Porter Virtual Pilot Handbook
Welcome to the Porter Virtual Handbook. This handbook will outline everything about Porter Virtual, and include some important requirements for our pilots. If you have any questions, please contact any of our staff members.
Table of contents
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Internal Operations
1.1 - CEO's Message
1.2 - About Us
1.3 - Staff
1.4 - Pilot Ranks
1.5 - Aircraft -
Pilots
2.1 - Pilot Expectations
2.2 - Pilot Behaviour
2.3 - Flight Planning/Execution
2.4 - App Mishap
2.6 - Activity Requirements -
Communications
3.1 - Discord Expectations/Rules
3.2 - Infinite Flight Community Expectations -
VA Offers
4.1 - ROTW -
Reprimand Information
Porter Virtual Pilot Handbook ChangeLog;
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v1 - Creation | 31/05/2024
v1.1 - Updated Rank Information | 03/06/2024
v1.2 - Updated Wording in sections 1.4 2.2, 2.3, Updated information in ROTW Section. | 10/06/2024
v1.3 - Updated 2.3 to include diversion information | 25/06/2024
v1.3.1 - MOBILE ONLY | Updated 1.4 | 26/06/2024
Dates are listed as DD/MM/YYYY
This document is for internal use only; do not distribute outside of Porter Virtual.
Internal Operations
1.1 - CEO's Message
Hello, Kia Ora, Salut! My name is Connor, and I'm the proud CEO of Porter Virtual! I founded Porter Virtual in October 2023 and continued working nonstop until its approval in late January 2024. This time allowed me to work on Porter Virtual to be the best possible before submitting it for approval! I'm so excited for all of you to join us on this journey and so happy for anyone currently here! You make this VA what it is, and I'm very proud to be CEO of a VA with such a dedicated community!
1.2 - About Us
Porter Virtual is a small Canadian Virtual Airline operating inside Infinite Flight and is governed by the Infinite Flight Virtual Airline Regulatory Board (IFVARB). We are not associated, endorsed, or supported by Infinite Flight or Porter Airlines. We operate using two (2) aircraft and fly 140+ routes, serving all ten (10) provinces. We are a small, dedicated community of Bombardier Dash-8-Q400 enthusiasts, supported by the Embraer E195-E2, to serve our longer-haul destinations in Western Canada and the US.
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1.3 - Staff
Our staff team consists of three roles. CEO, Operations Manager & Event Manager. [We are not actively recruiting for Event Manager]
CEO | Connor | IFC Link
Operations Manager | Hiring | Application Link
1.4 - Pilot Ranks
Due to the implementation of a new policy effective June 3, 2024, all rank limitations have been temporarily suspended. As a result, any references to Accessible Aircraft and Route Length are no longer applicable and should be disregarded.
Our Pilot Ranks have been specifically designed for us, given our aircraft restrictions and the length of our routes. Below is a detailed list of our ranks and our requirements to meet them. These will be updated as we expand our route network. All pilots are required to follow rank requirements, with limited exceptions. PIREP filings outside of your rank requirements will result in denial of PIREP, and if continued defiance of rank requirements continues, the pilot will be demoted to Cadet, and further action may be taken following an investigation.
Cadet | 0 - 20 Hours Required
Accessable Aircraft | Bombardier Dash-8 Q400 + Codeshare
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Routes Length | 0 - 1.5 Hours Long
First Officer | 20 - 50 Hours Required
Accessable Aircraft | Bombardier Dash-8 Q400 + Codeshare
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Routes Length | 1.5 - 3 Hours Long
Senior First Officer | 50 - 70 Hours Required
Accessable Aircraft | Bombardier Dash-8 Q400, Embraer E190 + Codeshare
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Routes Length | 3 - 4.5 Hours Long
Junior Captain | 70 - 100 Hours Required
Accessable Aircraft | Bombardier Dash-8 Q400, Embraer E190 + Codeshare
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Routes Length | 4.5 - 5.5 Hours Long
Senior Captain | 100 Hours Required
Accessable Aircraft | Bombardier Dash-8 Q400, Embraer E190 + Codeshare
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Routes Length | All Routes
1.5 - Aircraft
Our Aircraft are the backbone of our Virtual Airline. We currently operate two different airframes, the Bombardier Dash-8 Q400, and the Embraer E190 (This swaps in for the E195-E2). Below are some information about those aircraft
De Havilland Canada Dash-8-400
Bombardier Dash-8 Q400 - Porter Livery
Being one of the only commercial aircraft allowed to fly in and out of Billy Bishop Airport, we’re proud to have this aircraft in our fleet. It allows us to fly into smaller regional airports, keeping Canadians connected.
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Operational Information:
Service Ceiling: 25,000ft
Max Passengers: 78pax
Max Range: 1,361nm
Embraer E-Jet E2/E195-E2
Embraer E190 - Generic Livery
With this latest addition to the team, we’re soaring to new destinations across the North Americas. Having this aircraft in our fleet means bringing new customers to even newer destinations in the United States and Canada.
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Operational Information:
Service Ceiling: 41,000ft
Max Passengers: 100pax
Max Range: 2,400nm
Pilot Requirements/Expectations/Flight Information
2.1 - Pilot Expectations
Porter Virtual pilots must adhere to specific standards to represent our Virtual Airline excellently. By doing so, we maintain an attractive and professional community. All pilots must be courteous and respectful to other players and follow ATC instructions. Reports of disrespectful behavior or failure to follow instructions will result in demotion. Continued misconduct will lead to suspension pending further investigation, with additional actions possible based on the findings.
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Inappropriate behavior is strictly prohibited at Porter Virtual. Any pilot engaging in such conduct on the Live Servers or within the Infinite Flight Community will be removed from Porter Virtual and reported to the IFVARB and/or IFC Team.
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Pilots are expected to have access to the Expert Server at all times; if a subscription rolls over and you no longer have access to Live Servers, you must inform Staff immediately.
Pilots cannot log flights on Casual or Training servers or Solo flights. We use API Information provided by DigitalCrew to ensure that flights logged are flown, and we will deny and contact pilots if discrepancies are found when logging a flight through our Crew Center.
2.2 - Pilot Behavior
Porter Virtual Pilots must conduct themselves professionally on the Infinite Flight Live Servers. Pilots must always follow ATC instructions and adhere to all guidelines, including NOTAMs, TFRs, and Airport Restrictions. Logging flights on Training or Casual Servers is prohibited.
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Pilots who fail to adhere to proper conduct on live servers, engage in actions resulting in violations, or are removed via IFATC will be temporarily removed from Porter Virtual for the duration of the removal. Failure to comply with ATC, misuse or failure to use Unicom, or willfully ignoring ATC instructions will lead to one (1) rank demotion, followed by additional training for the pilot.
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If a pilot accumulates sufficient violations, rendering them ineligible for the Expert Server, they will be removed from Porter Virtual and can not reapply until their access is restored. Pilots demoted due to incidents who persist in not learning from their mistakes may face indefinite demotion to cadet status or removal from Porter Virtual.
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If removed and re-acceptance back into Porter Virtual after a violation period is approved, and the pilot continues to exhibit improper behavior on live servers, they will face indefinite expulsion from Porter Virtual. Staff retain the right to suspend, demote, or remove pilots based on various infractions committed on Live Servers.
2.3 - Flight Planning
In most cases, Pilots are responsible for their flight planning. This includes fuel planning, route management, and weather/airport information. Outside of official events, Porter Virtual is not responsible for your flight planning and execution of said flight.
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Pilots must plan for fuel usage during the flight; insufficient fuel to reach a destination is unacceptable. Any pilot who fails to account for the additional strain on their fuel supply through weather or other forces will be unable to log that flight.
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Route Management is up to the individual pilot, including following approved routes or an actual POE Flight. Porter Virtual does not publish our own routes for flights except for official events.
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Pilots must follow TFR's set up by Infinite Flight at any airport they fly into/out of. If the weather is deteriorating on approach, discontinue the approach and fly a holding pattern either until the weather clears up or a diversion is necessary. The Dash-8 & E190 do not have APPR systems, if you can not safely continue your approach due to visibility issues, either return to your departure airport or divert.
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Use this sheet below to determine your course of action based on regulations in 2.3
2.4 - App Mishaps
We understand that app crashes or issues can occur, and we're prepared for them. We've set up a process to handle these situations, so you can rest assured that we're here to support you.
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In the event of an app crash,
1. If the app has crashed, and you have lost all progress, please message a staff member, and something can be worked out,
2. If the app has crashed, and Flight Resume saved your progress, continue the flight as normal, but include that the total flight time will be skewed,
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In the event of an app failure of any kind,
1. If your app fails to work as usual during the flight, discontinue the flight if you can not safely continue to your destination; contact a staff member or check #support on the IFC to see if the issue has been reported.
2. If your app fails to work as usual before take-off, do not attempt to fly the route; contact a staff member or check #support on the IFC to see if the issue has been reported
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We do not accept half-flown PIREPs, so these systems are in place to ensure you can make the most out of a bad situation.
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2.5 - Activity Requirements/LOA Information
At Porter Virtual, we deeply understand and respect that life's priorities always come first. We prioritize our pilots' personal lives over their commitments to the Virtual Airline, valuing their individual circumstances. However, we also have processes to ensure that pilots adhere to the commitments they made when they applied and were accepted. Below are the requirements for activity and LOA procedures.
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Activity;
1. All Pilots & Staff are required to log a flight twice (2) every month,
2. After twenty (20) days with no recorded activity, the pilot will be sent a reminder message using a special channel,
3. After ten (10) more days, if the member does not attempt to contact staff or log a flight, they will be removed,
4. Under very specific circumstances, staff may waive or alter the activity requirement for some members.
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LOA Information;
1. When requesting an LOA, you may only request thirty (30) days at a time; do not apply for more than one (1) LOA at a time, or all requests will be denied,
2. Once approved, you are exempt from having to log the twice-a-month flight requirement,
3. You may not log a flight during the LOA; if a flight is logged during the LOA, it becomes nullified, and the activity requirements become active again,
4. You may only apply for one (1) extension to a current LOA; this can be done by messaging the CEO or Ops Manager.
Internal/External Communication Expectations
3.1 - Discord Communications
At Porter Virtual, we use Discord for all of our internal communications. This allows us creative freedom over how we set up and use Discord. All important information will be broadcast here. This includes ROTW, internal and external events, PDVA announcements, and anything else you might need to help you succeed within Porter Virtual. There is several rules within Discord to ensure that we, as a Virtual Airline, make everyone feel comfortable and ensure everyone has a good time. Below are these rules, and a list of reprimands for breaching these rules.
1. Respectfulness
You must always be respectful, regardless of personal or professional issues. Continued disrespect of Staff or Pilots will result in suspension or removal from PDVA
4. Spamming
Users will not continuously spam text, images, or memes in Discord Channels. This will result in a muting of your Discord User
7. Direct or Indirect Threats
Any form of threats, including but not limited to DDoS, Death Threats, Doxing, Abuse, and other malicious actions, is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated within PDVA> Engaging in such behavior will result in an immediate ban from PDVA and a report to the IFVARB & IF LLC will be initiated.
10. Discord Behavior
All members will adhere to all rules above, including;
1. No advertisement of other VA/VO's or personal communities.
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2. Impersonation of other members. Failure to identify yourself properly will result in removal from Discord.
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3. Respect Staff and their decisions. PDVA does not tolerate offensive language used at or about Staff. Use of this language towards any member of staff will result in suspension.
2. Inappropriate Language
The use of profanity will not be tolerated towards anyone in PDVA, including in Voice Chats or Direct Messages with any member. Any use of derogatory language towards any member will result in immediate removal from PDVA and a report sent to IFVARB/IFC Staff Teams.
5. NSFW Content
Any NSFW content, whether through Direct Messages or in the Discord Server, is forbidden. Any user sharing NSFW content will be immediately terminated and reported to the IFVARB and/or IFC Team.
8. Spoken & Written Language
English will be predominately used on Discord; the use of other languages is accepted. Howeve use these sparingly.
3. Discrimination
PDVA upholds a strict non-discrimination policy. Any form of discrimination based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nationality, age, or any other characteristic is strictly prohibited. Violations of this policy will lead to immediate removal and will be reported to the IFVARB and/or IFC Team.
6. Profile Names/Pictures
We do not tolerate inappropriate profile names or pictures. Staff will reach out to the offending member if either is deemed too inappropriate. Failure to act will result in further action being taken.
9. Discord Activity
Any pilot without any recorded activity after 60 days will have their discord access removed; please message @PorterVirtual on the IFC to regain access
Please Note: Staff at Porter Virtual may waive some moderation actions based on the severity of infractions, using their discretion to handle situations appropriately.
3.2 - Infinite Flight Community Communications
All Porter Virtual Pilots and Staff must adhere to all rules and regulations set out on the Infinite Flight Community. Any suspension, ban, or removal from the forum will result in a ban from Porter Virtual.
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Any Pilot or Staff Member that is added to the IFVARB Watchlist/Blacklist while an active pilot at Porter Virtual will be removed permanently.
Porter Virtual Offers
4.1 - Routes of the Week [ROTW]
Like other Virtual Airlines, Porter Virtual utilizes Routes of the Week [ROTW] to showcase a variety of routes our pilots may not know about. To do this, we operate using a template that uses both Porter Virtual Mainline Routes and Codeshare Routes.
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Every Sunday (8pm - 10pm EST/12pm - 4pm NZST), we post the upcoming week's ROTW and include important information such as restrictions or, in some rare cases, why a day or whole week doesn't have routes. Every day of the week includes three (3) routes, and every pilot can only log one (1) ROTW per day, with a 1.5x multiplier.
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Every Wednesday is Codeshare Wednesday, which allows our pilots free access to our Codeshare Route Network. This network includes SunCountry Routes and Fiji Airways Routes, meaning pilots can gain up to 17-20 extra hours a week on these routes alone.
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On other days, we include theme days, such as E190 Bounce, West to East & Ottawa Hops. These days allow us to have a little fun with the ROTW, as it lets us do route matching and allows pilots to experience what it's like being an actual pilot.
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Reprimand Information
We operate robustly, allowing us to be more lenient with our Pilots. However, certain situations do require reprimand. We take disrespect, inappropriate behavior, abuse, and threats seriously and will move to removal/ban without hesitation in the most serious cases.
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While we don't publicize our internal matrix for reprimanding pilots, we include some basic information on certain situations. Below is a small table on different situations where action will be taken. We model this public table based on levels, with Level three (3) being the most serious offense.
Level 1 Misconduct -
Written Warning
Falsifying Application Information
Falsifying PIREP Information
Enough L1 Violations from Live Server
Ignoring Staff Requests
Willfully ignoring Activity Policy
Failure to follow rank requirements
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Level 2 Misconduct -
Removal/Suspension
Violation of Discord Policies (1, 4, 6, 9, 10)
Suspension from IFC
Level 2/3 Violation from Live Servers
Failure to follow rank requirements (Repeated Offense)
Falsifying PIREPs (Repeated Offense)
Violation of Handbook Policy 2.2
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Level 3 Misconduct -
Permanent Removal/Ban
Violation of Discord Policies (2, 3, 5, 7)
Ban from IFC
Added to IFVARB Watchlist/Blacklist
Inappropriate Behavior
Harassment
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Please note: Porter Virtual staff reserve the right to bypass steps or proceed directly to removal based on the severity of a member's actions. We believe every pilot deserves a fair investigation and will ensure all Level 1 and Level 2 Violations are thoroughly reviewed before any disciplinary action is taken.​