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Swift Progress?


Robert Bressert
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  • Board of Governors
Simon Kelsey
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I agree with Luke (and Don!).

Vice President, Pilot Training

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Ryan Geckler
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I always enjoy Luke posts. Almost always incredibly accurate and succinct.

 

(And I third the motion)

Ryan Geckler - GK | Former VATUSA3 - Division Training Manager

VATSIM Minneapolis ARTCC | FAA Miami ARTCC 

 

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Magnus Meese
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I don't think I've ever seen a post hit the nail on its head as perfectly as Luke's one just have done. Seriously, can we get on this?

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Dhruv Kalra
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*golf claps politely* Incredibly well said, Luke.

Dhruv Kalra

VATUSA ZMP ATM | Instructor | VATSIM Network Supervisor

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Friedrich Boenisch
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+1

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Shane VanHoven
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Luke has my vote for CTO.

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Luke Kolin
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Luke has my vote for CTO.

 

I'm touched (in a good way).

 

When I saw the announcements I contemplated reaching out to some VATSIM members I know for an endorsement so I could apply for the positions. I expect that the Founders would veto me, but that didn't dissuade me. I didn't apply because I simply don't have the energy or the motivation these days, and doing so would be trying to recreate what I had a decade ago and that would disappoint everyone. As I said, at 32 I would have happily done the job. When I'm in my upper 50s and retired, sure. Not now.

 

There's one other positive change that's happened over the past decade and a half. The number of people in the world who are capable of doing what VATSIM required has exploded, just as the number of Internet users in general. In 1999, what VATSIM did was somewhat unique and complex. Today there are millions of people who can build web services, run cloud infrastructure and write good software.

 

Have any of you applied for these roles? Even if you don't feel comfortable doing them, you should express your interest and VATSIM should work to develop a pipeline of junior admins, developers and helpers on the technology side. It will help you all in several ways. First, it will get things done that needed doing. Second, it will shift the center of gravity of this organization away from aviation towards technology - and you need a good balance between the two to be healthy. Third, and most importantly - it will help you.

 

If you take the $135 you would spend on your next PMDG add-on and buy a book on Linux, MySQL, network or PHP and spend the rest on some AWS resources, then spend the same amount of time you would spend mastering that add-on, I know of no stock, bond or other security that will give you such a return on your investment. It doesn't matter what you end up doing in your life; technology, critical thinking and basic troubleshooting permeates everything we do, in every field. Technology is my first love, aviation a hobby and a curiosity - but I've slowly over the years learned more and more about aviation and I am glad I did. You will find the same with technology.

 

Just as much as this place revolves around ATC phraseology, airspace cl[Mod - Happy Thoughts]ifications and procedures, it revolves around technology. Technology in a variety of ways is what allows you to get your ratings, it's what draws the sectors in your controller clients, it's what sends your voice and position half way across the globe and what makes this a fun (or frustrating) experience for so many members. You should be just as curious and interested in it as you are about the aviation.

 

To repeat, now is not my time. It probably will never be my time. The best thing that I can do for VATSIM is to get a dozen or two dozen of you to stop agreeing with me and start learning and doing what I only talk about, and then pressuring the network into making the necessary changes.

 

Cheers!

 

Luke

... I spawn hundreds of children a day. They are daemons because they are easier to kill. The first four remain stubbornly alive despite my (and their) best efforts.

... Normal in my household makes you a member of a visible minority.

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Richard McDonald Woods
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+2

Cheers, Richard

You are the music, until the music stops. T.S.Eliot
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Rahul Parkar
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Ah Luke,

 

I always do enjoy your posts and find myself agreeing with them. I'm not afraid to say that I have applied for one of these roles and you should know my motivation fairly well.

 

I would reach out to all of you out here, even at a junior level. What we do isn't rocket science on the tech side, and there's so much help that is needed. Throw your names around and show some of that p[Mod - Happy Thoughts]ion that is so obvious to see here.

 

Change isn't impossible, but in the last 8-9 I've been here it's been improbable, for various reasons. The opening of the positions seems to be the beginning of a clear shift, now it's up to the community to become engaged and push for the right things.

 

Cheers!

Rahul

Rahul Parkar

"On second thoughts Nappa, catch it, catch it with your teeth" -- Vegeta

Professional Nerd. (Professionally not professional)

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Gunnar Lindahl
Posted
Posted

Luke, Rahul, others,

 

I can't speak for the past as in relative terms I am fairly new to steering this ship.

 

What I can say is that the leadership of VATSIM want to make it fit for the future, and we can't rely on just a small handful of people to make that happen. There is tons of p[Mod - Happy Thoughts]ion and talent across the network in all manner of disciplines and it's our job to harness that.

 

The structure of VATSIM has historically made a group effort more difficult (my view only). We're slowly changing that culture and I want people who are ready to contribute to feel they can do just that, whether they're in staff roles or not.

 

The open advertising of the three technical VP roles (the first time in our history, I believe) is the first shift towards progress. The candidates we will choose will have seeking help and subsequently building a team at the center of their agenda. VATSIM is a volunteer organisation so progress won't always be slick, but by bringing on a group of people we reduce our exposure to hiccoughs in availability.

 

You're always welcome to shoot me a line by email, too.

 

GUNNAR LINDAHL 
## [email protected]
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  • 4 months later...
Richard Walsh
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Any updates ?

854300

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Robert Bressert
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Please? It would be nice to know.

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Robert Bressert
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Thanks, Anders! Much appreciated.

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