SimplyTommo

Name: SimplyTommo

Example airline: España is a spanish airline with hubs at Barcelona, Palma, Gran Canaria, Madrid and Valencia. Semi-based on Iberia and Spanair with the regional network integrated into the mainline fleet so to benefit from joint terminals and hub effect for the regional services. 

Notable accomplishments or projects at ae: British Caledonian, a previous R5 airline surviving from end-to-end with a realistic fleet, utilisation and network (albeit with a Heathrow base designed around the real-life British Airways operation). The airline included a low-cost offshoot, BlueSky. 

How often are you active: Currently several times a day, though sometimes I can be limited to only daily activity.

Why would you like to join us and what do you hope to bring to Volant: I would like to join Volant because one of my pleasures in this game is to run realistic airlines, and I am seeking an alliance that will go from end-to-end in a world. I enjoy the planning side of the airlines about as much as actually running them and can help other members with this if the need is there. I have already been doing my best to match real-world seat configurations and destinations and would have no problem discussing ideas or issues with other members of the alliance.

Alliances you are in: I am also a member of SkyRoutes Alliance, World Alliance and Jetstream Alliance.

Thank you for your time,

Tommo

1- Why do you want to Join Dusk or Dawn, and which one are you more interested in?

I'd like to join Dawn or Dusk because I have a semi-realistic airline in R6 and would like to put it in a realistic alliance, honestly I am interest in both, Dusk for blueSky (as it is the lcc division of BCal) and Dawn for BCal as it is the flag carrier of the UK (in absence of BA).

2- What airline(s) do you wish to apply with to Dawn or Dusk? Describe them in details.

As mentioned above, I'd like to apply with both BCal and blueSky. British Caledonian was initially modeled on the real-world British Caledonian, but I have expanded it to take into account the lack of any Virgin or BA. The terminal at LHR is consistent for Terminals 1 and 4 at LHR. Manchester is consistent to Terminal 3, Glasgow to Concourse C and LGW to the North terminal. Currently the airline operates a dual hub, with hubs at Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester also but these have few aircraft actually based there. The regional hubs will see addition of the Avro RJ's as they arrive. For fleet utilisation and seating, I have followed BA and the CAA data for BA's fleet utilisation. Plans include replacing the MD-11s with the Boeing 777s and A310s with the A330-200s. A319s will replace the B733s and the A320s and A321s are for growth from the regions and maybe some new places in north africa from LHR.

blueSky has only just begun operations, it is for all intents and purposes the BCal version of Go fly. I have modeled the livery on jetBlue and the airline features two star IFS and seat back TV's. The airline will grow following Go's destinations as they were added, with hubs at STN, GLA, EDI, BRS and EMA. The fleet will include at least 28 B737-300s by the time BCal retires its final example (the idea being that BCal transfers them to blueSky, but the airline will also probably source some more from the used market). The Boeing 737-800 is going to be the eventual fleet. I chose the 737-800 over the A320 because of its suitability for lesser known airfields and that BCal operates the A320 family extensively and would get valuable knowledge and leverage against Airbus in future deals knowing they have an offshoot that operates Boeing aircraft.

The BCal operations include the regional operations (DHC-6, J-31, ATP and Avroliners) these aircraft provide valuable feed in the regions to the hub network.

3- How long are you usually on AE? Are you an active AE community member?

I am on AE at least once a day for a couple of hours, I am active and frequently read the forums, I only comment when I feel I have something to contribute and don't have enough time for chat (I found it hard to keep up with the conversations the few times I was in there).

Sorry for the long essay about the airlines, thank you for your time and consideration.

Your Username: Simply Tommo

Your Example Airline (link and description): Ozark Air Lines (OZ) Originally planned to be a TWA, but the name was already in use so I chose an old favorite of mine. The idea is that the merger went the other way around, hubs will be in JFK, LAX and STL, fleet will hit about 240-250 aircraft with 30 or so long haul (some 747 classics, and 767s) with MD80 making the bulk of the short-haul fleet with some 757s and later, 717s to fill the DC-9-30 gap. LAX and JFK will be small-ish hubs (28 or so gates at JFK and 13-14 at LAX). IFS and IFE will improve within the next year or so, top rate IFE coming online with the 757s onwards, and IFS in the works for a 1992/1993 timeline.

• What are your skills? What can you contribute to the alliance? I am good with design, can use gimp and I used to write copy for my school newsletter and club advertisements (never made money from it though). Handy with excel and good at working out suitable configs and utilisation hours, hopefully I can contribute to the alliance in areas of realism and branding.

• Why do you want to join Avant? Why do you think you are a good fit? I think I'd fit here because of the professional tone I picked up from the rules & guidelines, it's also a reason I want to join. I made the airline in R5 because I wanted to try some things out regarding the USA in AE and I think this alliance would be a good place for Ozark.

• What other alliances are you currently in? How committed will you be to Avant? I am currently in World and SkyRoutes, I will be just as committed to Avant as to the former. I spend a couple of hours a day on AE, thanks to winter work is winding down, so I can usually be responsive within a couple of hours.

Hi,

Does aircraft utilisation (how many hours a day the aircraft is being used) have any affect on the maintenance costs and depreciation of a fleet? Like, if I operate 737s at a utilisation of 20 hours a day will they break down more often (higher maintenance costs) and after 10 years be worth scrap value compared to 737s used for 10-12 hours a day?

Thanks for your time,

Tom

After taking out bonds in a new world my credit rating plummeted, is there somewhere to find where it says how long it'll take for it to improve? Or is it dynamic from airline to airline?

Many thanks

Tom