Written by Gerolkae,Chase Tylor, Reinee (Ret) & Leona Draste

Welcome aboard cadet!

Pilots have been the backbone of military operations for centuries, transporting troops, goods, and other personal around the galaxy in a safe manner. They have also played a key role in battle, working as fighter pilots, emergency support, and bombers during times of war.

A career as a pilot is guaranteed to be rewarding, though challenging and even a little stressful at times, but it is a position that, in the end, will give you the satisfaction of a job well done. The career outlook for pilots is good; the galaxy should always need someone to operate the crafts that operate in it.

To be considered for the job, cadets will need to have spent four years in the academy, training under the Aerospace and Flight Program, so that they know the ins and outs of being behind the control panel in a craft. Engineering 101 and Advanced Physics are also classes that we find useful for our pilots to know, although they are not required. No previous flight experience is required, that’s what our cadet program is for – to condition and train our pilots for life and work upon Starship Avalon.

Starting off, you will be encouraged to come along on shuttle missions, or observe workings on the bridge. Although you will not be directly operating the craft, you will be gaining valuable experience to use in the future. During these trips, you may also be asked to assist in the flying of the vehicle, again gaining some valuable experience that will make you a better pilot.

After a few trips or occurrences of observation, you will be allowed to actually operate the craft, under the supervision of a more experienced pilot. Ask questions, do your best, and learn, learn, learn!

If you’ve proven yourself to be able to handle a craft skillfully and responsibly, you will finally be a certified, Starship Avalon pilot, able to fly crafts for missions, or even fly the Avalon herself if asked. Once reaching this stage, you can begin expanding your career, achieving great things, and moving up the ranks.

Good Luck!

As a pilot you fall under the command division and, as such, will be wearing a command cadet uniform for the duration of your cadet training. Please set the following configuration for your character:

Command Cadet Uniform

Species: Feline or Canine Badge - Sun Yellow Bracers - Red Boots - Black Cape - * Trousers - Red Vest - Black

* Local Species Cross training Armbands
Departmental Colors
Command/Flight = Red
Engineering/Operations = Yellow
Medical/Science = Blue
Takimora Marine Core = Green
No Cross Training/Intelligence = Black

The following flow chart shows who you're supposed to talk to and in what order. Ideally you want to speak to the person directly above you. You might find yourself not having anyone by the XO or CO to speak to if no one in your division is on. At this point TRY to figure it out yourself. If you absolutely can't and it's urgent send a message to the 3IC to at least show you TRIED to go through the chain.

Flight Division
	Chief Helmsman	Chief Air Group (CAG) *
	Helmsmen	Air Boss *
	Shuttle/Runabout Pilots	Squadron Leader
	Long Range Recon and Patrol Pilots	Fighter Pilots
		Junior Pilots **
	Cadets	Cadets

Being a cadet you would follow the above chart you would speak to a Junior Pilot, then a Senior Pilot, then your Chief Air Group (CAG) if you had any questions.

If you ask a junior pilot and they don't know their job is to ask a senior pilot, and so on. The information would then be filtered down the chain so everyone who didn't know would now know.

Above this chain is the divisional chain of command. You, being a cadet, should avoid even straying into this chain as "it's way above your paygrade".

THE ACADEMY

Most, if not all crew members who work aboard Starship Avalon have attended the Space Academy. Basically, it’s secondary education (like college) that teaches people how to do the jobs that they plan on doing in space. Characters have taken classes there that make up their background knowledge about their job – they just don’t join Starship Avalon without any knowledge!

The Academy is part of your characters history. While we never actually RP life at the Academy, the experiences your character had there are important to it. Use it to develop your character.

During their time at the Academy, we expect our pilots to have received a degree in Aerospace and Flight; a program that trains pilots how to be pilots (an equivalent degree may also be considered). Classes included are:

• Craft Components (about the parts and operations of each part of the craft).
• Controls and Instruments (how to fly, and what the control panel means).
• Navigation (map reading, making, and how to apply it to your job).
• Flight Mathematics
• Emergency Procedures (safety, emergency situations, space survival).
• Flight Combat and Procedures

We also encourage the following classes, although they are not part of the Aerospace and Flight program:

• Engineering 101 (to get an understanding of how it works and why).
• Mechanics (basic repair, troubleshooting).
• Basic Physics (a great deal of flight is based on physics, they’re good to know).

NEW PILOTS

As a new pilot, you will be asked to do a lot of observation and reading to understand what being a pilot is all about, as well as understand life aboard Starship Avalon. While you won’t be flying any crafts yourself, it’s important to know the basics behind it – all things they no doubt taught you in the academy!

• Ship Operations (link to: /shipops.html)

• Brief History (link to: /charter.html)

• Guide to Avalon Life (link to: /guide_to_life.html)

• Common Knowledge (link to: /knowledge.html)

• Protocol (link to: /protocol.html)

  Combat Fighters ( Link to: /Fighter101.html )

FLIGHT COMMANDS

The following commands can be found in the Command List (link to: /commands.html), but are specifically for Pilots to use.

Flight Access
Command	Minimum Rank	Description
!Left/Right	(none)	Moves the Helm Chair Left/Right on the main bridge
!Depart/Dock	(none)	Launches/Docks the Auxilliary Craft onboard Avalon
!NavStats	(none)	Provides Navigation Statistics for the Starship Avalon & Runabout
!SetDest XXYY	(none)	Inputs Destination Nav-ID for the Starship Avalon & Runabout
!SetWarp #	(none)	Inputs Warp Speed Desired for the Starship Avalon & Runabout
!Engage	(none)	Activates the auto-navigation system for the Starship Avalon & Runabout
!AllStop	(none)	Drops the ship out of warp in the correct sector

FLIGHT PROCEDURE

The following procedure is basic procedure for departing/docking a ship from the shuttle bay. This procedure ensures safety for the crew in the shuttle bay, the people upon the ship, and the vessel itself.

1. Close (vessel name) exit
2. Ask for clearance to depart (/comm pa <message>)
3. !depart
4. Bring up map - /starcharts.html
5. !setdest XXYY
6. !setwarp #
7. !navstats
8. Ask permission to engage.
9. !engage
10. Set autopilot before leaving chair.
11. Ship will leave warp speed after arriving at destination.
12. !navstats to check ETA and other things.
13. Ask for clearance to dock (/comm pa <message>)
14. !dock (but must be in same square as ship)
15. Open (vessel name) exit

SHUTTLE CRAFT

Shuttlebays & Flight Equipment:

General Overview: Located at the dorsal stern of the primary hull, the Main Shuttlebay takes up a significant portion of the aft section of Deck Six on the Phoenix class. Due to the mission profile of the Phoenix class, the shuttlebay extends larger than normal for a vessel its size to accommodate runabouts and ships smaller than Nova-grade that may be the primary mode of transport by entities the vessel’s crew encounter. The Main Shuttlebay is managed by a team of Helmsmen/Pilots, Engineers and Technicians, and Operations personnel that are based on the Flight Operations office under the supervision of the Flight Control Officer.

The Phoenix Class also comes two other shuttlebays. Much smaller in comparision to the Main shuttlebay, these two bays are used mainly by the Marine Flight groups to launch thier equipment, with the majority of the fighters kept in the main shuttlebay. The two bays are capable of accomodating fairly large craft as well, and are located port and starbord on Deck 4.

Accomodation:

Depending on mission specifics, the Phoenix Class carries a variety of craft. Listed below, are are few of the types of craft kept aboard the Avalon on a regular basis, though number's vary again to Mission Specifics.

TYPE-9 PERSONNEL SHUTTLECRAFT

Type: Medium long-range warp shuttle.
Accommodation: Two flight crew, two passengers.
Power Plant: One 400 cochrane warp engine, two 800 millicochrane impulse engines, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions: Length, 8.5 m; beam, 4.61 m; height 2.67 m.
Mass: 2.61 metric tones.
Performance: Warp 6.
Armament: Two Type-VI phaser emitters, hard points allowing for mirco torpedo launchers or sensor pallets.

The Type-9 Personnel Shuttle is a long-range craft capable of traveling at high warp for extended periods of time due to new advances in variable geometry warp physics. Making its debut just before the launch of the Intrepid-class, this shuttle type is ideal for scouting and recon missions, but is well suited to perform many multi-mission tasks. Equipped with powerful Type-VI phaser emitters, and the ability to mount mirotorpedo launcher's (or sensor pallets) the shuttle is designed to hold its own ground for a longer period of time. Comfortable seating for four and moderate cargo space is still achieved without sacrificing speed and maneuverability. As is standard, the shuttle is equipped with a medium-range transporter and is capable of traveling through a planet’s atmosphere. With its ability to travel at high-warp speeds, the Type-9 has been equipped with a more pronounced deflector dish that houses a compact long-range sensor that further helps it in its role as a scout. The Type-9 is now being deployed throughout the fleet and is especially aiding deep-space exploratory ships with its impressive abilities.

TYPE-11 PERSONNEL SHUTTLECRAFT

Type: Heavy long-range warp shuttle.
Accommodation: Four flight crew, six passengers.
Power Plant: One 400 cochrane warp engine, two 800 millicochrane impulse engines, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions: Length, 16 m; beam, 9.78 m; height 4.25 m.
Mass: 28.11 metric tones.
Performance: Warp 6.
Armament: Four Type-V phaser emitters, two micro-torpedo launchers (fore and aft), aft-mounted veritable purpose emitter, hard points allowing for various mount on systems.

With an ultimate goal towards creating a useful all-purpose shuttlecraft, the designers of the Type-11 Personnel Shuttle set out to create a craft that was equipped with all the systems of a starship within the shell of a relatively small shuttle. Allocation of the larger Danube-class runabout to starships in the field proved too costly, and with the expressed need by the Sovereign-class development team for a capable shuttle, the Type-11 was born. Its overall frame and components are a meshing of lessons learned in both the Type-9 and Danube-class vessels. Impressive shielding, several phaser emitters, micro-torpedo launchers and a capable warp propulsion system makes this shuttle capable of performing a multitude of tasks. Both the ventral and dorsal areas of the shuttle feature a new magnaclamp docking port that is capable of linking up to other ships similarly equipped. A two-person transporter and a large aft compartment with a replicator adds to the shuttle’s versatility. The end hope is that these all-purpose shuttles will replace the more specific-purpose crafts already stationed on starships, reducing the amount of space needed for shuttle storage in already-cramped bays. The Type-11 is now seeing selective deployment outside the Phoenix-class to further assess its capabilities in the field.

WORK BEE

Type: Utility craft.
Accommodation: One operator.
Power Plant: One microfusion reactor, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions: Length, 4.11 m; beam, 1.92 m; height 1.90 m.
Mass: 1.68 metric tones.
Performance: Maximum delta-v, 4,000 m/sec.
Armament: None

The Work Bee is a capable stand-alone craft used for inspection of spaceborne hardware, repairs, assembly, and other activates requiring remote manipulators. The fully pressurized craft has changed little in design during the past 150 years, although periodic updates to the internal systems are done routinely. Onboard fuel cells and microfusion generators can keep the craft operational for 76.4 hours, and the life-support systems can provide breathable air, drinking water and cooling for the pilot for as long as fifteen hours. If the pilot is wearing a pressure suit or SEWG, the craft allows for the operator to exit while conducting operations. Entrance and exit is provided by the forward window, which lifts vertically to allow the pilot to come and go.

A pair of robotic manipulator arms is folded beneath the main housing, and allows for work to be done through pilot-operated controls. In addition, the Work Bee is capable of handling a cargo attachment that makes it ideal for transferring cargo around large Starbase and spaceborne construction facilities. The cargo attachment features additional microfusion engines for supporting the increased mass.

Admiral's Yacht

Type: Long Range Heavy Shuttle
Accommodation: 4 flight crew, 20 passengers.
Power Plant: One 5,220-millicochrane warp engine, two 750-millicochrane impulse engines, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions: Length: 50m; Width: 22.5m; Height:12m
Performance: Cruise: Warp 7; Max Cruise: Warp 8; Max Warp: Warp 8.5/12hrs
Armament: 8 Type-VIII Phaser Strips, Pulse Emitter, Micro-Torpedo Launcher's for and aft,

Mounted in a recessed docking port in the underside of the primary hull, the Phoenix-class Admiral’s Yacht serves dual purposes. A situation to be dealt with by the captain of a starship does not always require the entire ship to accompany him or her, or the ship may have a more important mission to accomplish. In these cases, the Captain’s Yacht provides a long-range craft that is capable enough to function without its primary vessel. Be it a simple excursion to get away from the stresses of command, or a run to retrieve or deliver VIPs, the yacht serves as an extendable arm of the Phoenix class.

Facilities include six sleeping bunks and a comfortable passenger cabin. A replicator and flight couches provide for the needs of the passengers and a two-person transporter allows for beaming of personnel or cargo when needed. Atmospheric flight capabilities allow this shuttle type to land on planetary surfaces.