MetroAir Virtual Now a VATSIM ATO
KANSAS CITY, MO. – MetroAir Virtual Virtual Airlines announced the airline is an official VATSIM Authorized Training Organization for its pilots during a press conference at the airline’s headquarters here.
MetroAir pilots will now be able to undergo training and certification for the VATSIM pilot ratings, starting with the P1 rating.
“We’re very pleased to be able to offer our pilots this additional training opportunity. A lot of work went into our becoming an authorized training organization and I’d like to thank everyone involved for their hard work reaching this great milestone,” Matt Dissinger, MetroAir’s Chief Technology Officer, said.
The VATSIM P1 rating is the first rating for pilots which requires training and certification and covers being a VATSIM Online Pilot. The rating system ranges from P0, which requires no training, to P9, which requires extensive training. Currently only P1 – P3 ratings are available to VATSIM pilots.
“It’s an exciting time for MetroAir and we hope to offer additional VATSIM certifications in the future,” said Matt Calsada, MetroAir’s Chief Executive Officer.
Pilots interested in joining MetroAir Virtual Airlines can find out more information about the airline and the VATSIM training program at www.metroairvirtual.com.
bluWave Strengthens Balance Sheet with Purchase of HQ; CEO Slams MetroAir’s Overseas Expansion Plans
Las Vegas, NV — Reporters and media outlets erupted in firestorm Tuesday when bluWave Airlines CEO Connor Levens lashed into MetroAir Virtual’s recent decision to increase capacity on their Beijing-Ontario, CA and Beijing-Baltimore routes with the seven-year-old airline’s purchase of four (4) Airbus A380s. This occurred during a press conference in Henderson, NV in relation to bluWave’s newly announced acquisition of their current headquarters from Regus PLC along Horizon Ridge Parkway.
What sparked the discussion was a question a reporter asked the bluWave Airlines management team about what they thought about their competitor’s plans to utilize the jumbo jet on a route “so empty” while promising a shocking “average 98.6% load factor” on both flights. Levens, who seemed eager to answer the reporter’s question, replied without delay.
“I cannot see why any airline would want to launch service to Beijing out of two airports which are not, by any means, ‘primary international hubs’ for passengers,” Levens exclaimed. He continued to state that MetroAir, which has been operating out of Baltimore and Ontario, CA for the better part of five (5) years, has been operating international service out of these two hubs which are low in volume and that they cannot attain the crowds needed to sustain service between them and Beijing.
“I think what Connor is trying to say is Continue reading
MetroAir Announces IAD2BWI Event!
Join us on Saturday November 12th at 8pm EST on Teamspeak and Vatsim for a special farewell event to mark the end of Washington Dulles’s 4 year service as a MetroAir Hub and to welcome Baltimore as our new East Coast home. The event will allow for a fly-out of IAD or a fly-in to BWI. If you’re feeling adventurous, do both!
If you do plan on doing both the fly-out and the fly-in, here are some suggested routes to allow you to complete all legs within the scheduled time for the event.
IAD>Chicago>BWI
IAD>Raleigh>BWI Continue reading
MetroAir Virtual Bets on New Hub
Kansas City, KS – November 1, 2011 – Early today MetroAir executives made major announcements from their Kansas City headquarters.
Chief Executive Office Matt Calsada started the announcement by saying “In recent months, MetroAir’s commitment to the Baltimore region has increased with flights to Chicago Midway, Kansas City, and Fort Lauderdale. These initial flights have been used to test the market share from Baltimore as well as give our Operations team a chance to become familiar with the Baltimore terminal.”
MetroAir officially announced that Baltimore-Washington International will become the newest hub, while Washington Dulles will transition to a focus city. Washington-Dulles will continue to serve Chicago Midway, Newark, Dallas, Houston, Fort Lauderdale and Continue reading
MetroAir Announces Acquisition of Cirrus Air
Kansas City, MO – On July 1st, MetroAir Virtual Airlines and Cirrus Air held a joint press conference at Cirrus’ headquarters in Chicago.
The boards of both airlines — which operate more than 600 daily flights combined — approved the acquisition of Cirrus by MetroAir for an undisclosed figure in closed door meetings Wednesday afternoon. The Cirrus brand will be dissolved but the route network will be absorbed into MetroAir’s system. The merger combines MetroAir’s strengths on the coast lines with Cirrus’ routes originating in Chicago and Jacksonville.
When asked why Cirrus was agreeing to an acquisition Cirrus CEO, Jeremy Ballsmith, said “In an unfortunate situation, I feel that Metro is the best possible guardian of the Cirrus Air legacy. Over the past two years many including myself have worked hard to operate Cirrus in a realistic and professional manner. Continue reading
MetroAir Virtual Launches MetroMiles™ Program
MetroAir Virtual has launched MetroMiles™, a new program for pilots. Captain Antti Karjalainen submitted the name MetroMiles™ and was officially adopted after an airline vote last week.
Like a frequent flyer program, pilots will earn miles for completing certain tasks and reaching milestones which help support MetroAir. Pilots will also have the opportunity to spend their MetroMiles™ with rewards such as bidding on charter flights and the opportunity to influence MetroAir’s next destination.
Visit the MetroAir website to learn more about MetroMiles.
MetroAir Virtual Appoints New East Coast Operations Director and Adds New Routes
ROMULUS, MI, February 24th 2010 – Today Kim Gesch, Chief Operating Officer for MetroAir Virtual presented Cody Wilson as the new East Coast Operations Director. Wilson only joined MetroAir Virtual October 31st, 2009, but has evolved rapidly and was seeking ways of contributing more to the airline. MetroAir Virtual is very happy that Wilson gladly accepted the position he had been offered. In his new position as East Coast Operations Director he will be responsible for managing the schedules for both Washington, DC and Fort Lauderdale, FL operations.
Together with COO, Kim Gesch the newly appointed East Coast Operations Director is pleased to announce that, after extensive evaluation of the potential markets to be served from Kansas City, service flights to Detroit, Indianapolis, Memphis, Oklahoma City and New Orleans are available as of today. Continue reading
