Suggestions

[Tommy PAA118]

Well,here is the list,taken from another thread.
I have added a few items. So lack of ideas is there not.
I did not post this because some of it is in another thread and
because I wanted not to seem overly critical and give you room
to work and get a roadmap on the table for the VA. But we have
discusted most of these items on Ventrilo Dirk.


Just putting all suggestions so far for improvment to our website in one post.
Post more suggestions if you have one.
Then I can add things to this list here.
Then we can just cross out things we get done as time goes along.

 WISH LIST

Help with Web Programming someone who has lots of time to spend on Pan Am Virtual Airways.It excists out there maybe very close and availiable.


1.a) A statistic diagram showing the overall flights per months of Pan Am Virtual Airways?
         It would give an idea of the monthly capacity.
    b) Resplit into hubs again,showing the stats per hub and total.

 2. Remove video start page. Have a download section or embedded youtube links.


 3. Link the "Policy Manual" to an extra opened window,and include the link in the about/presentation text.


 4. a) Give everyone access to all pilot logs when logged in. Make links in roster page.
     b) Upgrade logs to at least show block time for each flight.

 5. Site Search and/ or Sitemap.


 6. Use and link VatAware in some form on our page.


 7. a)Expand our online info page. Booked flights-Departing-Cruise-Arrival-Landed.
     b)A shoutbox for chatter and/or info on the same page
     c)Comments board for pirep'ed flights,showing a summary of the flight in own words.


 8. Correction of all "Pan American Virtual Airlines"-Tags to "Pan American Virtual Airways"-Tags.


 9. a)Update and redesign the outlook of the dispatch system.

    b)More flexibel dispatch system. able to have drop down menu choosing: Aircraft-Pax-Flight Number


10. Correct and update the fleet download pages.


11. Acars system. Pireps via FS Passenger. Virtual Financial system?
      There's even a couple of VA complete tools on avsim.
      Then there is also flynet as an option.


12. Update the Training Department,hire a new Training Director.
     Get an automated testing system up and running.


13. Update all other text pages where needed,included the policy manual.


14. Make a page showing the staff,and job describtion for each position.


15. Make it mandatory for all active pilots to participate more.
     Update and upgrade the"job desciption"for pilots,
     the different positions of the staff and enforce it.

16. A strickter route policy maybe?


17. Hire a bigger staff. Pilots that actually has time do do something.

[Dirk PAA001]

Wow!

17 points and written in bold.

As you should know from our conversations, most of the points are on a "to do" - list.

Most disappointing for me is, you create a wish list with 17 items, post them in public, and you don't offer me concrete help to solve those.

To make this list possible you need coding knowledge. Are you able to code the scripts for your wishes? Reading your posts i have the impression you don't. E.g. I gave you a link one time how to make a flash route map. I never received any, and that is a lot of work though it just would be the start for a routes page. We are talking about one page here. The rest would have been my part (coding).

Second thing one needs is the time to code. I told you a thousand times that i will be really busy in winter, spring 2008. I evaluated all of your suggestions carefully before and i kindly asked for patience.

The thread about poor leadership:

I think i did a lot of coding and research and accomplished a few things when my time permitted (Dispatch, fixing bugs).
Next: I always checked my e-mails daily as i did monitor the forum.

I also wanted to see the result on how your event initiative would turn out and now i know:

With a copy of the banner that is made and updated in 2 minutes the event gets a touch of unprofessionalism. You did not prove in any way you are seriously interested in getting something great and unique here. That is just a start of an explanation.

But with this attitude in getting something done you compare my poor leadership with the abilities of a professional webdesigner.
Things have not been forgotten, but you were aware about my lack of time. That is what disappoints me most of your threads made here in public.

Submitting suggestions is always apreciated, but showing how to accomplish those goals in 2 minutes would be even better. Of course there is problems and we have to solve them, but i seriously doubt they will be solved the way you chose to do it.
I claim for myself that the things i did already where good despite the fact i am not a pro coder.

This leads to the comparison with our former CEO, who thankfully is still around:
Please keep in mind that he had a friend who took care of the scripts: Rel (Thank you!)
But Rel also resigned. Also, RJ resigned. Both because of their real life issues which is completely understandable.
From there we had to find people of the same enthusiasm and the will to get something done.
I never experienced those people making a list of 17 items and not a concrete suggestion on how to solve those. And somebody like that is what i am looking for staff.

E.g. Events manager:

When that position was posted i got one application. Now you initiate events (with a certain result). Why didn't you apply by e-mail as described in the job offering made here in the forum?

Things are still rolling and we will carry on. But we need time as we want to make things happen with a certain quality or to say:

Something that has to be accomplished, e.g. a new idea, needs a new banner and not a poor, unprofessional copy of an existing one!

Kind regards,

Dirk.

[Tommy PAA118]

First of all Dirk,I seriously think we have a communication problem.
I don't know if it is your understanding of english that is a little lacking,
or that you just hear what I say when we talk?

Because,I have said that HELP is out there for ALL these items,if you WANT it,period!
I have suggested numerous things to do more specific. None of them I got a feedback
to work further on.

Event. Mind you,I spent hours and hours to work on the event,so please,spare me the cheap
"2 minute job slander" you throw out. THAT.. is unprofessionalism!!
And mind you.. I.. was the only one willing to to ANYTHING in this VA to get a group flight going.
If you really didn't think it was a good idea,you should have taken over,or told me what to do.
(then I would have followed your leadership)
THAT,would have been LEADERSHIP. But no,you just comfortably sat on the sideline watching
,and my friend,THAT is LACK of leadership in my world!
If you really wanna "blame" someone for the LOGO,you need to talk to João. He actually made
the Logos. But that said,I don't think they look bad or "unprofessional". João is good with Logos,
so thanks to João for making an effort there!

Accomplishments.. well as I have said already Dirk. You did a good job with the design on the Dispatch System.
But at the same time,you "secretly" made the Dispatch only for the mainline,classics. I have no problem with that
if that's your strategy,but do it official,not with two tounges. this is why we have loose pilots you know.
They believe that Pan Am VA is as stated,a classic and modern. Then they find no routes in the Dispatch and get confused.
(I have actually talked to a couple who were a member and didn't like us)

About comparing your poor leadership abillities with a pro web designer,that is NOT so.
In my world a leader is in the front, ALWAYS taking charge,telling his crew what to do.
Making sure that everyone knows what to do,and what kind of strategy he has for the job.
He is initiating things,not leaving them up to others. Especially when one takes over a position,
one should be clear and to the poit in what one has for plans.
This is where I see you have failed. That's why I say you have shown poor leadership.
Again,how good a programmer you are is NOT in the equation.

When the events manager job came up,I had already expressed to you what I could do.
events managing was not one of them. Besides,Robert really wanted that position so I
thought that was a good idea for him to take on that task. He got caught up in school,
I couldn't foresee that.

Why I write in the forum? Because you seem so not interested in solving things.
We had a deal,you were gonna(finally) make up your mind on what to do and get back to me.
That didn't happen,and you seemed really unwilling to talk online when I ask again.
So you bring this on yourself Dirk. Again it is a result of poor leadership qualities.

Lastly,hope you don't take all of this personally. It's not meant to be. I just want to move
forward to see this VA get back on its feet again. Because at the moment,we are all frantically
swimming to stay alive. So please Mr CEO Dirk,tell us what to do,who to do what and how,
cause the water is getting awfully cold and dark. 

Tommy

[Dirk PAA001]

You never offered any coding help. Watch your points. Almost each one is related to coding.

And i told you a thousand times: I need time for that!

I don't critizize Joao's abilities for a logo, but the way you modified it!

And i requested your patience for official steps. Disregarded by you! Now we have a public discussion about that plus a semi-professional organized event. You were perfectly aware about my time frame because of real life. And now this...
You compare me with Ben, ok. I don't believe this thread would still stand here. BTW.: I think my English is not that bad (you are getting personal, my friend).

Tell me about your help and where you can work on.

A "secret" dispatch? No just a dispatch based on real world facts with a bunch of research.

You will know my "leadership" abilities soon, I guarantee.

Kind regards,

Dirk.

[Tommy PAA118]

I'm not speaking for myself only on this subject Dirk. I have,or there is a team and we agree on all of this.
When it comes to solutions for a non-programmer CEO,have you investigated into those options?

Programming takes time ,yes..I realize that. But,that is,AGAIN,... NOT what I am criticing you for.
It's your lack of abillity to take charge,be first in command,get a working organisation up and running,
and get an official plan for what you intend to do with the VA that I think is very poor,or simply..non excisting!

I didn't modify the logo,sorry,wrong again. I simply added the needed text,I never did anything to the logo. It's called editing. If you think that text was that unproffesional you should have done what a REAL LEADER would have done. Give me specific corrections,have someone else do it,or DO IT YOURSELF.. instead of just sitting on the sideline slacking...

Again,your understanding of english may be good,but it seems as if you don't get what I say when we talk.
I haven't mentioned your spoken english which is exellent. I'm not saying this to get to you personally. Communication can be difficult when not face to face. Maybe I'm not clear enough when we talk? Something seems to not work on that part.

Again,the Dispatch. I know you know what I mean. I'm not the only one that have mentioned that you changed it to only reflect the classic aircrafts alll together. But you have not mentioned anything officially on that matter that I've seen?
I know you want to make Pan Am VA all classic,but do it officially then,not just change the Dispatch and still advertise
the VA as a modern PAn Am as well. This confuses pilots and turn them away. You have to to it one way or the other.

You have already proven your leadership abillities Dirk. They are non excisting unfortunately. Soon is ALWAYS too late.
Whatever you decide to do,and when..hope on behalf of Pan Am VA it will be good.
But I can see in my glassball a new Pan Am VA emerging maybe,one with emphasis on the "could be today",
mainly modern a/c's. A coexcistence should be no problem I believe.


Tommy

Edit:

You compare me with Ben, ok. I don't believe this thread would still stand here.

If so,you are the BOSS man Dirk. Delete it if that is your opinion. I will respect that.
Maybe we should have a forum for suggestions/VA talk/etc only availiable for members,and not public.

[Thomas PAA237]

I kindly ask both of you to stop continuing this discussion in public. Your behavior is not professional in any way.

Having said this, I suggest to concentrate on open issues of Pan Am VA in a productive manner.
Instead of using the forum to offend each other, you should use it to ask for help to solve the problems.

[Thomas PAA237]

I'll continue to make suggestions. Here comes No. 18.

18. Web design
If you catch yourself thinking what this is all about, you may find this quote of Wikipedia quite helpful:

The intent of web design is to create a web site -- a collection of electronic files that reside on a web server/servers and present content and interactive features/interfaces to the end user in form of Web pages once requested.

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webdesign)

We have got several open issues regarding our web site (see Tommy's post above).
Issues which in particualr are about design, logos, scripting, databases.

I offer my help to solve any of these problems.
Even if that means for me, to become acquainted with totally unknown terrain. It is not a question about time due to the fact that this is and will remain a hobby for me.

If you feel that you might have abilities to solve other open issues and get involved, please do not hesitate to post it here.

[Thomas PAA108]

I normally don't like to rock the boat, but i have been away for some time and just got back online and reading the message boards again.  If im out of line please forgive me, im not trying bash, flame, or any other "hip slick and cool lingo" anyone here.

PanAm Virtual Airways in my opinion needs to get back to the basics.  I feel some of the members are too worried about the website and all the extra flashy stuff.  I just looked at the roster, 68% of the members haven't filed a flight in the past month. I am one of these members, so I feel that I don't have much of right to say anything on the topic. But this will change very soon as I just fixed my computer...moving on. If we can get participation back up all the rest of the stuff doesn't seem that important. Am I saying a website doesn't matter?  No, but its not the most important thing.  Flying and having fun. That is why we came here in the first place.

What happened to the weekly Clipper Crazy night?  I think this should be placed into effect as soon as possible. This was a great idea, and as I don't know how it was arranged in the past I don't think it would be hard at all for one of the top brass pick a day, time and place and let the planes fly.  Even if there isn't any ATC or not many pilots show up it would be a start.

So in short my suggestion is to fly and have fun first and worry about the website, routes, databases later until we get some wind over the wings again.

[Ben PAA000]

Well,

This was an ugly thread indeed. I will post my reply in the form of bullet points touching the key subjects that "irked" me in this thread.


1) Lack of time on Dirks behlaf.
   I think that you guys got used to the fact that I had an abundance in time. I took Pan Am VA to work with me on my Laptop, Away to vacations and I always kept certain files on my E-mail so that I could work on them no matter where I went. So over the two years of my CEOship, the turn around time between "suggestion" and the implication of the suggestion was VERY quick.

That being said, Pan Am VA took over my life. My Fiance' knows more about the dispatch than I do from all of the times I spoke to her about it. THATS NOT NORMAL NOR IS IT HEALTHY. I was running the VA like it was my business, my main source of income as opposed to the HOBBY that it truly is. ANd its not fair nore logical to compare Dirk to myself. Dirk has a more demanding job than I did at the time and he knows how to seperate between his livelihood and his hobby. I didnt.
I had to give it up due to my real flight training and the lack of time that I now have and I handed it over to Dirk because out of ANYONE in the VA, and I got to know all of you quite well, he showed the readiness and willingness to keep the VA afloat.

2) the "Two Toung" remark.
 Dirk NEVER made it a secret that he planned to remove the Modern fleet from Pan AM VA.  If you look at Dirks first posting as CEO ( http://panam.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=2067.0 ) you will see that he clearly says it. When and how he put it in practice is another matter, but you guys did know that it was coming. Yes, pilots have a preconcieved opinion that Pan AM VA is both Modern and Classic but thats because for 2 years I pumped that message into every crack that VATSIM has. Once the restructuring is complete, a new round of advertising needs to begin re-introducing the VA to the public.

3) 68% of pilots are inactive
 What else is new? Its always been that way, Since day 1, and untill there is a REAL airline flying in the local airports called "Pan Am", our roster will always look like that.

4) Clipper Crazies

This one really grinds my gears and I am sure that Thomas D. will agree with me. I started the Clipper Crazies on the second month that the VA was active. We flew them weekly and the first 3 weeks were amazing. 11 pilots, 13 pilots and then 9.  The week after... 5. The week after that? Enough to make me decide to make the Clipper Crazies once every TWO weeks instead. But even after doing that, if we had 2 pilots. we would consider ourselves lucky.

At first, we thought it was just a low activity period. So we tried to wait it out. It didnt improve. So we made a poll in the forum asking our pilots WHEN they preffer to fly on WHAT DAYS. We then shifted the Clipper Crazy to match the results of the polls, NOTHING. No improvment. I kept the Clipper Crazies going for another month for myself and I think it was Skip  who joined me at the time and then I stopped it. Its not worth the effort.
People complained about there not being ATC for us. Well, unfortunatly, the ARTCC and FIRs wont staff up an airport unless we can assure them that AT LEAST 10 pilots will show. I tried to convey that to the pilots, but we were never able to get ten, so I never arranged for ATC.
Here is a breif history:

http://panam.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=1163.0   3 pilots showed up.

http://panam.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=1207.0    no more than 4 flew that day.

http://panam.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=1240.0   ONLY MYSELF AND RJ!

And here is a kicker! : http://panam.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=786.msg4099#msg4099    Poor guy was the only one!

Perhaps the people here dont understand what goes into making a Clipper Crazy. Reaserch, advertising, and at one point I was making info packages including charts and parking spots for everyone. But with results like the ones above, taking the time to do all that is kinda... well its a waste. I treid to convey this message to our pilots early on: http://panam.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=471.0


Take a look at the excellent job that Thomas D. did on this Clipper Crazy:
http://panam.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=1614.0
All that Effort. Look at the advert for it. I remember it took him about a week to make it. The links, the charts... all you could need. You know who showed up?         THOMAS D. and MYSELF. Thats IT!   
it was after that event that Thomas and I agreed to cancel the Clipper Crazy events altogether.

Normally a Clipper Crazy's planning starts a few weeks in advance and unless we can get a sure and TRUE commitment from our pilots to fly in these events, its not worth the effort. All it does is depress thjose who took their time to put it together.

In lieu of that, I made the "members flights" forum. So that those who would like to make a group flight could initiate one at their own discretion without having to go thu the beuacracy of contacting staff. And there were no lack or invitations. I invited people along weekly. Dirk tried to put together some group flights over the atlantic, there was even some talk of a group concorde flight (did that ever happen in the end?). 

Can the Clipper Crazies come back? Sure, why not?!  Will they come back? Its up to the events coordinator. But I can assure you this, they probably wont last long if the pilots of the VA dont participate and pitch in. How would they pitch in? FLY FLY FLY! (pretty simple plan no?)

5) Back to Basics

Truer words have NEVER been spoken!

Not many people here today ever saw the pilot website for the VA. Dirk and Joao remember I am sure, maybe Thomas D. The VERY first website that the VA had was... well, it was ugly. Tacky shades of blue and a VERY basic PIREP system. We had no dispatch, no set route structure (except for a limited listing) and we didnt have any little toys like "Whos Online"  or a "Museum". Our fleet pages just had the pictures of the plane, a link to download and thats pretty much it. Today's fleet pages gives you historical information and the background of the aircraft itself. In an attempt to educate as well as having fun.

The strange thing is, the MOST activity that this VA ever had was during the time that we were on the OLD website.
And the old website was FULL of bugs and problems. So much so that instead of fixing them all, Rel and I decided to build a new one from scratch wich took us a year +/- to make. Thats the website that we have now. but even with the better site, the impressive dispatch (all made from scratch. We didnt want to use thrid part plug ins like VAFS) and the fancy toys... the activity never returned. Pilots always sign up but they dont fly.

Why? I dont know. Two years of CEOing, polls and open disscussions... and I dont know and no one can tell me.

But one thing is for sure. The  more you fly, the more the VA is seen. The more its seen, the more popular it becomes. The more popular, the more ACTIVE pilots will join and once you have that, the Clipper Crazies will return they way they were, the Forum will have new interesting posts every day and Pan Am VA will return to what it always has been.

A fun place to fly and a monument to the greatest airline ever to grace the skies.

Three green everyone!

[Thomas PAA237]

Gents,

thank you for your feedback.
I would especially like to thank the founder and former CEO Ben Zwebner for his input. He always faces up to the facts when others (me included) loses track of the basics.

Pilots activity has always been an item of the daily agenda.
But as a matter of fact, there has always been a pilot flying. Yes, there has always been someone who waved the Pan Am flag and proved that we are still alive.
And I would like to say "thank you".
Thank you to all our pilots, who encourage staff and other members to continue the story of Pan American Virtual Airways by their activity at the virtual skies and in the forums.

Be assured that staff give their best to make your flying experience unique and without equal.