Advancement
Last Updated: January 15, 2003

Altair Virtual Airlines seeks to provide numerous opportunities for pilots to advance their skills, achieve recognition for accomplishment and obtain promotions and pilot ratings. This is done through a system of checkrides, examinations and logged hours. Checkrides and experience are requirements for promotion, while written examinations (knowledge tests) are used to obtain optional "ratings." All new pilots, regardless of experience, are initially assigned to the Altair Flight Academy at KLGB as "Students." Students are not eligible to obtain ratings. Pilots joining Altair and receiving credit for hours at a previous VA, VATSIM or IVAO must still attend the Academy and pass all examinations for promotion.

Student

New pilots assigned to the Academy hold the rank of Student. Graduation earns a promotion to the rank of First Officer and is achieved after completing a VFR Checkride as administered by the Chief Pilot. No minimum hours logged are required to graduate. Students in training may fly any aircraft and any route they choose, although the checkride will specify both of these. Students are not authorized to make online flights while in training.

First Officer

Rating: none
Having graduated from the Academy, the new First Officer may transfer to any Altair Operations Hub at their discretion. First Officers may fly any aircraft and any route, but are still restricted from flying online.

Rating: Instrument
The First Officer is eligible to earn the Instrument Rating. This is achieved through passing the Instrument Written Exam. An Instrument Rating entitles a pilot to fly online with an ALT callsign.

Senior
First Officer

Rating: none
First Officer's seeking promotion to the next grade must have logged a minimum of 50 flight hours and pass the Senior First Officer Checkride.

Rating: Instrument
Senior First Officers are eligible for the Instrument Rating. This is achieved through passing the Instrument Written Exam. An Instrument Rating entitles a pilot to fly online with an ALT callsign.

Rating: Commercial
Senior First Officers who are Instrument-rated are eligible for the Commerical Rating. This is achieved through passing the Commercial Written Exam. A Commercial Rating entitles the pilot to attend conventions at the Altair Resort in Aspen, Colorado.

Captain

Rating: Instrument
Senior First Officer's seeking promotion to the next grade must have logged a minimum of 200 flight hours, obtain an Instrument rating and pass the Captain Checkride.

Rating: Commercial
Captains are eligible for the Commercial Rating. This is achieved through passing the Commercial Written Exam. A Commercial Rating entitles the pilot to attend conventions at the Altair Resort in Aspen, Colorado.

Rating: ATP
Captains with a Commercial Rating may take the ATP Written Exam and obtain the Airline Transport Pilot rating. Pilots so rated may brag endlessly at Charlie's Bar and Grill about their exceptional knowledge, but not their exceptional skill.

Rating: Instructor
Captains with an ATP Rating may take the Instructor Written Exam, but have no hope of passing it. It is so difficult, even the author is unable to achieve a passing grade. In the unlikely event someone does pass, they are entitled to no more than 2 weeks per year at the Altair Resort at no cost to them.

Command
Captain

Rating: Commercial
Captain's seeking promotion to the next grade must have logged a minimum of 500 flight hours, hold a current Commercial Rating and pass the Command Captain Checkride.

Rating: ATP
Captains with a Commercial Rating may take the ATP Written Exam and obtain the Airline Transport Pilot rating. Command Captains so rated may brag endlessly at Charlie's Bar and Grill about their exceptional knowledge and their exceptional skill.

Rating: Instructor
Captains with an ATP Rating may take the Instructor Written Exam, but have no hope of passing it. In the unlikely event someone does pass, they are entitled to no more than 3 weeks per year at the Altair Resort at no cost to them.

Senior
Command
Captain

Rating: Commercial
Command Captain's seeking promotion to the next grade must have logged a minimum of 1,000 flight hours and pass the Senior Command Captain Checkride.

Rating: ATP
Captains with a Commercial Rating may take the ATP Written Exam and obtain the Airline Transport Pilot rating. Senior Command Captains so rated may brag endlessly at Charlie's Bar and Grill about anything they wish.

Rating: Instructor
Captains with an ATP Rating may take the Instructor Written Exam, but have no hope of passing it. In the unlikely event someone does pass, they are entitled to no more than 4 weeks per year at the Altair Resort at no cost to them.