Jetva.co.uk Forum

JetVA is preparing to introduce Jet Track, our new in-house flight tracking system designed specifically for our virtual airline operations.

Jet Track is being developed as the long-term replacement for the older external tracking tools we have relied on for many years. The aim is simple: give JetVA a modern, reliable, auditable and future-proof flight tracking platform that is built around how we actually operate.

What Jet Track does

Jet Track connects to your simulator using SimConnect and records key aircraft, flight and operational data during your flight. This includes your aircraft state, position, speed, altitude, vertical speed, fuel, flight phase, landing data and other evidence needed to produce a proper JetVA PIREP.

The system is being built for:

• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020


• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024


• SimConnect-compatible aircraft


• JetVA scheduled and booked flights


• JetVA SimBrief-linked flight planning


• JetVA live ACARS and PIREP reporting

Why we are building it

The current generation of VA tracking tools has served us well, but much of that ecosystem is old, externally controlled, no longer actively developed, or not flexible enough for where JetVA is going.

JetVA needs a tracker that we control, understand, maintain and can improve over time. Jet Track gives us that foundation.

This means we can build features around our own rules, our own routes, our own aircraft profiles and our own pilot experience, rather than being limited by someone else's software.

What pilots can expect

The pilot workflow is intended to be straightforward:

1. Book your flight on JetVA.


2. Open Jet Track.


3. Log in with your JetVA account.


4. Select your booked flight.


5. Load your SimBrief plan where available.


6. Start tracking when ready.


7. Fly the sector normally.


8. Finish the flight, review the PIREP, then send it to JetVA.

The system is designed so pilots can see what is happening during the flight, including tracking status, aircraft detection, live ACARS state, flight phase and key events.

Live ACARS integration

Jet Track will update the JetVA live operations board during the flight, so other pilots and visitors can see active flights in progress.

The live board will show clear operational states such as:

• Boarding / Preparing


• Pushback


• Taxi


• Takeoff


• Climb


• Cruise


• Descent


• Approach


• Final Approach


• Landed


• Taxi In


• Parked

The local flight recording remains detailed, while the live ACARS updates are throttled sensibly so the server is not flooded with unnecessary updates.

PIREP and flight evidence

Jet Track records the flight evidence needed to build a proper PIREP, including timing, route, phase changes, touchdown data and aircraft behaviour.

After the flight, the pilot will be able to stop tracking, review the generated PIREP, and then file it to JetVA.

The aim is to make the process cleaner and more transparent. Pilots should be able to understand what was recorded and why certain events appear in their flight log.

Scoring and analysis

Jet Track is being designed to support JetVA's aircraft-specific scoring and analysis system.

This means aircraft profiles can be used to apply sensible limits for different aircraft types. For example, an A320-family aircraft and a 737-800 should not necessarily be judged using identical parameters.

The intention is not to punish pilots for minor or momentary simulator quirks. The scoring model is being developed with evidence, thresholds and delay logic so that brief spikes or transient readings do not automatically become unfair penalties.

SimBrief support

Jet Track is being integrated with JetVA's SimBrief workflow.

Where a SimBrief plan is linked to a booked JetVA flight, Jet Track can load the relevant operational flight plan data and use it to help populate the flight context.

This helps reduce duplicate entry and makes the tracking process more consistent.

Security and integrity

Jet Track is also being designed with flight integrity in mind.

The client records flight evidence from the simulator, but the important validation and scoring logic will be handled server-side by JetVA. This helps protect the system from tampering and allows JetVA to adjust rules centrally without asking every pilot to manually edit settings.

The long-term goal is a system that is reliable for pilots, defensible for staff, and difficult to manipulate.

Current development status

Jet Track is currently in active development and testing.

The core tracker has already proven that it can capture real simulator data through SimConnect and generate JetVA-compatible flight evidence. Work is continuing on polishing the pilot interface, improving log readability, strengthening PIREP submission, refining flight phase detection and aligning the aircraft profiles with JetVA's scoring model.

The first release will be focused on stability and reliability rather than unnecessary extra features.

What this means for pilots

When Jet Track is ready for wider testing, pilots should expect a modern JetVA-branded tracker that is simpler to use, more transparent, and better connected to the website.

It will not be rushed into full production until we are satisfied that it is stable, fair and reliable.

During beta testing, feedback will be important. If something does not look right in the tracker, the flight log, live ACARS or the filed PIREP, we will want pilots to report it clearly so it can be reviewed and corrected.

Further updates will follow as development and beta testing continue.

If you would like to join the beta testing program, please let me know.