Thank you VATSIM, for fulfilling my childhood dream

[Fahad Usmani]

This post goes out to the entire VATSIM community. The BOG, for making sure it stays together. The controllers, for being so helpful and understanding. The pilots and VA community, for making it so darn interesting.

 

My VATSIM journey started five years ago, and today I say it with all the humility I can muster, that I bagged a job as an airline pilot in my nation's flag carrier.

 

Why thank VATSIM? Because I learned more from my time in VATSIM, then I did from real world flying. The procedures, RT, chart reading and trans-atlantics; in all these aspects, VATSIM has made me a polished pilot. So much so that I almost nailed my interview. For me, VATSIM has been more than just a place to fly. For me, it has been a community of like-minded people. I was the odd one out in my family and friends, but in VATSIM, I was always home. I always used to find solace in VATSIM, it has been there for me these past few years.

 

Suffice to say, my time at VATSIM is almost at an end, but its too hard to say goodbye to a place and a community which has been a part of my soul in my mid and late teens. I just want you to know what VATSIM meant for me, and what it stands to offer. For all the newies who wish to start out, you have no idea what VATSIM is. For me, VATSIM is home. Always has been, and always will be.

 

I leave you with the outcome of my VATSIM experience, i.e the picture below.

 

Love,

Fahad.

 

[Matthew Cianfarani]

Fahad,

 

Posts like this is the reason that some of us do what you do. Congratulations!

 

I wish you all the best in your career. There are plenty of airline pilots that still come fly and say hi every once in a while. Hopefully you keep in touch!

[1275389]

Congrats Fahad!

[Andreas Fuchs]

Wonderful! These are the stories that prove that VATSIM is a great place to learn, to hang out, to meet like-minded people! And that a few of our members grow up and become realworld pilots or air traffic controllers. We got a few examples like you, here at VATSIM Germany: they have become pilots at Lufthansa, Air Berlin, Condor etc. or air traffic controllers.

 

I am a realworld pilot and earn my money with it, too. I keep on being active here, mostly as ATCO - got enough flying at my job. Maybe a workable version for you?

 

Thanks for sharing your story and don't be a stranger! VATSIM is proud of you!

[Andrew Ogden]

My sincere congratulations to you!

 

This post made me smile, as it is fantastic that VATSIM is able to help someone achieve their hopes and dreams.

 

See you in the skies, my friend!

[Richard Walsh]

Congratulations!

[Randy Tyndall 1087023]

I read this post and smiled. This may not be the end result for many of our pilot and pilot/controller members, but it just takes a few success stories like this one and the ones cited above and all VATSIM smiles.

 

Congratulations Fahad. I distinctly remember when you made one of your very first posts and told everyone why you were here and what goal lie in front of you. You are there! But as mentioned, that doesn't mean you need to be a stranger now that you have "got your wings". Your journey is far from over...share some more of it with us.

 

Again, Congratulations. Looking quite dapper my friend!

 

Randy

[Deon Mathews]

Thanks for sharing your story on here.

 

I believe many of us have benefitted greatly from our [Mod - Happy Thoughts]ociation with the VATSIM network and reading your post makes me feel proud and privileged to be a part of this network!!

[Fahad Usmani]

Fahad,

 

Posts like this is the reason that some of us do what you do. Congratulations!

 

I wish you all the best in your career. There are plenty of airline pilots that still come fly and say hi every once in a while. Hopefully you keep in touch!

 

Thank you Matthew! If it wasn't for VATSIM, I wouldn't be where I am today. So staying in touch and helping out every now and then would be a moral obligation. One which I would be happy to do!

 

Congrats Fahad!

 

Thanks Josh

 

Wonderful! These are the stories that prove that VATSIM is a great place to learn, to hang out, to meet like-minded people! And that a few of our members grow up and become realworld pilots or air traffic controllers. We got a few examples like you, here at VATSIM Germany: they have become pilots at Lufthansa, Air Berlin, Condor etc. or air traffic controllers.

 

I am a realworld pilot and earn my money with it, too. I keep on being active here, mostly as ATCO - got enough flying at my job. Maybe a workable version for you?

 

Thanks for sharing your story and don't be a stranger! VATSIM is proud of you!

 

I really appreciate your comment Andreas

VATSIM is THE place to be for anyone p[Mod - Happy Thoughts]ionate about aviation. How clueless I was when I joined it back in 2011! Boy, was I in for a ride.

 

I'll definitely try to give back to the community. Perhaps by mentoring people or logging a few ATC hours every now and then. But as of now, the next few years will be mostly spent juggling my career and the remainder of my studies.

 

May I ask which airline you are a part of? The global pilot fraternity is smaller than what we may think.

 

My sincere congratulations to you!

 

This post made me smile, as it is fantastic that VATSIM is able to help someone achieve their hopes and dreams.

 

See you in the skies, my friend!

 

Thank you Andrew! I'm hoping that some kid who is larger than life comes across this post and receives some motivation to excel. The youngsters these days are so talented, and mere difficulties shouldn't stand in the way.

 

Congratulations!

 

Thank you Richard

 

I read this post and smiled. This may not be the end result for many of our pilot and pilot/controller members, but it just takes a few success stories like this one and the ones cited above and all VATSIM smiles.

 

Congratulations Fahad. I distinctly remember when you made one of your very first posts and told everyone why you were here and what goal lie in front of you. You are there! But as mentioned, that doesn't mean you need to be a stranger now that you have "got your wings". Your journey is far from over...share some more of it with us.

 

Again, Congratulations. Looking quite dapper my friend!

 

Randy

 

Wow, than that must mean we go way back. I must have been 14 when I started out. Truth be told, it is VATSIM itself which injected the aviation bug deep in my veins.

 

And Randy, I am far from being a stranger. I am finally in a place where I can inspire and help people. A year ago I wouldn't have thought that possible. And there is noo way I am going to take VATSIM for granted, especially not now.

 

Ah, but being dapper is part and parcel of being a pilot isn't it

 

Thanks for sharing your story on here.

 

I believe many of us have benefitted greatly from our [Mod - Happy Thoughts]ociation with the VATSIM network and reading your post makes me feel proud and privileged to be a part of this network!!

 

It's the least I could do Deon. It truly has been a privilege to share my years with VATSIM. It is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Thank you

[Andreas Fuchs]

I really appreciate your comment Andreas

VATSIM is THE place to be for anyone p[Mod - Happy Thoughts]ionate about aviation. How clueless I was when I joined it back in 2011! Boy, was I in for a ride.

 

I'll definitely try to give back to the community. Perhaps by mentoring people or logging a few ATC hours every now and then. But as of now, the next few years will be mostly spent juggling my career and the remainder of my studies.

 

May I ask which airline you are a part of? The global pilot fraternity is smaller than what we may think.

Of course you should now concentrate fully on your career and also take care that you do NOT overestimate your knowledge from VATSIM/FlightSim - it can also be a small obstacle to studying, because one may think "I know this already", but as you may have found out already/hopefully, at VATSIM/FlightSim we scratch the surface only on quite a few topics. That's my piece of advice to you, study things as if you have never heard of them before - your current knowledge will simply help you understand and memorize them much quicker than your colleagues in your courses. This is the advantage that you will have, use it wisely

 

As to your question: I fly for the world's largest fractional aircraft operator, but I am based in Europe, I work for their European branch. If you want more details, that would be through private messaging.

[Fahad Usmani]

I really appreciate your comment Andreas

VATSIM is THE place to be for anyone p[Mod - Happy Thoughts]ionate about aviation. How clueless I was when I joined it back in 2011! Boy, was I in for a ride.

 

I'll definitely try to give back to the community. Perhaps by mentoring people or logging a few ATC hours every now and then. But as of now, the next few years will be mostly spent juggling my career and the remainder of my studies.

 

May I ask which airline you are a part of? The global pilot fraternity is smaller than what we may think.

Of course you should now concentrate fully on your career and also take care that you do NOT overestimate your knowledge from VATSIM/FlightSim - it can also be a small obstacle to studying, because one may think "I know this already", but as you may have found out already/hopefully, at VATSIM/FlightSim we scratch the surface only on quite a few topics. That's my piece of advice to you, study things as if you have never heard of them before - your current knowledge will simply help you understand and memorize them much quicker than your colleagues in your courses. This is the advantage that you will have, use it wisely

 

As to your question: I fly for the world's largest fractional aircraft operator, but I am based in Europe, I work for their European branch. If you want more details, that would be through private messaging.

 

I can be surprised by how little I know about aviation. It is such a huge and limitless field of study that thete can never really be a point where you know it all. And I realize that.

 

Really, the only places I will get an edge over would be sim training, and normal procedures. While I have a lot to learn, I feel like I would get a head start over people who have just flown the cessna 172. Apart from that, I'll be starting from scratch.

 

I appreciate your advice. Thank you

[Charan Kumar]

A little later here, but still wanted to say, Congratulations. I only got my private pilot license, but that was literally because of VATSIM (my wife got tired of me flying the computer ). Still, flying on VATSIM in my local area helped immensely. I was able to use my local flying experience back when I control on VATSIM, VFR flights get much better service as I know what our local controllers say and do here. Glad to see VATSIM is making more pilots and aviation careers.

 

Wishing you the best in your aviation career...good luck and GodSpeed!!

[Fahad Usmani]

A little later here, but still wanted to say, Congratulations. I only got my private pilot license, but that was literally because of VATSIM (my wife got tired of me flying the computer ). Still, flying on VATSIM in my local area helped immensely. I was able to use my local flying experience back when I control on VATSIM, VFR flights get much better service as I know what our local controllers say and do here. Glad to see VATSIM is making more pilots and aviation careers.

 

Wishing you the best in your aviation career...good luck and GodSpeed!!

 

Hi Charan!

 

Congratulations on your PPL Nothing, not even VATSIM, beats the thrill of flying a small airplane solo. I'm sure you'll fit right in the industry based on your experience here in VATSIM.

 

All the best Charan!

[Haris Malik 1336275]

Congratulations Fahad bhai !

You've always been like a role model to me , this post is truly inspiring and explains the importance of this network , how new people can make good use of it to help them in their careers . It has been amazing to be with you all this time on vatsim , since you are now going to be touching the skies in real i feel we will see you rarely on vatsim but i hope you always keep inspiring the people , its great !

[Fahad Usmani]

Congratulations Fahad bhai !

You've always been like a role model to me , this post is truly inspiring and explains the importance of this network , how new people can make good use of it to help them in their careers . It has been amazing to be with you all this time on vatsim , since you are now going to be touching the skies in real i feel we will see you rarely on vatsim but i hope you always keep inspiring the people , its great !

 

Really appreciate that Haris. I don't plan to disappear anytime soon

 

And I know that one day, you will become a role model for others. Keep going with your efforts, hard work never goes to waste.