[jhb] Re: PCI Breaking News
- From: "bones" <bones@xxxxxxx>
- To: <jhb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 03:12:18 +0100
I seem to recall you made the same offer to help about ten years ago and I
promptly dumped the flight assignments for the European Hub of Noble Air on
you. <g> That we had about 80 active pilots at the time didn't help but I
still commend your fortitude at taking it on.
One advantage about moving to an online VA is that it almost becomes self
running. I no longer have to keep huge databases for airfields worldwide or
scour pilot report histories so that I don't send pilots back to the same
locations each week. The emphasis shifts to online procedures and flying
techniques - mostly dealt with online or via this list.
Should the new system work and attract new blood it will have the immediate
advantage in making PCI busier and our online flying much more interesting.
bones
-----Original Message-----
From: jhb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jhb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Mike Lucas
Sent: 10 May 2007 18:46
To: jhb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [jhb] Re: PCI Breaking News
Sorry not join last night's session - had a busy day still catching up
after my trip to Iceland last week, during which I picked up a stonking
cold which meant I was rather washed out last night. I got as far as
checking ServInfo but then flaked out.
I'm happy to lend my support to Bones' proposals for a JHB renaissance
(assuming the current crew of old fogies don't put any potential
newcomers off <g>). If I can be of any assistance, let me know.
Mike L
bones wrote:
> I do wonder how much they sell. Their prices are good but it's a tough
> market. OTOH there are probably many members now that join for the
> bargains and never touch the online system - it's only a minor part of
> PCI's operation these days. Which brings me to another point...
>
> The response last night was fairly dismal with less than a handful of
> pilots online. This either means you are all too busy to fly or the
> sessions are not as interesting as they once were. Either way the
> result is the same in that PCI becomes a lower priority than it once
> was and users are drifting away from the sessions.
>
> In some ways this is inevitable as the learning curve is mastered and
> the challenge diminishes. In the early days everything was new and the
> idea of flying in a "live" environment was somewhat daunting. As
> experience grew and familiarity kicked in we became comfortable with
> the system - but the challenge (and spark of interest) slows down.
>
> We can restore the challenge in several ways but this may not be the
> answer. We could move abroad or find more tricky airports to fly into
> but it doesn't change the basics of the system and may not be enough
> to fire up enthusiasm again. I would be interested to hear any ideas
> or suggestions that might give existing pilots enough of a push to
> join in again.
>
> I say existing pilots because the second option is to replace the
> declining numbers with new faces. We haven't seen a lot of newcomers
> to PCI so I don't think the system itself will ever generate a lot of
> interest - something I had hoped it would. If PCI can't attract more
> interest then the other option is to draw people into this world by
> opening up JHB recruitment.
>
> JHB has been, to some extent, a closed system in recent years. With my
> withdrawal from most forums the JHB name has had less coverage than it
> used to and this has had an impact on new members. It's not just
> enough to have a web page - you have to make the VA known in FS
> circles to attract further curiosity. Almost all of you came from the
> UKScenery forum when this was still an FS driven list but when
> Magrathea shut its doors this list also changed - it ceased to be in
> the forefront of FS development.
>
> If I am to attract new pilots then my target would be those pilots who
> have never been online before but who are too daunted by VATSIM to
> take that big step. PCI is ideal training ground for newcomers and
> this should be seen as a strength rather than a weakness. If I were to
> do this the JHB web pages would need an overhaul in that I would
> consider stripping out the old Pilot Assignment pages and making the
> VA a totally online operation. This is nothing new really as the
> current pilot base has migrated in this direction anyway.
>
> After revamping the next step would be to entice newcomers to the
> fold. It's not an easy task but I have a few ideas up my sleeve. Now,
> should we attract new pilots there would be some guidance needed. We
> all know what it was like when we first plugged in - we had no idea
> how the system worked and we were terrified of using the radio for
> fear of making a pig's ear of ourselves. Newcomers need respect rather
> than impatience and a lot of help from the rest of us. The second
> channel on PCI is ideal for this as we can use this to explain matters
> or generally calm a newcomer down - we end up with one formal channel
> and one informal channel and this works well.
>
> Before I set this in motion could I ask if everyone is happy with the
> idea? First step is a JHB web site rewrite, second stage is to make it
> an online service only. Third is to get some new blood in. Fourth is
> your co-operation in helping the newcomers.
>
> If we can swell the ranks of the users in PCI then it can only be a
> more rewarding experience for all of us.
>
> bones
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jhb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jhb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
> Behalf Of Gerry Winskill
> Sent: 10 May 2007 13:54
> To: jhb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [jhb] PCI Breaking News
>
>
> Oh that the news was we could use FSX, rather than what we can now
> buy! If this goes on I fear I'll be marking their postings as Spam.
>
> Gerry Winskill
>
>
>
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