why not ZOA?

[Keith Smith]

A few months ago, we were being peppered with questions about when ZOA (norcal) would be opened up. We did everything we could and managed to get it launched with part-time support a little while ago.

It's pretty clear, however, that not many people are flying there when it's open. I'm just curious if anyone could shed some light on why that might be.

Some survey questions then, if you'll permit me:
1) were you aware that Norcal support was added a while ago (Fri-Sun) ?
2) If yes to #1, do you fly in norcal from time to time?
3) if yes to #1 but no to #2, could you share your reasons for not utilizing the airspace on your weekend flights?

We had to make some staffing sacrifices to get ZOA opened up when we did. I'm trying to work out if those changes were actually detrimental to the launch of ZOA and the healthy running of ZLA (Socal/Vegas)

[arb65912]

1. Yes.

2. Yes.

I will be flying in ZOA on the weekends.

[Orest Skrypuch]

yes & yes, but I haven't been on in a bit - just plain busy, year ends and so on.

* Orest

[Steven Winslow]

I live for the weekends for many reasons, one of which is ZOA. I love flying into KMOD and then exploring NorCal and flying up the coast. All of my weekend flying includes flight plans into, around and out of NorCal. The only problem is my sweet wife almost always has other plans for my weekends. Sigh. I appreciate all the effort you have put forth to open ZOA and will do the best I can to utilize it.

[TexFly]

1. Yes
2. Yes

Plus I have been flying only ZOA since it has opened. Until a few hours ago!

Keith now I have a few questions for you:
a) What's the most popular PE airport?
b) What day/time we have the most traffic?
c) Any plans on having more traffic soon?

Thanks.

[arb65912]

Keith, another question from me.

Are the commercial guys also flying with us, it seems like except of the demos , there is only a not too large group flying on a regular basis on PE.

BTW, going to start my ZOA flight NOW.

Cheers, AJ

[lwilliams]

My two cents....

1. Yes.

2. Yes.

I consistantly fly weekends in all of Norcal and Socal. Not so much lately duw to time constraints.

[Ryan Landis]

1. Yes
2. No (trying to master the ZLA airspace first)

I am still releatively new to PE and think it is great that you are trying to expand to meet with the customers demands, but I really don't see a need to have a huge area open to a small population. If I understand correctly, the purpose of PE is to have the airspace restricted to have more human interaction in the smaller zone as opposed to services like VATSIM that do the opposite. I have flown on weekends in ZLA since ZOA was opened, but did not enjoy the small number of controllers being spread out. It takes some of the realism from me.

If in the future there are more than 5-10 pilots on the server at any given time, I can see an expansion being necessary. For now though, most of my payware scenerises lye in ZLA. Now if you were to open up SEA area, I would retract all my previous statements...lol

[Ryan B]

Some survey questions then, if you'll permit me:
1) were you aware that Norcal support was added a while ago (Fri-Sun) ?
2) If yes to #1, do you fly in norcal from time to time?
3) if yes to #1 but no to #2, could you share your reasons for not utilizing the airspace on your weekend flights?

1) With my odd job schedule most of the time I wouldn't be able to fly norcal....
2) I do fly norcal if my schedule allows
3) I think socal is more populated therefore I try to fly where other user traffic is.

[Steven Winslow]

I prefer flying NorCal because the terrain is a little more challenging. I love some of those small northern California/southern Oregon strips. Then there's Reno, too. I enjoy the variety.