Immediately effective: Elite Queue

[PVG_Spotter]

As another long term uploader (21 years in my case), I understand the reasoning behind this change, but like others, the suddenness of this I struggle with. I wonder how many of the former elites have actually "loaded the queue" as based on Alex's comments previously, it would not seem so. It seems that FR24 feels that JP is really the bastard step-child as proven by their lack of attention to bugs, requests, etc. It's almost like it's worth reopening Elite to get internal funding so you can pay someone to make the changes, because FR24 is going to take ages to do it. How long has the request for acceptance ratio slot allocation been open? How long have the bugs on the forum been reported to them? The lack of attention by FR24 is going to cause more and more displeasure with JP by it's users. Hopefully, this will change soon. I don't know if there is someone or a couple of people at JP dedicated to looking for duplicate accounts, etc. because as many seem to get created and used, it might be worthwhile dedicating a resource to this. I'm just trying to find solutions for an ever increasing discontent to the people that provide JP and therefore FR24 their information.

You hit all the great points. I think FR24 does not have the enough funding/programmers to fix bugs on JP, thus implementing brand new ratio system for JP will be a pain, if not impossible. And looking for double accounts is super time-consuming and it's always easy to catch the dummies but impossible to catch those smart ones.

[TC-ALP]

I think this decision is too early before ratio related slot system available. By the way It would help the reduce que and help screeners less work-load.
Wait and see but I am not happy this early action. Brgds.

[StMawganE14]

well... I do not get the reason why you need 100 slots, especially when most of the people only have 20 slots? Do you have 100 precious aircrafts to upload once every 17 days? (no offense, im just curious)

You have missed my point. I don’t ‘need’ 100 slots as an arbitrary figure. There should be a fair system - a ratio based slot idea that recognises uploaders - longevity, consistency and loyalty. I had the 100 slot benefit as a former elite uploader. My issue is the fact is the way that a benefit has been suddenly removed. I accept Simon’s explanation and will continue to upload. I have invested too much time and effort not to. I was simply expressing disappointment and it is clear that I am not alone in that.

[justtosim]

I wonder how many of the former elites have actually "loaded the queue" as based on Alex's comments previously, it would not seem so.

At the moment of introduction about 120 photographers had more than 20 photos queued. The top 15 photographers in the queue made up for roughly 1,000 queued photos.

[KampfHase]

it isn't very fair to still keep those slots

What is fair to put 21year and 18year loyal uploaders like Brian and Mark, who make up a tiny 2-3% of queue pictures like you said, on the same level as all the amateur submitters who bother the screeners and database editors?

With this move you only punish the good ones.

[MarkLawrence]

At the moment of introduction about 120 photographers had more than 20 photos queued. The top 15 photographers in the queue made up for roughly 1,000 queued photos.

I stand corrected - thank you Simon, so basically 1,000 of 26,000+ images in the queue or basically 3.8%, but 15 people, yes that's an average of 66.67 images per each of those those people. I think only once or twice when I had 100 slots did I exceed 50 images in the queue and they were uploaded over several days to be able to give others a chance in the queue ..

[ChicagoAvgeek]

I am understanding of the need to reduce the queue, but some of us who have been uploading 500-1000+ photos a year are going to be extremely disappointed. With the queue being 3-3.5 weeks, it’s going to limit even the most persistent uploaders to 250-300 photos a year assuming no rejections. Couple this with more inconsistent screening as of late…and it’s not a great combo for those of us who have made the site what it is. Seems to me there should be an in between, maybe cutting down to 50 or as many have mentioned a ratio-slot system. Something like if your acceptance ratio is 75%+, get 30. 85%+, get 40 etc. I believe this is going to drive long time users of the site away from it, but perhaps this is what the website wants to reduce the queue.

[PVG_Spotter]

I guess the answer for this decision is pretty simple from admins perspective: keep everyone fair in terms of the queue slots.

[n94504]

I have 11000+ images on here having uploaded for 15 years. Rarely if ever do I post on the forum, and I paid to support the site pre-FR24, thus benefiting from the 100 upload queue in recent years which I see as website loyalty and never abused. I uploaded here before FR24, purely to share my images online. I have never uploaded just for viewing numbers. I also still upload on the rival website despite dwindling support and similar inconsistency / difficulty in recent years (contrast and lack of direction is my main annoyance on this site - if it was obvious I wouldn't waste my time uploading it). I can see Flickr being the winner here, it's quick and simple. Personally, I will go back to the mindset of my photography for the enjoyment, not the potential of seeing an A380 in special colours amass 3000+ views. I should never have lost sight of this, which to be fair is a win for me, but maybe loss for the site in terms of hits and contribution from a regular and loyal patron. Hopefully the ratio idea will materialize and benefit the genuine photographers here.

[mahagonny]

Hi Brian,

It happened without notice because from experience it's very hard for us to predict when Flightradar24 has the time/priority for us (it's been on a wish list for quite some time). Another factor is that had we announced it, we probably would've seen a peak in uploads as a result.

We also wish we could've given our most loyal photographers like you something in return immediately, such as a slot by ratio system which would work in your benefit. Hopefully we can introduce such a feature in the near future.

Last but not least, a shorter queue will be in everyone's benefit. I hope this explanation gives you a bit of background into our motivation for this move.

Thanks

I find it a bit strange that you can implement the slot function based on acceptance rate and not the much simpler one of enabling a certain number of uploaders with high acceptance rates to eliminate all the obviously unacceptable photos.
Since this is a CMS, making changes in this sense should not be that complicated.

[Alex - Spot-This !]

I find it a bit strange that you can implement the slot function based on acceptance rate and not the much simpler one of enabling a certain number of uploaders with high acceptance rates to eliminate all the obviously unacceptable photos.
Since this is a CMS, making changes in this sense should not be that complicated.

Like Dana explained, the really bad photos are not an issue as it takes less than a sec to reject, or a really short time. and we got through the queue of new uploads 1-2 times a week and reject full queues that are really low quality.

[mahagonny]

Like Dana explained, the really bad photos are not an issue as it takes less than a sec to reject, or a really short time. and we got through the queue of new uploads 1-2 times a week and reject full queues that are really low quality.

Sure. But someone else could do it, and you shouldn't worry about the garbage by focusing your attention on the hot queue, for example.
But, as I said before, this is my idea, not necessarily shared.
The fact is that the solution of limiting the slots to 20 for everyone is easy to implement immediately because there are very few users to intervene on, but I don't know how much this is really useful to reduce the abominable queue of the last few months.
If there is a drastic solution and the problem is hot uploads, well, let's close the possibility of uploading hot photos. FR24 doesn't seem to be interested in intervening on JP to help it work better.

[Alex - Spot-This !]

Enzo, we do appreciate the idea, but it won't help much really.

The ultimate solution is a slot per acceptance average system also with a bonus for the people who have a certain numbers of images ins the database.

We will keep pushing for that solution.

One other thing we will now focus on improving is reducing the appeals and namely the appeal abusers which are extremely time consuming for little success (about 10%)

Thanks again
Alex

[mahagonny]

Thanks Alex. I'm glad I tried to contribute.

[Milan Cibulka]

Hi,
I don't mind How about limiting the sending of first registrations or hot photos to a maximum of 3 per 24 hours per photographer?