Website (in)activity?

S

Szymon Kurzacz

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Today 12:02 AM
Hey...
I have some feeling that our website is quite inactive, and that feeling may be used by other people as well, and that is bad, because "inactive" webpages may be not interesting. If we want get more sponsors we should try to get more activity, arrange some special airline events, some kind of airline fly-inn each month or something. Any way more activity, news etc.

Other thing, watching on statsistics - we have more and more airplanes, but some of them are barley used. For me some graphs of aircraft usage is unreadable (but have high screen resolution so its not space connected but built into graphs), i've made another topic with suggestion about stats page some time ago.

It may look like we do nothing new, apart from just flying around.

It's not like i try only to call "do something", i would ask if there is any help needed, also may try in som php/sql coding if needed. Not much, because of my current real life status (just before apartment repair and wedding), but i could try to do something.

Lets talk... :)
 
I agree in part Szymon,

The online fly-ins, Rafal organised quite a few, including a weekly event, but numbers dropped and dropped for some reason, until the weekly event wasn't worth spending time to organise. I guess people just want to fly their own routes.

Stats stats stats, I'd love to have loads and loads of stats, the more the better. In your other thread about rotating the chart would make perfect sense.

The problem is that air-child is run by enthusiasts in their spare time. For some of the programmers, this spare time is limited right now, hence not many visual updates to the look of the site.
 
Szymon, You say that nothing is happening. I'm asking You. Where you were and where was other pilots of ACH when ACH Flying Club prepared on-line activity? Rafal and Tomek organized flights to more interesting and attractive places in the world. We were flyed in max 4-5 crafts. Noone wants to join us.
 
I was on other side of globe, with option to travel only from where i am + my weekend church and charity activities...
On other hand i have complete (need just minor tweaks) activity for all pilots, with i will run probably during holidays: world trip in around 30-40 legs of max dist capable to fly in 737. Charts and sceneries are listed on DDAT website, only fly routes need to be checked with current airac. Got agreement with Stanislaw about using his World Trip events.
 
Thanks for the feedback, Szymon! I mostly-fully (which is just a little less than fully) agree with you. And I'm glad there's people like you who tell things by their name, instead of just being upset or bored until the point of leaving the shop...

There's probably two areas of "inactivity" - one is the website, which concerns me most, being the 'webmaster' - the other is the community, which is not inactive in regards to flying, but seems not much interested or motivated in regards to common activities.

For the website there can be something done, as you said. And any help is appreciated, especially since my own time is reduced to almost zero since a while now. However, we have also made the experience that getting help is not as easy as it seems. From the beginning of Air-Child we tried to involve a couple of people with the web design and coding. This already costs a lot of time - enabling proper and secure access, telling them where to find things on the server, instructing them about the site structure and scheme of php code and so on. Two times it took me a lot of time just to see those people give up after a short time. I don't blame them, but that's not something to manage with a couple of emails. You need some kind of personal contact, at least.
For a while now, Tobias Niederhauser is helping with the coding, and he already wrote some nice stuff that is still waiting to be finished and published. My fault, not his, because the final step has to be done by me, just because I want to keep responsibility in case things go really upside down.
But don't get me wrong - I very much appreciate your offer to help (as much as your suggestions in the past which I always read but didn't answer :oops: ). I will contact you via email, soon. Stand by ;)

Regarding the community (not only talking about online flying, but also the communication here in the forum) it has always been like this: for most people it seems sufficient to have their VA place where to report and keep record of their flights. They probably don't want any more, and that's ok.
Then there's those who already know each other from other communities or networks, and they are the ones who take part in events, meetings or so. These groups are always pretty small. Of course they can grow, with some support, but this needs time and patience.
I had a meeting with Norbert, this week, and we talked just about these questions. We finally agreed that the only way to increase the community is to try things out, again and again, and eventually find out what people like or not. However, most important are people like you, who say what they don't like and make suggestions to get things going.
We always tried to make clear that we don't want to run this VA from the top (let alone that we don't have the time for that). The idea was that everyone gets involved as much as possible, but we also know that this is harder to do than to think ;)

Finally, after speaking to Norbert on the phone today, it should also be said that there's a lot of things happening "behind the scene". Things we do continously, like updating and validating flight schedules, replying to emails and PM's, fixing flight reports*, debugging the scripts ... things that take more time than most people would think.

Ok, this was a more general statement that I felt was necessary ;) I'll get back to your other points (statistics, for example) this weekend. And expect some email, soon
(...well, definitely before you are married) :lol:

Peter

*ps @ Maciek (not part of the topic, but since I'm at it):
Maciej, I did NOT forget to insert your report! - it's just more complicated than it seemed. It will be done, though :yes:
 
hey there,

i really love this VA and of course the idea of helping UNICEF...i´m currently practising for the PPL and would love to have the possibility to fly for Airchild at the moment.
is there any chance for an Air-child Cessna models like 172 to do some charter flights online. i´m spending hours to practise and would love to spend those hours for UNICEF as well.
all the best
hubert


:fly:
 
I have some plans... More of them are to be completed during this decade (more than this year)...

Area 1: Personal life.
ETA: Decade or more, but some less than 100 days.
This stuff is from basics like "just get livin", but also to get job, repair apartment and some other major demolition stuff, including wedding, more children, new bicycle, new computer etc. In my dreams is quite big hose with big room or gym siuted for children therapy + some workshop (to build bicycles) and playground for children in garden and home cockpit (motion platform sounds nice)...

Area 2: Flight simulation.
ETA: Neverending story :)
Part 1 is to decrease sim capacity to lower volume. Probably i will exchange my yoke set to smaller joystick, will also upgrade computer (dualcore to core i5 or better, gf8600gt to something more fps-givin), in future big screen (32" or something) capable to watch tv and show outside view, possibly with smaller one (10-12") for instrument panel, expanding simpit with saitek stuff and vasfmc based software. I may look foward into making some good xplane sceneries of Poland. For sure - more flying, this year i thought i will make at least 1 flight for each day, so i will try to manage 365+ flights in 2011...

Area 3: Air-Child.
More flying as said above, but with cooperation. I remember that we had some vatsim turotial flights managed bu someone from Poland, flights from our european hum to warsaw, as listed in flight manual documantary. I will try (plans... hrehre) to make such or simmilar flight once per month for all begginers, who dont care to fly online because of something. VATSIM do not bite, and if we will have Rafal on Radar in Poland it may be much fun (+ teamspeak for chat). Some tutorial in controled enviro. Another option is world tour in some kind of plane - i have agreement with Drzewiecki Stanislaw about using his old event routes and database for that, so this need only time to complete (+ checking routes).

Much plans, not much time to finish that. First priority is finishing school, then wedding, house demolition (repair/renovation) then after holidays and honeymoon i may have more cash and time for managing some stuff, like said abowe with new comp and making some more online trips for all who will want to participate.

Next (not)scheduled flight is from UHWW to VHHH, then i will leave my 744 and jump into something simmilar (something that also fly) and will go in EPWA direction with few stops (VNKT, OMDB, LGAV probably). Then local flying OR will not have as much time and will prepare more details about Warsaw-Rome trip for 1st May evening. I know that at least few people will fly that day from Poland to Italy, and that may even be some major airline rush...

Thats all for today :) More announcements will come in proper time, and may include even some mainsite annouce for that events, not only forums.

Keep flying.
 
Szymon Kurzacz said:
Area 3: Air-Child.
More flying as said above, but with cooperation. I remember that we had some vatsim turotial flights managed bu someone from Poland, flights from our european hum to warsaw, as listed in flight manual documantary. I will try (plans... hrehre) to make such or simmilar flight once per month for all begginers, who dont care to fly online because of something. VATSIM do not bite, and if we will have Rafal on Radar in Poland it may be much fun (+ teamspeak for chat). Some tutorial in controled enviro. Another option is world tour in some kind of plane - i have agreement with Drzewiecki Stanislaw about using his old event routes and database for that, so this need only time to complete (+ checking routes).
Click to expand...

If there will be some air-child flights for newbie's I'm in. I tried Vatsim and I stuck. if somebody could help me to underestand some rules I'll be gratefull. World tour sound nice too. I plan to fly offline Russia Extreme tour 2011, which was flied this year on vatsim. I'm not able right now cause my company is too small. I dont have enough money to buy B737 yet. But I work on it.

Greetings

Rafal
 
We have a few Vatsim controllers here on Air-Child too Rafal including me, and lots of pilots. So if you have questions about flying on Vatsim just ask here on the forums. And I'll always be glad to help you with a flight from Amsterdam (EHAM), just as I'm sure that the other controllers will be helpful at their airports.
 
Have a look at this - it describes "the first" online flight to be done, as an example a route from LOWS to EPWA was used, but the rules are applicable anywhere, for and IFR flight.
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@Szymon,
It's great that You have ideas and You want activity our lines, but I would like to remind You (or if You don't know). Tomek Wydrzynski is online activility directior, and in my own opinion You should tell him Your ideas first (before You publishing).
 
Maciej Duczynski said:
@Szymon,
It's great that You have ideas and You want activity our lines, but I would like to remind You (or if You don't know). Tomek Wydrzynski is online activility directior, and in my own opinion You should tell him Your ideas first (before You publishing).
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@ Maciej hi I would like to say that any idea about online activity is worth to be published. Even Tomek is online chief. Yes we have a hierachy in the VA. But this is also virtual. As long as nobody is harmed anybody is free to post his ideas. As this here is for fun only we should not relate on the real world behaviour if it is not 100% necessarry. Cheers Tom
 
Glad to see this topic has evolved and is pretty active ;)

After having been away the last days, I think I should jump in for some remarks, at least:
Rafal Bardel said:
That was not fair, Peter.
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I'm a little confused here, Rafal. Did you take this post personally? If so, I can honestly assure you that I didn't think of you for a moment, when I wrote that.
What I refer to are those members who stay for a while, then suddenly stop their activities and obviously quit without leaving a note. Not that this would be something totally unusual for a VA or any other online community. But in the beginning, when there were fewer members, I took the time to email some of them and asked about their reasons to quit. Only then some replied that they had trouble using pirep add-on XY or found the VA not professional enough (or too professional, in some cases) or thought they had to fly on Vatsim, or ... whatever reasons. That's why I mean it would have been helpful if those people had posted a few words in the forum, saying what they miss or dislike.
Again: if any of the active members took it personally, that was clearly a misunderstanding and I apologize! :yes:
Maciej Duczynski said:
It's great that You have ideas and You want activity our lines, but I would like to remind You (or if You don't know). Tomek Wydrzynski is online activility directior, and in my own opinion You should tell him Your ideas first (before You publishing).
Click to expand...
Maciej, I'm absolutely sure that Tomasz, as much as the entire staff, will welcome any input given in this thread. ;)
And we can only have discussions if we have them publicly.
Szymon Kurzacz said:
I remember that we had some vatsim turotial flights managed bu someone from Poland, flights from our european hub to warsaw, as listed in flight manual documantary. I will try (plans... hrehre) to make such or simmilar flight once per month for all begginers, who dont care to fly online because of something. VATSIM do not bite, and if we will have Rafal on Radar in Poland it may be much fun
Click to expand...
Totally agree, Szymon! We'd really like to get those tutorials, or "flight school" or whatever it should be called, going. Fact is: we need the support of those among you who have the time to support others. I remember that I got some practical Vatsim instructions long ago by Robert-Jan Oosterloo who took me on a personal ATC session in Groningen, and we practiced patterns, vectoring and typical ATC commands. It was great, and I always hoped we could realise something like that on a regular base. Or by appointment, as we did at the time. And by the way: even if there's only 1 request, it can be much more satisfying for the pupil, as well as for the teacher, than having a group of 10 to teach.
I cannot speak for Rafal or Tomasz or Freek, if and when they could offer such services, but if any of you wants to help, let us know.
And if anyone has questions about all aspects of flying, don't hesitate to post here. There's always someone who can help.
Tom Weber said:
As long as nobody is harmed anybody is free to post his ideas.
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I officially declare this the "statement of the year"!! :)
 
I did notice the forums have been awefully quiet!

On my side, I've been pretty busy lately, attempting to get myself to JTF2 physical fitness requirements since I'm planning on joining the RCAF (basicly the air force) just so I don't have a hard time with drill sergeants in bootcamp and since I couldn't find a way to finance IFR Multi-Engine flight lessons (CAN$45,000) as well as many issues with my laptop keeping me from being able to do some flying!

On top of that, the job I had was only for the winter season and I couldn't find another one for now, so I'd like to take myself off the donor list, I've paid my 2 quarters, but cannot finance it anymore for now :( I'm sorry for this but should I have additional funds pouring in, I'll donate some more!

Until I can set myself up a whole new PC I'll most likely remain inactive too!
 
Pierre-Nicolas Roy said:
... so I'd like to take myself off the donor list, I've paid my 2 quarters, but cannot finance it anymore for now :( I'm sorry for this but should I have additional funds pouring in, I'll donate some more!
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Totally understandable, Pierre-Nicolas. Many thanks for the support you gave to Unicef, so far!
:thx:
Until I can set myself up a whole new PC I'll most likely remain inactive too!
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If you like, we can set you on "vacation" (paused) mode, so you can still login to the forum and return to flying whenever it's possible. Just drop me a note.

Peter
 
If you like, we can set you on "vacation" (paused) mode, so you can still login to the forum and return to flying whenever it's possible. Just drop me a note.

Peter
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That would be appreciated! To top the bad luck, my laptop's screen backlight just died, and I don't know how long the shop'll take to fix it!
But hopefully when they fix it they'll also fix the overheating problems I've had then I might be bale to fly again!
 
Recently i had some overheating problems - around 85*C on GPU under load from xpl9...
So... i grabed vaccum cleaner, screwdriver and dismantled my PC, cleaned all radiators, fans and other usefull stuff inside and now temp is "safe" 65*C under load on GPU :D
Next thing will be getting new PC, need to upgrade my dualcore to something more friendly to xpl10 :) (lcd, mouse, keyboard, yoke, gpu, ram, mainboard, case, power unit and all other stuff included in getting new PC).

That was OT, and in topic?
I was thinking about charter fleet vs scheduled flights. And not only >why< more flights are done vis charter and how that look in global idea of ACH. My ideas was around making bigger fleet or adding more variety. I was earlier pilot in Flying Tigers Group, where we had many airlines divided in general into 3 areas next to total charter: passenger fleet, cargo fleet and vintage fleet. Pax fleet was normal scheduled airliners, cargo was for MD-11, 747F and other heavies with mostly cargo operations and vintage was in "old" paint liveries including most of no_longer_used airliners like lets say most of douglas airliners (dc3, dc4, dc9, etc.), lockheed constellation, old il/tu airplanes, mostly old prop airliners.
Lets try to categorise charter "divisions":
Modern - all modern flying machines that we have right now in fleet.
Vintage - old (mostly) prop airliners, but also some newer ones like 737-200, 707, 727, a300, concorde, tu-144, if not taken by means of "no longer used" we can try to put in vintage category all stuff with "clocks" or analogue instruments in panel, even for jet engines - no glass cockpit = vintage
Bush - small STOL airplanes, lets cound only few: Beaver, Twin Otter, but also not exacly Bush, but also small ones like Cessna 172 and other small prop.
Heli - something new? How many vAirlines have helis in fleet? Mention of few? Eurocopter EC135, Bell JetRanger, mi-26, UH-1 (Bell 214/412), Bell 430 (remember airwolf?), or V-22 Osprey
Biz - BizJets and bigger/smaller airplanes, lets mention only Citation X, G350, Boeing BizJet (based on 737), Learjet 45m but also KingAir, Baron and few other prop's.

That would be only charter fleet with limited airplanes (one of a kind like currently a380). As far as i know charter fleet is much easier to manage than scheduled one - because of no ned to put any airplanes under routes that must be actual and checked few times in year. Bad thing is to get models and paints for such big amount of flying stuff and put it in nice looking thing under our hangar - and that would need to be followed by new hangar layout.

What You think? :)
 
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