SkyWest Virtual Airlines Pilot Training Program

A structured VATSIM-focused training pathway designed to prepare pilots for confident, professional, and realistic online flying. Our training program supports new pilots, developing IFR pilots, airline operations pilots, and future instructor candidates.

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VATSIM ATO Candidate Program

SkyWest Virtual Airlines is building a structured pilot training program designed around VATSIM network readiness, realistic airline operations, professional radio communication, flight planning, aircraft handling, and simulator-based proficiency.

This program is presented as a VATSIM ATO Candidate Program unless and until SkyWest Virtual Airlines is formally approved by VATSIM as an Authorized Training Organization. Official VATSIM pilot ratings may only be issued through approved authorization and in accordance with applicable VATSIM Pilot Training Department standards.

VATSIM Network Readiness Pilot Ratings Preparation Instructor-Led Training Checkride Preparation Airline SOPs IFR Procedures

Program Notice: SkyWest Virtual Airlines may provide internal VA training, proficiency checks, mentoring, and operational training at any time. VATSIM pilot rating issuance is separate and depends on official VATSIM ATO authorization and approved rating authority.

P1 Private Pilot Track
P2 Instrument Rating Track
P3 Commercial Multi-Engine Track
P4 Airline Transport Track

Training Philosophy

Our goal is simple: help virtual pilots become more confident, more professional, and more capable when operating in a live ATC environment. Training is designed to build strong habits before a pilot joins a busy event, files an IFR flight plan, flies complex airspace, or enters a congested arrival flow.

Professional Radio Work

Pilots learn how to request clearances, read back instructions, communicate efficiently, manage frequency changes, and avoid common VATSIM radio mistakes.

Realistic Flight Planning

Training covers route selection, SimBrief planning, aircraft performance, fuel planning, alternate planning, weather review, NOTAM awareness, and dispatch-style preparation.

Procedural Flying

Pilots practice taxi, departure, enroute, arrival, approach, missed approach, and shutdown procedures using realistic flows and airline-style discipline.

Scenario-Based Learning

Students are placed into practical scenarios such as reroutes, holds, runway changes, unstable approaches, abnormal situations, and ATC workload changes.

Instructor Support

Students can receive briefings, supervised flights, debriefings, study recommendations, remedial training, and checkride preparation from training staff.

Airline Standards

The program emphasizes professional conduct, stabilized approaches, sterile cockpit, briefing discipline, checklist usage, and route accuracy.

Training Tracks

Training tracks are organized to support progressive pilot development. Pilots may begin with basic network readiness or move into advanced IFR and airline operations depending on their experience level.

Track Focus Area Primary Skills Recommended For
Orientation VATSIM & VA Onboarding Account setup, pilot client basics, Discord, crew center, ACARS, flight filing, conduct standards New pilots joining SkyWest Virtual Airlines
P1 Prep Private Pilot Foundations VFR basics, airport operations, traffic patterns, phraseology, airspace awareness, basic navigation Pilots new to structured online flying
P2 Prep Instrument Rating Foundations IFR clearances, SID/STAR usage, route planning, enroute procedures, approaches, missed approaches Pilots beginning IFR operations on VATSIM
P3 Prep Commercial Multi-Engine Operations Multi-engine handling, commercial decision-making, abnormal procedures, performance planning Pilots wanting higher proficiency and complex operations
P4 Prep Airline Transport Operations Airline SOPs, automation management, dispatch planning, complex IFR, crew-style procedures Advanced pilots and future instructors
Line Ops SkyWest VA Standardization Regional airline flows, CRJ/E175 operations, hub procedures, event readiness, route discipline All active SkyWest Virtual Airlines pilots

Course Structure

Each course is designed to combine self-study, instructor guidance, practical flying, and debriefing. The exact course structure may vary by rating track, instructor availability, and student proficiency.

  1. Enrollment & Intake: Student applies through the crew center or training academy, selects a desired training track, and receives onboarding instructions.
  2. Ground School: Student completes reading, videos, checklists, quizzes, operating guides, and required theory lessons.
  3. Briefing Session: Instructor reviews objectives, aircraft, route, airport environment, expected phraseology, and evaluation standards.
  4. Practice Flight: Student completes one or more supervised flights using VATSIM procedures, realistic planning, and SkyWest Virtual Airlines operating standards.
  5. Debrief & Remediation: Instructor provides feedback, identifies strengths, assigns corrections, and recommends additional practice if needed.
  6. Evaluation: Student completes a practical evaluation or internal checkride to confirm readiness for the next stage.
  7. Completion: Student receives internal VA course credit, training record updates, and any applicable next-step recommendation.

Core Skill Areas

  • VATSIM Conduct: professionalism, patience, realistic behavior, controller workload awareness, and network etiquette.
  • Radio Communication: clearance delivery, ground movement, tower instructions, approach/departure communication, readbacks, and phraseology.
  • Flight Planning: SimBrief dispatch, routing, SID/STAR selection, alternate planning, fuel planning, weather review, and NOTAM review.
  • Aircraft Handling: takeoff, climb, cruise, descent, approach, landing, go-around, and abnormal handling basics.
  • IFR Procedures: clearances, altitude restrictions, speed control, approach setup, missed approach procedures, holds, and reroutes.
  • Airline Operations: SOPs, checklists, briefings, stabilized approach criteria, callouts, sterile cockpit, and line-oriented flying.
  • Regional Jet Operations: CRJ/E-Jet style route discipline, short legs, quick turnarounds, hub flying, and high-density terminal airspace.

Instructor & Staff Standards

SkyWest Virtual Airlines training staff are expected to demonstrate professionalism, patience, technical knowledge, consistent documentation, and a student-first approach. Instructor candidates should be active members in good standing and comfortable operating on VATSIM.

Instructor Candidate

Assists with mentoring, observes training flights, helps students with onboarding, and learns department procedures.

Flight Instructor

Conducts ground lessons, supervised flights, training debriefs, remedial sessions, and student progress recommendations.

Evaluator

Conducts practical evaluations, checkrides, standardization reviews, and final readiness checks.

Student Expectations

Students are expected to prepare before lessons, arrive on time, communicate respectfully, follow instructor guidance, and practice between sessions. Training is meant to be supportive, but it also requires effort and commitment from each pilot.

  • Be prepared: Review assigned material before training sessions.
  • Use proper equipment: Have a working simulator, microphone, VATSIM client, charts, and ACARS setup.
  • Respect instructors: Training staff are volunteers and should be treated professionally.
  • Fly realistically: Follow procedures, communicate clearly, and avoid disruptive behavior.
  • Accept feedback: Debriefing is part of the learning process and helps pilots improve.
  • Maintain activity: Students should remain active and communicate if they need scheduling flexibility.

How to Apply

Pilots interested in training should register with SkyWest Virtual Airlines, join the Discord, connect their crew center account, and submit a training request through the training academy or staff team.

  1. Create a pilot account through the SkyWest Virtual Airlines crew center.
  2. Connect Discord so training staff can verify your pilot status and communicate with you.
  3. Review the rules, privacy policy, and pilot conduct standards.
  4. Select a training track based on your experience level and goals.
  5. Schedule training with an available instructor or training staff member.
  6. Complete ground work, practice flights, debriefings, and evaluations.
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Important Disclaimer

SkyWest Virtual Airlines is a flight simulation community and virtual airline. Training is for simulation and entertainment purposes only and is not real-world flight instruction. SkyWest Virtual Airlines is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or operated by SkyWest Airlines, Inc., VATSIM, or any real-world aviation organization unless specifically stated through official approval.

VATSIM and VATSIM pilot ratings are governed by VATSIM policies and the VATSIM Pilot Training Department. Any reference to VATSIM pilot ratings or ATO-style training on this page is intended to describe training preparation and program structure unless official ATO approval has been granted.