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In Flight Operations

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Topics discussed in this page:

·         Flight procedures

·         Breaks during flight

·         Online flying

Flight procedures

The following provisions will be applied to ALL flight operations:

  •  Time Acceleration is NOT permitted under any circumstance. All flights must be flown at 1x simulation speed, regardless of the scheduled flight length.
  • All flights must take off from the published airport.
  • Each pilot must adhere to proper FAA- outlined cruising altitudes. In the United States, eastbound (heading 0---179 degrees) IFR flights must cruise at an "odd" flight level in 2000 feet increments starting at FL190 (i.e., FL190, FL210, FL230, etc.); westbound (heading 180---359 degrees) IFR flights must cruise at an "even" flight level in 2000 feet increments starting at FL180 (i.e., FL180, FL200, FL220, etc.).However, Air Traffic Control (ATC) may assign any flight level at any time if traffic situations merit a change in altitude.
  • Flight reports with landing rates over -550 feet per minute (FPM) will be rejected unless extraordinary circumstances are noted, documented, and commented on. All Hub Managers and Assistant Hub Managers have the authority to approve or reject a PIREP
    based solely on their discretion and the information provided.
  • Flight diversions due to weather and emergencies are permitted, while extremely unlikely, and evaluated on a case-by-case basis according to the information provided during the pilot report. This is NOT to be abused and needs to remain very limited in
    use.
  • Unlimited fuel is NEVER permitted. Furthermore, Pilots should always follow the OFP recommendations and should aim to never arrive at the destination airport with less than 1500 LBS of fuel left in the tanks.

Breaks during flight

American Virtual Airlines defines a break as any simulator pause.
Pilots are permitted to take a break(s) during flights and therefore are permitted to leave their
computer during the break. The maximum length is 30 minutes. Only one break is authorized for
flights of four hours or less. For flights exceeding four hours, breaks are at the discretion of the
pilot after the fourth hour but never exceeding 30 minutes per break.


Pilots who fly online using VATSIM shall contact their ATC and request permission to vacate the flight
deck before taking their break. If the controller does not grant permission, the pilot must wait for
clearance to leave the cockpit from ATC.


Note: VATSIM also has a policy regarding being away from the computer during flight. Should a
pilot be contacted by a VATSIM supervisor, and the pilot does not respond within 30--- minutes,

Online flying

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