also, during some major events, it may be updated with further real time information, or other relevant information, in support of the event.

 

Ranks:

The ranking system at Virtual Air Canada is quite unique. Please view the ranks page for a better understanding of our ranking system. Click here to visit the ranks page. To find out how many hours per category you have, check in your log book. A pilot may only fly those aircraft which are assigned to his category, as well as any category below his rank.

Trainee = 0 hours required

Junior Pilot = 10 hours in Small Aircraft required

Second Officer = 20 hours in Small Aircraft required

Senior Pilot = 20 hours in Medium Aircraft required

First Officer = 50 hours in Medium Aircraft required

Captain = 80 hours in Heavy Aircraft required

Senior Captain = 230 hours in Heavy Aircraft required


Senior Ranks:

At Virtual Air Canada, we also have senior ranks which apply to pilots who have between 200 and 2000 hours.

Standard Uniform Cap = 0 - 200 hrs

One-Leaf Cap = 200 - 500 hrs

Two-Leaf Cap = 500 - 750 hrs

Three-Leaf Cap = 750 – 1000 hrs

Four-Leaf Cap = 1000 - 1500 hrs

All-Gold Rim Cap = 1500 + hrs

Standard Operating Procedures:

The SOPs are a simple step by step guide to flying for VAC. Currently, it covers all of the basics of VAC Flight Operations. To view the SOPs, click here.


IFR Training Exams:

Completing an IFR exam will add the certification to your pilot profile, and increase your pay rate. To complete an exam, you must first submit a request form for permission to access the exam. You will then be emailed an access code which will give you one time access to complete the exam. Exams may only be attempted once every 7 days.
 

Pilot Forum:

We encourage all pilots to register to the board by clicking the "register" link at the top of the screen. By registering, you will gain access to all of the features the board has to offer, as opposed to signing on as a guest. We also encourage to update your profile by clicking on the control panel link after you’ve registered and logged on.

The pilot forum is a popular place to meet fellow pilots and chat just about anything! There are also screenshot sections, as well as help sections!

VAC Chat Room:

The VAC Chat Room allows VAC pilots to chat with each other real time. Java script is required.

Mailing List:

All pilots are automatically added to the VAC mailing list upon signup. All pilots must be on the mailing list. The list will be used only by VAC Staff to inform pilots of news involving VAC.