Miami (MIA) Hub Operations Manual
Last updated Feb 24, 2002

Noble Air is a Virtual Airline created in 1994. Noble Air operates around the world - on the Internet and other forums. There are Hubs in the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa, South America and the far east. For a complete list, visit the Noble Air Main Web Page.

The Miami Hub operates routes in the United States, and to Canada, Europe, Mexico, South America, the Caribbean and the Far East.

This Operational Manual covers specific procedures used by the Noble Air Miami Hub. The Noble Air Operations Manual provides information for Noble Air general operations. It is available in the Noble Air Main Library.

Contents

Noble Management

Paul McGhee, Noble Air President
Jim Cranston, Noble Air CEO
Paul Hickey, Senior Hub Captain for the Americas

Noble Air MIA Staff

Ray Gronberg, Hub Captain
Peter Salvage, Assistant Hub Captain
Max Comess, Director of Operations

Joining Noble

Joining Noble Air is simple, If you are joining from the MIA homepage, simply click the email link for Hub Captain or the Assistant Hub Captain and send an email titled "Noble Air Recruitment," saying that you wish to join the Noble MIA Hub.

You will receive a response from one or both within 48 hours. The hub captain will assign the new pilot an ID, which is to be used from then on by the recipient in all subsequent communications with Noble Air management.

The assistant hub captain, meanwhile, will reply with a copy of the Noble MIA checkride procedure (available for FS2K2 and for FS2K and earlier). The file will contain a MSFS situation, a text file explaining our requirements, and a chart detailing an FAA standard arrival procedure.

A recruit can begin flying for Noble MIA immediately on receipt of his or her ID. Prior to completing the checkride, the recruit may receive credit for hours flown ONLY on cargo flights. Successful completion of the checkride is mandatory before we will credit hours flown on passenger flights, or award promotion certificates.

Please return checkride videos to the hub captain for grading.

Communication

Since the pilots who fly out of Miami Hub could be located in any part of the world, it is vital that the lines of communication are always open. Please visit the NOTAM from the Hub Captain for updated notices posted to all airman. It is vital that we have your correct e-mail address, so be sure to notify us of any changes. Questions and comments can be directed to the Hub Captain or Assistant Hub Captain. The subject line of your message should include "Noble MIA #XXXX, where XXXX is your pilot ID.

Flight Assignments

Consult the Miami schedule for items such as block times, aircraft used, and links to airport terminal pages (these are being added as we go ... please be patient). A downloadable copy is not presently available due to potential schedule changes.

Flight Reports

When you have completed your week's flying, you must send a flight report directly to the Hub Captain via conventional e-mail. Flight reports are due by Sunday evenings at 2100 Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5).

The departure and arrival times listed in the schedule are for Gate Departure and Gate Arrival. Your report should list gate departure and gate arrival times, using the 24-hour clock. This will allow the Director of Operations to compare the actual flight times to the schedule, and make any needed schedule updates. You may make your flight reports as detailed as you wish; we at Noble Air do enjoy hearing of pilot's exploits during their travels.

The following, drawn from an actual flight report, illustrates a properly formated report message. Pilots are free to cut and paste it into their own reports, inserting specifics about the details of their own flights:

Flight Report  Pilot #1165G for the week of 1/18.

Line #: MIA 210, MIA 407

Flight  Segment  Dept  Arrive   Flight    Block    Flight Level
                 Time  Time     Time      Time     or Altitude

2134    AUA/MIA  1555   1838     2.6       2.7      FL310
8922    MIA/DFW  0730   0919     2.6       2.8      FL310
               Total Times:      5.2       5.5

Previous Total Time:  349.3
 Total time to date:  354.8
 Airplane used:       A300-600R
                      B767-200

Notes:

(As needed. Should include a word on routing and weather).

Flight Times

It is important to note that Noble Air pilots earn credit for only actual BEHIND THE YOKE flight times. If you do fly a route using the accelerated time feature, be sure to mention this on your flight report; only actual 1-to-1 times will be credited. We use 1/10-hour reporting times, e.g. 1.1 hours instead of 1:06. Use the chart provided below to convert the hour/minute times for the flight report total flight times.

Qualification

To maintain the highest level of safety for our passengers and crews, all pilots must fly a check flight prior to flying passengers for the first time in a new aircraft type. When you need a check flight, e-mail the Chief Flight Instructor for procedures. Once certified by the CFI office, you can fly passengers in that type aircraft. Check rides are not required for Cargo Flights.

Promotions

Pilots earn promotion in one way: by flying regularly, reporting often and accumulating the flight hours needed for each rank. Without exception, new pilots start with Noble Air as a First Officer, progressing through the hierarchy of ranks at their own pace. Promotion is automatic on gaining the needed hours. The latest promotions are announced on Sundays when the pilot roster is updated. Management also will prepare and mail to you a certificate commorating your achievement.

Flight Planning

As in the real world of flying, you should plan your flight prior to departing. Although this is not a requirement, planning a flight does add to the realism (and smooth operation) of your flight. Charts are necessary for accurate and safe flying, even in a simulation. Check your local airport and see if there are any Fixed Base Operators or airplane shops that may have out-of-date real-world charts they may be willing to part with. You might try finding charts at a local military airfield if there's one nearby. You can also call or write NOAA to get their catalog of charts and other information on flight. There are a number of tools available to help with this task. You can also visit SATCO Headquarters. If you have any questions or problems, ask the Hub Captain or the Assistant Hub Captain.

Flight Conditions

Pilots are encouraged to make their flights as realistic as possible, as this adds to the excitement and authenticity of the simulation. Using real-world altitudes and setting realistic (and real-world) weather conditions will help enhance the experience. For a realistic experience, Squawkbox offers an Air Traffic Control simulation as well as real world weather updates. If you have any questions about Squawkbox operations, contact the Assistant Hub Captain for guidance.

Pilot Status

The roster will be reviewed every two months. Any pilot not on Leave of Absence who has not filed a report in the last 60 days will receive an e-mail from the Hub Captain. If you do not respond with a bid or ask for a Leave of Absence you will be terminated the following week.

A Leave of Absence or temporary reassignment is granted ONLY by the Hub Captain. Your status will appear on the hub roster.

Temporary Assignment to Other Hubs

Pilots may elect to change hubs by notifying their present Hub Captain. He in turn will contact the Hub Captain at your destination to pass along your hours, rank, and RTW award.

Round-the-World Flights

Any pilot not already possessing one can earn a RTW award and the right to add the letter "G" to their pilot ID by asking the Hub Captain for permission to embark on a round-the-world flight. Your e-mail should have the phrase "RTW Flight" in its subject line; its body should contain your proposed itinerary, along with a note about the aircraft you plan to use. The following rules govern for-credit RTW operations:

• All RTW flights require permission in advance from the Hub Captain. This allows management to verify that your route and your aircraft are properly matched, and allows the posting of advance publicity on the weekly roster update.
  
• Valid itineraries must begin and end at Miami International Airport.
  
• You may incorporate regularly scheduled flight segments into your routing, e.g. KMIA to FACT or VHHH to KLAX. Such segments must be appropriate to the type of aircraft in use.
  
• Pilots must fly their filed route from beginning to end using the same aircraft.
  
• Your itinerary must be plotted assuming realistic fuel constraints. Ascertaining these may take some research on your part. The point is to force the use of the appropriate fuel stops.
  
• A RTW itinerary will not be approved unless it traverses 360 degrees of longitude or latitude. This assures that the word "round" has meaning.
  
• Pilots should file regular weekly flight reports as they progress along their route. Note segments by using RTW-XX, where XX is the leg number, where you would ordinarily list the flight number.
  
• Do not hesitate to contact the Hub Captain enroute if you have questions or are in need of a rules interpretation.

Management will create and forward a certificate commemorating the RTW award soon after it receives a flight report claiming credit for the final leg.

Time Conversions

Pilots are asked to report flight times to the tenth of an hour when filing reports each week. Those using Microsoft Flight Simulator need only note the time reported in their logbook, as FS uses the tenth-hour system. If you're working from departure and arrival times, the following table provides the appropriate conversions:

Flight Altitudes and Flight Levels

Pilots at MIA are requested to use ICAO-standard enroute altitude and flight levels in all operations. Note that there are some exceptions, additions or modifications in certain countries. For further information, please see the charts and documents applicable in each country or area of concern. The following information, taken from U.S. Department of Defense documents, summarizes the ICAO system:

Copyright (c)1997

This manual and all of its contents are provided to enhance the enjoyment of the simulated airline experience, and are the property of Noble Air. No portions of this manual may be copied, transmitted, republished, or reproduced by any means without the express written consent of the Noble Air Board of Directors.