A. GENERAL RULES OF CONDUCT

1. Members and guest should, at all times, be courteous and respectful to one another.

2. To use Aerostar Virtual Airlines, you must first register as a member of Aerostar Virtual Airlines. Only registered members in good standing of Aerostar Virtual Airlines may fly online as a pilot (you may fly as our guest) and provide ATC as an air traffic controller.

3. The Aerostar Virtual Airlines identification number and password which is provided to you is your exclusive Aerostar Virtual Airlines membership identification. You may not give permission or knowingly allow your identification and password to be used by anyone else.

4. During the registration process and each time you log onto the Aerostar Virtual Airlines  network you must use your real FULL NAME. Nicknames, callsigns or abbreviations, except where used as callsigns, are not permitted.

5. During the registration process, you must provide an internet service provider (“ISP”) based e-mail account for Aerostar Virtual Airlines registration purposes. You must maintain a suitable ISP-based e-mail account in order to remain in good standing with Aerostar Virtual Airlines and you must notify Aerostar Virtual Airlines registration staff of any changes to your e-mail address such that the Aerostar Virtual Airlines database is always kept up-to-date. Any e-mail address submitted to Aerostar Virtual Airlines will not be shared outside the Aerostar Virtual Airlines organization without your express prior permission. Failure to maintain such an ISP-based email address is grounds for immediate revocation, without notice, of your account with Aerostar Virtual Airlines. The requirement to provide and maintain an ISP-based e-mail account may be waived at the sole discretion of the Aerostar Virtual Airlines Vice President of Membership.

6. You may register for and hold only one Aerostar Virtual Airlines registration and you may hold only one Aerostar Virtual Airlines identification number and password. Aerostar Virtual Airlines – Code of Conduct 2

7. To log onto  Aerostar Virtual Airlines, pilots must have downloaded and installed approved pilot client software and controllers must have downloaded and installed approved controller client software. Approved software is listed and a download link is provided on the Aerostar Virtual Airlines website. Each of these programs comes with operating instructions. In addition, there are many tutorials that have been developed which instruct in the use of these programs. Since flying and providing ATC are extremely intense activities, a person should become familiar in the basic use of these programs prior to logging on to  Aerostar Virtual Airlines.

8. When logging on to Aerostar Virtual Airlines, a member is permitted to make only one connection at any one time. Multiple connections, either as a pilot, controller or a combination of the two are not permitted.

9. When logging on to Aerostar Virtual Airlines, a member is permitted to leave his or her connection unattended. It is OK to park your aircraft until you plan to use it again. ATC’s however, need to leave the tower to the next controller.

10. Since this is a learning environment, there are times when a pilot may encounter a new air traffic controller who is in the process of learning his airspace and/or general air traffic control procedures. The same may be true of the controller who may find himself issuing ATC to a pilot flying online for the first time. Everyone should remember to exercise patience and courtesy to these new pilots and controllers.

11. Members and guest are prohibited from publishing, posting, distributing, disseminating or using any kind of defamatory, infringing, obscene, vulgar, profane, unlawful or other such types of communications materials or information through the use of online chat boxes, ATC text channels, voice ATC channels or the official internet forums, newsgroups, guestbooks and mailing lists utilized by Aerostar Virtual Airlines and its officially recognized regions, divisions, ARTCCs, ACCs and FIRs. Individuals violating this rule are subject to the procedures set forth in Article VI of the Aerostar Virtual Airlines Code of Regulations which could result in removal from Aerostar Virtual Airlines and revocation of their certificate number.

12. Members and guests are prohibited from using online chat boxes, ATC text channels, voice ATC channels or the official internet forums, newsgroups and mailing lists utilized by Aerostar Virtual Airlines and its officially recognized regions, divisions, ARTCCs, ACCs and FIRs to threaten, harass, abuse, intimidate or stalk others or to otherwise violate the legal rights of others, including expectations to the rights of privacy and publicity. Individuals violating this rule are subject to the procedures set forth in Article VI of the Aerostar Virtual Airlines – Code of Conduct 3 Aerostar Virtual Airlines Code of Regulations which could result in removal from Aerostar Virtual Airlines and revocation of their certificate number.

13. Should problems arise online between several individuals, the parties should first attempt to resolve any issues among themselves. If this should fail, then the parties should locate and request the services of an online supervisor to resolve the dispute.

14. Members may not log on to  Aerostar Virtual Airlines with non-active callsigns for excessive periods of time. Non-active callsigns are defined as callsigns which are unrelated to any pilot, air traffic control position, instructor or designated staff engaging in administrative duties. This rule applies to cumulative periods of use of any type of non-active callsign. Members who violate this rule shall be subject first to a warning. Members who are found to repeatedly violate this rule are subject to the terms of Article VI. of the Aerostar Virtual Airlines Code of Regulations.

B. PILOT’S CONDUCT

1. Prior to logging on to Aerostar Virtual Airlines, a pilot on the ground should position his or her aircraft so that it is not located on a runway or a taxiway. This will prevent interference with operations that may be occurring at an airport when the actual log-on occurs.

2. Prior to logging on to Aerostar Virtual Airlines, a pilot in the air should have his aircraft in flight and not paused unless the pilot has first obtained permission from the responsible air traffic controller to log on while paused. This will prevent interference with operations that may be occurring in the air when actual log on occurs.

3. A pilot must at all times check for appropriate air traffic control coverage for the airspace he is crossing at any given time. If there is an appropriate air traffic controller available or upon request to make contact with an appropriate air traffic controller, then the pilot should immediately contact such controller.

4. Except while on the ground prior to making initial contact with ATC or upon request of ATC, a pilot should not squawk standby. A pilot should not squawk standby while flying to his destination, even when there is no appropriate Enroute air traffic control available.

5. Not all air traffic controllers use voice to provide services. Such controllers are limited to using text. When using Aerostar Virtual Airlines, a pilot must accept air traffic control services that are made in text instead of voice.

6. Pilots should not carry on private conversations between themselves or controllers on the active communication frequency. This interferes with  providing ATC services to other Aerostar Virtual Airlines – Code of Conduct 4 pilots.

7. Pilots flying through uncontrolled airspace should set their VHF radio frequency to 122.80 or other designated “Unicom” frequency and monitor until they come under air traffic control coverage.

8. Pilots are permitted to declare in-flight emergencies. If, for any reason, air traffic control requests the pilot to terminate the emergency, then the pilot must do so IMMEDIATELY or log off of Aerostar Virtual Airlines. Pilots are permitted to simulate an unlawful act while logged onto Aerostar Virtual Airlines including, but not limited to, declaring a hijack by statement utilizing either voice or text or by entering a transponder code of 7500.

9. Two or more pilots are permitted to fly in formation. If, for any reason, air traffic control instructs pilots to separate, the pilot(s) must immediately comply with the request or log off of Aerostar Virtual Airlines.

10. A pilot, to the best of his or her ability or safe control of aircraft, should make all attempts to comply with valid air traffic control instructions.

C. CONTROLLER’S CONDUCT

1. Controllers who are new to the hobby or are otherwise unfamiliar with an airspace should educate themselves, whenever possible, by first observing operations and/or studying procedures used in the region. Information is usually available at the appropriate regional web site and generally includes procedures, frequencies, appropriate positions and charts.

2. Controllers who choose to work in regions other than the one they requested assignment to must follow the rules and procedures in effect for such regions.

3. When logging onto Aerostar Virtual Airlines as an observer, an individual should have a callsign which ends as follows: “_OBS”. Prior to the underscore an individual may use any letters such as initials or airport identifiers. By logging on as an observer, an individual must not communicate on any open text or voice frequency with pilots. In other words, an observer is prohibited from providing air traffic control services. They are restricted to observing operations. An observer who provides air traffic control services is subject to removal from Aerostar Virtual Airlines and revocation of his or her certificate number.

4. In general Aerostar Virtual Airlines recognizes the following abbreviations for air traffic control positions. These abbreviations are to be preceded by either the three or four letter identifier for the airspace:

Aerostar Virtual Airlines – Code of Conduct 5

a. XXX_DEL – Clearance Delivery

b. XXX_GND – Ground Control

c. XXX_TWR – Tower Control

d. XXX_DEP – Departure Control

e. XXX_APP – Approach Control

f. XXX_CTR – Enroute (Center) Control

These abbreviations may be modified, amended and otherwise added to by local Centers, Flight Information Regions or divisions to reflect common ATC practice and procedures utilized in those local areas. Controllers should not utilize any abbreviations not generally accepted by Aerostar Virtual Airlines or not used at the local level.

5. Positions are occupied on a “first come” basis. If the position a controller wants to work is already occupied, then another position should be found.  From time to time, a controller who has occupied a particular position may lose his or her connection to  Aerostar Virtual Airlines or to the internet. If another controller takes such a position and thereafter the original controller logs back on and advises that he or she had lost their connection, the second controller does not have to relinquish the position to the original controller.

6. A local division and/or region may restrict certain positions in general or during specific times to those controllers who have achieved a particular rating. Controllers should consult the local rules to see if they qualify to work a particular position prior to logging on at such a position.

7. Controllers should only use the frequencies which are authorized for use at their particular position by the particular division or region in which the are working.

8. Voice is the preferred method of communications on Aerostar Virtual Airlines. However, not all pilots use voice to communicate with ATC. When using Aerostar Virtual Airlines, a controller must at all times be prepared to provide text-based air traffic control services to a pilot. Controllers must never restrict themselves to only working with voice capable pilots.

9. Controllers should not carry on private conversations between themselves, pilots or other individuals on the active communication frequency, the ATC channel or on the “guard” frequency (121.50). This interferes with providing ATC services to other pilots. The guard frequency should only be utilized in cases of emergency and under no other circumstances. Controllers are encouraged to use private chat boxes for carrying on private conversations.

10. Since voice is the preferred method of communications on Aerostar Virtual Airlines, all controllers, regardless of their ATC rating, are encouraged and permitted to use voice whenever possible. There shall be no rules preventing or Aerostar Virtual Airlines – Code of Conduct 6 otherwise restricting the use of voice by air traffic controllers. Pursuant to Code of Conduct Rule C(8) above, all controllers must be prepared to provide text-based services to pilots who so desire and no pilot may be denied such service for any reason.

Remember, the primary goals of Aerostar Virtual Airlines are to educate, to provide a realistic simulation of flying and air traffic control and, most importantly, to provide a fun environment for everyone to enjoy our hobby. By following the simple rules set forth in this Code of Conduct, everyone is ensured of learning and making new friends from around the world.

Enjoy!