Rank & Points
Rank
Walker Air Transport utilizes the Stratos (Windows/MacOS/Linux), 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 | 350 | $35.00 |
| Senior First Officer |
|
75 | 1,050 | $45.00 |
| Captain |
|
100 | 1,400 | $65.00 |
| Flight Captain |
|
300 | 4,200 | $85.00 |
| Senior Flight Captain |
|
500 | 7,000 | $105.00 |
| Chief Pilot I |
|
1,000 | 14,000 | $115.00 |
| Chief Pilot II |
|
2,500 | 35,000 | $135.00 |
| Chief Pilot III |
|
5,000 | 70,000 | $165.00 |
| Senior Chief Pilot I |
|
7,500 | 105,000 | $195.00 |
| Senior Chief Pilot II |
|
10,000 | 140,000 | $225.00 |
| Senior Chief Pilot III |
|
15,000 | 210,000 | $255.00 |
| Walker Emeritus |
|
50,000 | 700,000 | $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 |
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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.
How Points Work
At Walker Air Transport, points measure how well you fly, not how long your route was or which aircraft you happened to pick. Every hour in the air is worth the same fair rate, and how well you fly that hour is what sets pilots apart.
One fair rate, every flight
A 30-minute hop and a 12-hour long-haul earn the same points per hour. A light trainer and a widebody earn the same points per hour. Route length and aircraft choice no longer decide your progression, so you’re free to fly whatever you enjoy, wherever you like, without gaming your rank.
You earn a steady rate for every hour you fly, and flying well nudges that rate up. Fly sloppily and it nudges down. That’s it. What “flying well” means
Your points for a flight start from the time you spent flying, then adjust based on the quality of the flight. Things that reflect a well-flown flight lift your rate a little; things that reflect a rushed or sloppy one lower it. In broad terms we look at:
- A proper preflight before you push back.
- Correct configuration flaps set appropriately for the aircraft you’re flying.
- A good landing for your aircraft (see below).
- Clean airmanship no overspeeds or busted speed limits.
You don’t need to be perfect. A normal, competently flown flight earns the standard rate. The adjustments are there to reward genuine skill and to gently discourage careless flying.
Landings are judged for your aircraft
A good landing is not the same number in every aircraft. A firm touchdown that would be jarring in a Cessna is textbook in a heavy jet. So your landing is graded against your aircraft’s weight class, a beautifully flown heavy-jet landing counts every bit as much as a perfect light-aircraft greaser.
Helicopters are graded on their own curve and are never penalised for things that don’t apply to them.
And yes, the BUTTER landing tradition lives on. Grease it on and you still earn the bonus and the badge. Some things are sacred.
Time compression
You’re welcome to use time compression. You simply earn points for the real time you actually spend flying. Your logbook and flight record still show the full flight; the points reflect the time you genuinely put in — which is fair and consistent for everyone, whether you fly a leg in real time or speed it up.
What still earns extra
- Online flying you still earn bonus points for flying online with ATC and SI.AI.
- Events event flights still earn double points.
- BUTTER a −150 fpm greaser still earns its bonus.
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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! |
What no longer awards points
To keep progression fair and consistent, some things that used to hand out bonus points no longer do:
- Tours, awards, and exploration (new airports, aircraft, countries, and so on) are now collectible badges on your profile. Keep flying them, they’re there for the fun and the flex, not to shortcut your rank.
- Historical event bonuses that inflated certain flights have been retired.
None of this takes anything away from your flying. It stops over-rewarding particular styles of it, so every pilot earns the same honest rate for the real flying they do.
A note on the fine print
We don’t publish the exact scoring formula, partly to keep it simple, and partly so the system stays fair and can’t be gamed. What matters is the principle above: fly, fly well, and it counts; any route, any aircraft, any time.
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.