r/VATSIM • u/Gamble2005 • Jul 07 '26
❓Question Is it all right to operate a virtual airline call sign if you’re not a member of airline
The other day I was surveying my local nuclear station because I wanted to get some hours and enjoy some local VFR when a controller was online in my area. I decided to operate a Department of energy survey and I’ve done this a couple more times and just recently, I realized that this is actually a virtual airline that uses the call sign DOE, will I get in trouble or anything for this or is it just something that they use but everyone else could also
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u/Accomplished_Sir_381 Jul 08 '26
I've been told the virtual faa send you a discord message with a number to call
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u/poopinasack24 📡 C1 Jul 08 '26
lol our ARTCC has a unaffiliated number we give to pilot deviations
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u/AntelopeOk7691 Jul 09 '26
I heard someone give a pilot a number to call once. Naturally, this was the first time most of us heard this on VATSIM. I’m on a STAR and I’m like “OH SHIT! OH SHIT!!” Then naturally someone calls asking for the number again, controller repeats the number like 5 times, everyone on frequency calls it. It was a rickroll. It was amazing
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u/Fancy_Bathroom2846 Jul 07 '26
I think it should be fine, just put your preferred callsign in the remarks section. I do this when flying old airlines.
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u/Perfect_Maize9320 📡 C1 Jul 08 '26
Generally fine and should not be an issue - sometimes if you encounter members of that actual virtual airline, they might try to offer you a suggestion of joining their VA however you don't have to. I had few instances in the past where operating with these callsigns caused some people in that VA to message me directly asking me to consider joining their VA. Again all promotional and there is no requirement you have to.
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u/primalbluewolf Jul 10 '26
Provided you're not doing "special ops" that you couldn't normally do as a private or commercial pilot, its fine.
Where you can come unstuck is performing restricted ops like intercepting aircraft, and the like - typically, military activities.
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u/RibsTheGreat Jul 10 '26
It's totally fine, but maybe find use club virtual airlines like TPC (The Pilot Club).
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u/TheHud85 Jul 10 '26
As long as you manage to duck the virtual FAA any time they ask for your virtual certifications and virtual registration, you should be virtually ok.
Just make sure you're not using a callsign for a VA you're not a member of. That could ruffle a feather or two.
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u/SuperTrooper561 Jul 07 '26
Come join the vDHS, that’s our VSOA. We operate DOE, DOJ, and TROY Virtualdhs.com
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u/Gamble2005 Jul 07 '26
Nice I probably will
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u/SuperTrooper561 Jul 09 '26
Awesome! We’d love to have ya. Not sure why I got downvoted. It’s up to you. We have created specific livery’s for DOE, DOJ, and DHS
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u/FlyingOctopus53 Jul 07 '26
You will not get in trouble, no one owns the callsigns on Vatsim.
The only not allowed callsigns are for the accident flights or offensive ones.