News

A Message from the CEO: Website Update

Dear Southwest Virtual Airlines Pilots,

I’m excited to share an update on the progress of our new website and LUVCARS system. Over the last two weeks, our platform has officially entered beta testing, and we’ve already received incredible feedback from our initial beta testers.

In addition to launching beta, we’ve also expanded our Technology Department with a team of highly skilled and passionate staff dedicated to making Southwest Virtual Airlines the best experience possible for our pilots. Their commitment to excellence is helping shape the future of our VA, ensuring a seamless and engaging user experience.

As we work through beta testing, our plan is to gradually expand the beta team over the next month, allowing more pilots to participate on a case-by-case basis. We want to stabilize key features before bringing in a larger group, and we appreciate your patience while we refine the system.

Looking ahead, I anticipate making a formal announcement when we are approximately 30 days from the official website launch. When the time comes, the transition will require a 12-24 hour system downtime as we migrate data from our current server to a faster, more robust platform. We will communicate the exact date of this downtime once we near the end of beta.

Our goal is to deliver the best possible platform for our pilots, and we are committed to ensuring that this upgrade meets the high standards we’ve set as an organization. Your patience and enthusiasm mean the world to us, and we promise this upgrade will be well worth the wait.

Thank you for your continued commitment to Southwest Virtual Airlines. Stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks!

Blue Skies & Tailwinds,

BRADEN THOMPSON
Chief Executive Officer
Southwest Virtual Airlines

1,971 Members

In June 1971, Southwest Airlines launched its inaugural flight from Dallas Love Field, marking the beginning of a journey rooted in "democratizing" the skies through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel.

We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone in our community: we have reached 1,971 active members, a number that mirrors the founding year of Southwest Airlines.

As we celebrate reaching 1,971 members, colleagues, and friends, we reflect on the core values that have defined Southwest Airlines since its inception:

- Warrior Spirit: Striving to be the best and never giving up.
- Servant’s Heart: Following the Golden Rule and treating others with respect.
- Fun-LUVing Attitude: Embracing a sense of humor and not taking oneself too seriously.

These principles have fostered a culture where people come first, creating a unique environment that values each individual. If we're not doing this for our members, we're in the wrong business.

We are proud to embody these values within Southwest Virtual Airlines, ensuring that our community remains fun, loving, caring, and reliable. This milestone is a testament to the dedication and passion of you. Whether you registered 15 years ago, yesterday, or even if you're the 1,971st member, you are the reason that all of this is here.

Looking ahead to 2025, Southwest Virtual Airlines is poised to modernize flight simulation in ways never seen before. We remain at the forefront, committed to delivering a friendly, realistic, and reliable experience for every member. With the upcoming launch of our new website and ongoing enhancements to LUVCARS, we are setting the standard for innovation and excellence, ensuring we stay ahead of the pack and continue to lead the way in virtual aviation.

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To make this celebration even more special, we are organizing a group flight to honor this occasion. This flight will take place in the following week, and we’ll be sharing more details soon, including the city pair and time. We can’t wait to have as many of you as possible join us for this exciting event to celebrate the legacy that we've created together.

Thank you for being an essential part of our journey. We understand that personal and professional priorities take precedence, yet having everyone come together for this moment is nothing short of extraordinary. On behalf of the staff team, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for the privilege of sharing this milestone with you. We look forward to celebrating this achievement and many more with you, honoring the legacy of Southwest Airlines every step of the way.

Welcome to 2025!

Southwest Virtual Airlines is excited to welcome you to 2025! As we take off into the new year, we’re thrilled to celebrate our accomplishments in 2024 and share a glimpse of what’s ahead.

2024 Highlights:
- Over 148,400 flight hours logged
- More than 74,200 flights completed
- A community of over 1,800 active pilots
- Launch of the Interactive Co-Pilot, enhancing realism and support for every flight

These achievements reflect the incredible dedication and passion of our pilots. Thank you for making 2024 a year to remember!

2024 Year in Review Video:
Relive the highlights of 2024 by watching our special Year in Review Video. It’s our way of saying thank you and celebrating the incredible journey we had together. Watch the video here.

What’s Coming in 2025:
We’re planning even greater milestones this year, including:
- A brand-new website to enhance your virtual flying experience
- Updates to LUVCARS
- Compatibility with MSFS2024
- New awards and challenges to celebrate your accomplishments
- Re-opening the Training Department in February with a revised syllabus and fresh content
- Rank changes and more!

In addition, we’ve released a new Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and a revised Code of Conduct. Both documents are now live on the website under HR>Policies. Please take a moment to review these important updates.

We’re also hosting a Town Hall on Saturday, January 18th, at 11:00 AM Central. This is your chance to hear about our plans for 2025, ask questions, and share your ideas.

Thank you for being part of Southwest Virtual Airlines. Together, we’ll make 2025 our best year yet!

Blue skies and safe landings!

The Flight Path Ahead for Southwest Virtual Airlines

Dear Pilots,

As we move into the final month of the year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we have been on as a virtual airline. Just over 16 years ago, Southwest Virtual Airlines (SVA) was founded with a simple vision: to create a virtual airline built for pilots—a welcoming, inclusive, and innovative community, rather than one driven by competition.

Back then, we began as a small group of just 75 pilots, united by a shared passion for aviation. Today, we are a thriving community of over 1,800 members, representing one of the largest and most engaged virtual airlines in the world. Our growth has been a testament to the dedication and talent of each of you—whether you’ve been here since the beginning or joined us more recently. Together, we have built something truly extraordinary.

With this growth comes the need to ensure that SVA remains positioned for a sustainable and vibrant future. After much reflection, I have decided to step down as CEO of Southwest Virtual Airlines, effective January 1, 2025. This decision was not made lightly, but it reflects my full confidence in the future of SVA and in the leadership that will guide us forward.

I am eager to announce that SVA will transition to being owned and operated by a nonprofit organization. Matt Grimes, will begin transitioning from his current role as Chief Operating Officer to Chairman of the Board of Directors for the nonprofit. This poises Matt to ensure SVA has the structure and oversight it needs to thrive in the years to come. I am deeply grateful to Matt for his service and dedication to Southwest Virtual, and I know his influence will continue to be a guiding force to this community.

Furthermore, I would like to name Braden Thompson to take over as CEO on January 1, 2025. Braden’s experience and commitment to our mission make him an excellent choice to lead SVA into blue skies. In the coming days, he will share his vision and announce additional leadership team updates.

As I look ahead, my greatest wish is that we continue to build upon our legacy, finding new ways to engage, grow, and set the standard for what a virtual airline can achieve. The future of SVA is bright, and I am confident that it will remain a community where aviation enthusiasts can connect, learn, and inspire one another.

While I will no longer serve as CEO in the New Year, I am not saying goodbye. I will remain a part of this community as a pilot on the Flight Operations team and will continue to offer support for LUVCARS 5. Stepping back from the day-to-day management of SVA will allow me to focus on what I love most: being a pilot and enjoying the incredible community we have all built together.

Finally, as we reflect on the spirit of Thanksgiving, I want to express my deepest gratitude to each of you. Your dedication, enthusiasm, and commitment to this organization have made SVA what it is today. Thank you for being part of this journey, and for the continued trust and support you have shown.

I am excited for what lies ahead and cannot wait to see all that we will accomplish together in this new chapter.

Best Regards,
Ryan