UALR OpNote 003

 
  Texas Rotation




 

1. Promotions – please join me in congratulating Jim – Digipic on earning his Flight Officers wings.
2. United Regional flight update - As you may know, UALR accomplished its goal of overloading the approach controller at KBOS last Thursday.  However the success is both a blessing and a (temporary) curse.  BVA Ops has requested that we spread future dispatches out over several approach controllers.  Unfortunately we can only determine what ATC service is available by logging on at 8EST and taking a look.  BVA Ops has also requested that pilots fly more than one flight for the night if possible.  So with all this in mind UALR will look to immediately implement the following operational modifications:

·         Dispatch tickets will be released no earlier than 8PM EST and routes will be based on available controllers.  Gate time will still be 8:30EST and UALR pilots will still be expected to spin up and depart quickly and on time. 

·         In order to expedite the preparation of dispatch tickets experienced pilots may be given a departure and arrival airport, but NOT the route.  UALR pilots will be expected to use the Route Finder or the NFDC Database to find the proper route on their own.  http://www.fly.faa.gov/rmt/nfdc_preferred_routes_database.jsp

·         Departure times might also not be given.  Instead we will adapt the concept of a “Targeted Arrival Time”.  All flights will use Skyvector or other means to determine accurate flight time and use that data to plan a departure that results in a wheels down Targeted Arrival Time (TAT) at your destination.  In other words, ALL flights should strive to arrive at their destination at EXACTLY their TAT and plan their departures and/or airspeed accordingly.  Pilots needing assistance with finding routes and/or flight times should contact a company Officer or their Instructor.  On the next departure ticket, pilots can expect to find a TAT – a Targeted Arrival Time - instead of a departure time.  Pilots should then strive to hit their TAT with wheels down right on the button.

·         After arrival, pilots (especially west coast-ers) are encouraged to fly another leg of their choice if they can. 

·         Pilots who wish to fly earlier than 8:30EST may obviously do so as well.  However pilots should plan their flight so that they are on the ground by 8:30 and able to receive a dispatch for the primary leg of the United Regional Thursday gang flight.   This may involve resetting to a new airport, however route requests are certainly welcome if submitted via Skype by at least 7PM.

I realize this will be somewhat confusing, and it’s certainly not the way I would choose to run the airline.  However it will have to do for the moment.  In the meantime I am working with BVA Ops to secure some level of notice as to what ATC service we could expect so dispatches can be released earlier in the evening in the future.  Please seek out a company officer if you have questions, need assistance or clarification.

And yes, this week’s regional will take place in the Texas airspace.  Stay sharp.

3. Updated United Gates Listing – It appears that some of the United gates given in OpNote002 may not exist on FSX.  We will work to update the data for a future OpNote.  In the meantime, please strive to use at least the proper UAL terminal if not the proper UAL gate.