Gatwick Virtual Air Taxis/Air Taxi International is a virtual organisation using Microsoft Flight Simulator versions 98/2000/2002. It operates a number of different aircraft all of which can be downloaded from this web site. Other untitled aircraft may be used. The largest aircraft used should be executive jets (e.g. Challenger/Gulfstream) or small turboprops (e.g. Beech 350). GVAT/ATI does not have its own pilots, rather they are contracted from Air Source. All owners of Flight Simulator software may join Air Source by filling in the application form on their web site. All ATI/GVAT pilots must abide by the Air Source terms. The Air Source disclaimers also apply to GVAT operations. Upon application the pilot will be issued with a pilot ID. This ID should be used on all correspondence with GVAT.

Operations fall into the following categories. Each with slightly different rules.

Charter

For charter operations, each operation starts and finishes at Gatwick (GVAT) or one of our worldwide FBOs (see list below). The operation may consist of up to ten legs. Some legs may be flown without passengers and shown on the logbook as a 'postn' (meaning positioning). Normally two consecutive legs would not be a positioning flight, unless a fuel stop is being made. Each operation is to be flown with the same aircraft throughout. Pilots are free to create adhoc charters to destinations of their own choice. At the end of the operation you must file pilots reports for each leg through the PIREP page on the Air Source web site.

COLS (GVAT only)

COLS is Contracted Out Logisitics Service - a contract GVAT has been awarded to fly RAF personnel between RAF airbases. A COLS flight will consist of a 'postn' leg from Gatwick to an RAF base then up to 4 legs between RAF airfields and finally a 'postn' leg back to Gatwick. Permitted aircraft for COLS flights are Metro III, Jetstream 31 and Citation X. At the end of the operation you must file pilots reports for each leg through Air Source's automated PIREP system.

Parcels & Mail

The Parcels & Mail services are available through Air Source's bid flight system. You must reserve an available flight, fly it, then report it though Bid Flights pireps.

Tour

As noted above, a normal charter is limited to ten legs. You may however apply for a 'tour'. That is a charter operation that exceeds ten legs. Like other operations it must start and finish at a GVAT/ATI base. As the concept of a tour is to take one or more customers around an area, there would not normally be any positioning legs (other than the first and last). You may take a small number of the party to another location and return later to pick the others up. We dont want to leave any of our passengers behind, would we :). Pilots will be allowed to apply for one tour for every ten hours of normal Charter/COLS/Mail flights. A pilots report must be filed for each leg flown in the operation.

Deployment

These apply particularly to COLS but can also apply to charters. This is where a pilot and aircraft are temporarily based at another airfield flying operations to & from that location. The same aircraft type must be used throughout. The flight will start with a flight from Gatwick to the temporary location and a returning final leg to Gatwick. Pilots need to apply for a deployment and one will be granted for every ten hours of normal Charter/COLS/Mail flights. A pilots report must be filed for each leg flown in the operation

Pilots Reports

Pilot reports are made through Air Source's automated PIREP system on their web site. A pilot report must be filed for each leg of the flight to receive a credit for it. Times are to be quoted to the nearest 0.1 of an hour (rounded up as necessary) and are to include taxi, hold & preflight checking time. Please follow the requested format e.g. time reported as 09:00AM, 12:00PM, 3:00PM format, airports names and aircraft types have to be selected from the drop down lists.

Inactivity

Pilot inactivity is managed by the HR department of Air Source. You will be fired from Air Source if you do not fly every 30 days. There is a system to inform Air Source automatically of any extended absence.

Pilots may apply to Air Souce HR for leave, if their personal circumstances dictate, the form is located under Human resources on the Air Source web site.

ATI bases

Details of the current ATI bases can be found on the ATI FBOs web page