Booking Flights
Learn how to book, prepare for, and complete flights with Virtual Air Canada Airline
Flight Booking System
Virtual Air Canada Airline offers a comprehensive flight booking system that simulates real-world airline operations. This guide will walk you through the process of finding, booking, and completing flights.
Finding Available Flights
Route Network
Route Network
VACA operates a route network based on real Air Canada routes, including:
- Domestic Canadian routes
- US transborder operations
- International long-haul flights
- Seasonal destinations
- Regional Express operations
The available routes are determined by your pilot rank, with more destinations unlocked as you progress.
Aircraft Fleet
Aircraft Fleet
Select from aircraft in the Air Canada fleet:
Air Canada Mainline
- Widebody:
- Boeing 777-300ER (77W) - 19 aircraft
- Boeing 777-200LR (77L) - 6 aircraft
- Airbus A330-300 (333) - 20 aircraft
- Boeing 787-9 (789) - 32 aircraft
- Boeing 787-8 (788) - 8 aircraft
- Narrowbody:
- Airbus A321-200 (321) - 20 aircraft
- Boeing 737 MAX 8 (7M8) - 45 aircraft
- Airbus A220-300 (223) - 34 aircraft
- Airbus A320-200 (320) - 21 aircraft
- Airbus A319-100 (319) - 3 aircraft
Air Canada Express/Jazz
- Mitsubishi CRJ900 (CR9) - 35 aircraft (operated by Jazz)
- Embraer E175 (E75) - 25 aircraft (operated by Jazz)
- De Havilland Dash 8-400 (DH4) - 46 aircraft
Air Canada Rouge
- Airbus A321-200 (321) - 14 aircraft
- Airbus A320-200 (320) - 5 aircraft
- Airbus A319-100 (319) - 18 aircraft
See all accepted aircraft here.
Jumpseat System
By default, pilots are assigned to one of the Air Canada hub airports as their home base. However, you may want to start flights from other airports based on your preferences or to build specific routes. The Jumpseat system allows you to reposition to any airport in the network without having to fly there first.
Using Jumpseat
Using Jumpseat
The Jumpseat feature simulates a pilot traveling as a passenger on commercial flights to reach a new starting point:
- Access the Jumpseat option in the Pilot Hub through the “Flight Centre” → “Book Flights” feature
- Select your desired destination airport from the complete list of airports in the VACA network
- Confirm your Jumpseat request to instantly change your pilot’s location
Jumpseat Restrictions
Jumpseat Restrictions
While the Jumpseat system offers flexibility, some limitations apply:
- You cannot book a Jumpseat while you have an active flight assignment
- Any airport in the VACA network can be selected as a Jumpseat destination regardless of pilot rank
Booking Process
Follow these steps to book a flight in the Pilot Hub application:
Navigate to Flight Booking
Open Pilot Hub and select the “Flight Booking” tab from the main navigation menu.
Select departure airport
Choose your departure airport:
- Select from a list of VACA hubs
- Choose your current aircraft location
- Search for a specific airport code
Starting from a VACA hub gives you more route options compared to non-hub airports.
Choose destination and route
After selecting your departure, you’ll see available destinations:
- Browse destinations categorized by region
- View route details including distance and estimated flight time
- Check aircraft types available for the route
- Select your preferred routing (direct or with connections)
Select aircraft
Choose an aircraft for your flight:
- View available aircraft for your selected route
- Check aircraft specifications and requirements
- Verify that the aircraft is appropriate for your pilot rank
Ensure you have the correct aircraft model in your flight simulator before booking. Using an incorrect aircraft during the flight may result in the flight not being validated.
Schedule and confirm
Set your flight details:
- Choose a departure date and time
- Review the flight summary (route, aircraft, estimated duration)
- Add optional flight notes
- Click “Confirm Booking” to finalize
Flight Preparation
After booking your flight, prepare for departure:
-
Load Flight in ACARS: Open Pegasus ACARS and load your booked flight from the “My Flights” section
-
Flight Planning:
- Download your flight plan (available in Pilot Hub and ACARS)
- Review route, SIDs, STARs, and approach procedures
- Check weather conditions at departure and arrival airports
- Calculate fuel requirements based on distance and weather
-
Aircraft Setup:
- Launch your flight simulator
- Select the correct aircraft model
- Position at the departure airport
- Set up your aircraft according to procedures
Flying Your Route
Flight Rules
- Follow real-world procedures for taxi, takeoff, and landing
- Maintain realistic speeds and altitudes
- Adhere to ATC instructions (if using online networks)
- Complete all phases of flight in Pegasus ACARS
Time Acceleration
- Time acceleration is permitted up to 2x during cruise phase only
- Must disable acceleration for climb, descent, approach, and landing
- ACARS will detect and log inappropriate time acceleration usage
Approach and Landing
- Follow published approach procedures
- Landing rating is calculated based on touchdown rate, centerline alignment, and proper flap usage
- Taxi to assigned gate to complete the flight
Disconnections
- If you lose connection, reconnect ACARS as soon as possible
- Flights with disconnections less than 15 minutes will be processed normally
- Longer disconnections may require manual review
Flight Completion
After landing and arriving at your gate:
- Shut down your aircraft according to procedures
- Complete the flight in Pegasus ACARS by clicking “End Flight”
- Add any comments or notes about the flight
- Submit your flight report
- Your flight will be validated and added to your logbook automatically
Charter and Special Flights
In addition to scheduled service routes, VACA offers:
- Charter Flights: Custom routes for special events
- Group Flights: Organized community events with multiple pilots
- Cargo Operations: Dedicated freight routes
- Humanitarian Flights: Special operations to underserved destinations
These special flights are announced in the Pilot Hub Events section and on the VACA community Discord.
Need Help?
If you encounter issues with flight booking or operations:
- Check the Troubleshooting Guide for common problems
- Ask in the #flight-support channel on our Discord server
- Contact a Pilot Mentor for personalized assistance
- Submit a support ticket through Pilot Hub