Airport Destination Series Announcement

When I am logged in Second Life, two of my pleasures are flying and sailing. Both are busy communities to be involved with in the virtual world of Second Life. There are groups to go flying and sailing with. There are other social activities held by some. Some of us just want to fly or boat.

As part of my Second Life destinations I cover in this blog, I decided to include an aviation section for airports. Both land and sea. As I am still fairly new to flying, I approached a small handful of people who I have come to know as friends whose opinions I trust and respect, as well as being successful airport owners and/or aircraft builders.

I would like to thank for their guidance the following people;

Jenny D, owner of both Basinghurst Airfiled and Tuarua Fiji International Airport(TFIA). As well as her airline, Disast Air.

Fey Blackheart & Gota Blackheart, owners of Unity Airlines and several airports under the brand name of Unity Airlines.

Luke Flywalker, owner of Baitoushan International Airport, directly involved with the Baitoushan Aviation Museum and host of SL Aviation Magazine and Music to Fly By.

Mick McKeenan, aircraft builder and owner of McKeenan Aviation.

Thank you to all of you for your guidance based on your successful aviation ventures in Second Life.

Below are the main five points I have compiled to guide how and what I look for in an airport. They are to be applied equally to every airport without bias as much as humanly possible. We all have airports we love and airports we don’t. It’s our personal preference. We all have them. You may disagree with something I write which is your right based on your wants and needs. This series is meant as a guide to airports and who knows, you might read a post on an airport you did not know about. Or you might share an airport with me which I don’t know of. If you wish to bitch at me for my comment, I truly don’t care. Second Life is for fun. Let’s make this something we can all enjoy.

Somehow I’ll work on a list to compile a list of each post in this airport series which will be easy to find and refer to. That is a work in progress. I hope you enjoy my airport series.

So the main five points are;

1. Lag.

Minimal to no lag at airport parcels/sims. Nothing destroys your SL experience like lag does. The less lag, the better. The better to see avatars, for aircraft to work and to have an enjoyable Second Life experience.

2. Easy access.

Airports with direct access from main seas is a particular helps with avoiding parcel orbs/ban lines and helps keep entry/exit lag reduced and avoids issue of obstacles, ie: castles, mountains and boundary screens.

3. Realism

For those of us who roleplay activities in SecondLife like aviation and sailing, we enjoy some realism. Riding dragons and flying cars is an example of what isn’t realism in virtual gaming and generally not permitted at airports.

Realism in SL airports should seek to include the following detail;

* Room to manoeuvre. Planes need space to taxi, somewhere to pick up and drop off passengers, arrive and depart without crashing on the ground and in the air as much as possible.

* Hanger/Tie Downs pilots can rent to store aircraft.

* Terminals where commercial and charter aircraft can ferry passengers and where people can meet up. Somewhere to sit such as a cafe or bar.

* Flashing lights and fake people kept to a minimum.

4. Unique & Atmosphere

What makes the airport special to attract pilots and passengers? Is there something as a draw people to the airport?

How are pilots and passengers treated by airport management and staff?

5. Aesthetics

How does the airport look? Does it look like clumps of concrete or does the theme of the airport look presentable and relevant?

Big airports are very different to small airports. Airports in tropical climates look different to those in temperate climates. Same with city and rural airports.

Do the airport aesthetics make the airport feel like an airport or something else?

This  top five is a compilation I have made with the guidance from a handful of people who either own airports or build planes. I chose people I know. People I know are successful as an aircraft builder and airport owners. Who better to ask?

This is not an end and be all to Second Life airports but my personal selection. All airport posts are based on my thoughts and feelings. All airports will be have been flown in and out using a helicopter as well as planes of different sizes.

And lastly, if you know of an airport which you would really like me to visit and blog my thoughts on, let me know either in the comments section below or contact me directly in IM in Second Life. My Second Life details are; Sheree Honeyflower(LifeOfSheree Resident).

You can also find my official inworld office for Virtual Sheree at my cafe, “Sheree’s Garden Cafe” at Bay City(Harwich sim).

Blue skies.

Sheree Honeyflower