Pilot Rank
Rank
Walker Air Transport utilizes the smartCARS 3 (Windows/MacOS/Linux) or FlightTrackerXP (Mac) ACARS systems and the company’s proprietary, fully-automated Flight Data System (FDS) to log data produced and transmitted to us by your Simulator.
Once you’ve completed your flight and submitted the PIREP, our FDS goes to work reviewing it and making a decision on its acceptability. And it’s all done very quickly. Within seconds, you’ll have all of your flight’s data to review, including, though not limited to, these major items:
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| Aircraft Type Flown | Flight Time | Flight Distance | Landing Rate | Points Awarded | Flight Status (Approved; Rejected; Diverted) |
We're pleased and excited to have this system in place because we think it:
- adds more value to the total experience; and,
- by analyzing their performance and applying what they learn from it, our Pilots are challenged to continually improve their flying skills and proficiency.
In order to be promoted to the next rank, you must meet both of the requirements noted below for minimum hours and minimum points.
Hours and points do not reset on promotion. They carry over as you progress towards your next rank.
| Rank | Title | Insignia | Minimum Hours | Minimum Points | Pay Rate (Hourly) |
| Flight Student |
|
0 | 0 | $15.00 |
| First Officer |
|
25 | 300 | $35.00 |
| Senior First Officer |
|
75 | 900 | $45.00 |
| Captain |
|
100 | 1,200 | $65.00 |
| Flight Captain |
|
300 | 3,600 | $85.00 |
| Senior Flight Captain |
|
500 | 6,000 | $105.00 |
| Chief Pilot I |
|
1,000 | 12,000 | $115.00 |
| Chief Pilot II |
|
2,500 | 30,000 | $135.00 |
| Chief Pilot III |
|
5,000 | 60,000 | $165.00 |
| Senior Chief Pilot I |
|
7,500 | 90,000 | $192.00 |
| Senior Chief Pilot II |
|
10,000 | 120,000 | $225.00 |
| Senior Chief Pilot III |
|
15,000 | 180,000 | $255.00 |
| Walker Emeritus |
|
50,000 | 300,000 | $300.00 |
Points
Points are awarded for each completed flight receiving an ‘Approved’ designation.
The number of points you earn will depend on several factors – as you can see from the categories and points awards in the chart below.
| Approved | Rejected | Diverted |
|
The criteria for an Approved flight are:
All points, flight hours and pay are awarded.
The PIREP is posted to your Logbook as being Completed | Approved. |
The criteria for a Rejected flight are:
No points, flight hours or pay are awarded.
The PIREP is posted to the your Logbook as being Completed | Rejected. |
The criteria for a Diverted flight are:
All points, flight hours and pay are awarded.
If this occurs when flying a Tour leg, you will not be advanced to the next leg. The leg will have to be reflown.
The PIREP is posted to your Logbook as being Completed | Diverted. |
Points are calculated based on log entries from the ACARS client. If your client fails to record all the entries we require you may lose out on points. Flight Operations is unable to modify your log file.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 has a habit of not registering pilots in 'Cruise' phase due to how their altitude is determined. This will impact your log record, please click here to read our FAQ item on this in order to ensure you get proper points awarded.
| Category | Points | How is it determined? |
| Per Hour of Flight | +1 | Awarded for each hour of completed flight time. |
| Per 50 Nautical Miles of Flight | +1 | Awarded for every 50 nautical miles flown. |
| Completed 20-Minute Pre-Flight | +3 | Calculated between the log entries "Now boarding" and "Pushing back". |
| Flaps Position Set – Takeoff | +1 | Log entry "Flaps set to" detected before "Taking off". |
| Flaps Position Set – Landing | +1 | Log entry "Flaps set to" detected after "Approaching". |
| Warmup Time
Requires at least 3 minutes between engine start and take off. |
+1 | Calculated using engine start and departure timestamps. |
| Cooldown Time
Requires at least 3 minutes between landing and engine shutdown. |
+1 | Calculated using landing and engine shutdown timestamps. |
| Exceed 250kts under 10,000 ft
Only applicable to aircraft with MTOW less than 300,000lbs (136,077kgs). |
-5 | Penalty applied if aircraft exceeds 250kts below 10,000 ft for more than 2 minutes. |
| Overspeed
Only deducted once regardless of number of overspeed events. |
-2 | Log indicates "Overspeed". |
| Time Compression | Variable | Points are awarded based on actual real flight time flown. Example: An 8-hour flight completed in 2 real hours using time compression will only receive 25% of the normal flight time points. |
| Bonus Multiplier | 1.75x / 1.5x | Aircraft cruising below 250kts receive a 1.75x multiplier. Aircraft cruising between 251kts and 400kts receive a 1.5x multiplier. |
| Online ATC Bonus | 1.5x | Flight must be connected to a supported online ATC network for at least 80% of the flight and use a valid WAT callsign. |
| Event Bonus | 2.0x | Pilot must be signed up for the event, fly the assigned event route/network, and remain connected online for at least 80% of the flight. |
| Assignment Completion Bonus | +1 per hour | Additional bonus points awarded for completed assignment flights. |
| Tour Completion Bonus | +5 per leg | Bonus points awarded upon completion of an entire tour. Total points awarded are calculated as 5 points multiplied by the total number of legs in the tour. |
Discovery & Milestone Bonuses
Discovery bonuses are awarded one time only when completing your first qualifying flight.
| Discovery Type | Points | Requirement |
| Airport Discovery | +1 | First completed flight into an airport. |
| Country Discovery | +1 | First completed flight into a country. |
| Airline Discovery | +1 | First completed flight for an airline. |
| Type Rated | +1 | First completed flight using an aircraft type. |
| Manufacturer Discovery | +1 | First completed flight using an aircraft manufacturer. |
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If you happen to be lucky enough to land the illustrious -150fpm. You will be awarded with our super special "BUTTER!" badge and 100 points! Now, we must state for legal reasons that a -150fpm is not the holy grail landing you need to aim for in every single aircraft. Doing this can result in gear breakage, spoilers not activating, autobrakes sitting around, and well, the plane not working right. We warned you! |
Here are some examples illustrating how these category points factor into each completed flight.
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If you think your flight was graded incorrectly – or – you'd like to ask a question, submit a Help Ticket.