[jhb] Re: PCI Breaking News
- From: "bones" <bones@xxxxxxx>
- To: <jhb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 17:03:03 +0100
My intention was not to attract pilots who are new to FS but experienced
pilots who have not stepped in to the online ATC world before.
Newcomers to FS have enough work to do trying to learn to fly an aircraft so
adding ATC to the learning curve only adds to the pressure. There is also a
conflict of interest because if ATC ask a pilot to do something and they
don't know how then you haven't got the time to explain things on a busy
radio. In real life the instructor would just take over and fly the aircraft
- get the task done and only then explain to the trainee what was required.
That keeps traffic flowing as well as showing the student what it was all
about. In PCI we can't take over someone's aircraft and so things grind to a
halt - or get a bit messy.
I'm not discounting new FS pilots altogether but do not see them as the main
target for recruitment.
bones
-----Original Message-----
From: jhb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jhb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of franklyn fisher
Sent: 10 May 2007 16:13
To: jhb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [jhb] Re: PCI Breaking News
Bones
Your ideas sound good, and I think that Fred will agree, that I have the
necessary to 'break' in new pilots'
As I will soon be at a loose end shortly (cough cough), I will be able to
devote more time. Though to be fair to you, I expect to be off line, later
in the year, when I sell up and move nearer my Grand children. If I can be
of help, when I am available, please call.
I have been thinking of setting up a permanent airfield in FSX, to man
during my free time, but this would be much better done, on a common network
with FS9 users.
Frank
----- Original Message -----
From: "bones" <bones@xxxxxxx>
To: <jhb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2007 3:52 PM
Subject: [jhb] Re: PCI Breaking News
> 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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