Exciting News! Major updates to AAV operations.

[Michael Blakely]

Today we've launched an exciting update to our American Airlines Virtual operations.

- We have added these real world AA hubs to AAV: Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington National
- All equipment restrictions are removed for AAV bid flights. Pilots may fly any equipment at any time. (This is primarily due to the lack of free add-on equipment in P3D and X-Plane.)
- All rank check flights are now flown in the Boeing 737-x00 or Airbus A32x family. (These aircraft are readily available for free in all simulators.)
- We have added SEVEN new endorsement check flights: turbo props, regional jets, classic heavies, modern heavies, jumbos, and retro props, and retro jets.
(These endorsements are NOT required to use equipment on bid flights)
- A new welcome banner image
- New videos links on the home page
- The training hub is no longer called "DFWT". It's now just called the "Training Hub"
- We have closed the AAV EGLL hub

We've made these changes in order to:
- Adapt to changing flight simulator and aircraft availability
- Make or VA easier to join, start flying, and participate
- Retain our core values of friendly community and pilot proficiency through check flights

All these changes are documented in the new Pilots Handbook

Now is a great time to think about switching to one of our new hubs for a new flight simulation and route experience.
We are also looking for hub manager for our new hubs. If you are interested, and you are at least a First Officer with 100 flight hours and 6 months membership at AAV, please reach out to me, Michael Blakley

I hope you all enjoy these new changes.

[Pete Murray]

What a welcome relief! I was beginning to wonder about type of A/C flown. I have wanted to get some time in an A380 or an A350, but can't find a decent one for FSX. It also makes sense because fleets (even codeshares) are retiring A340s and older A330s, one of my favorites, QOTS and T-tails like MD-80 series.
This is actually better for everyone. Folks will really need 1 or 2 regional a/c (Embraer/CRJ), then as they progress add 737 and/or A320 series for longer routes, and when they get to the heavies add a 777 and/or A330, A350 if you're lucky to have XPlane. Members really only need 3 a/c types minimum. Members can expand and add 767,757, whatever they want is extra candy in their stable.

I like the new concept. Mike is correct, it is getting much more difficult to find add ons. One can only guess what will happen when MS 2020 goes live.....Yeeeeesh!



AAV 786

[Arturo Carvajal]

Great Update.

More flexible rules for all captains.

I will miss EGLL HUB, a base airport to flight Europe.

Thanks Michael.

[Harold Henderson]

Question/suggestion.

In the Pilot's Handbook table showing aircraft we are allowed to fly by rank, Senior Captains and Commanders are allowed "Business Jets for corporate charters." Why not include turboprops and even props. For example, it would be nice to use a DC-6, B377, or King Air B350i or B200 … on charters.

[Omar Campanalunga]

Question/suggestion.

In the Pilot's Handbook table showing aircraft, we are allowed to fly by rank, Senior Captains and Commanders are allowed "Business Jets for corporate charters." Why not include turboprops and even props. For example, it would be nice to use a DC-6, B377, or King Air B350i or B200 … on charters.

Yes, you (and all the pilots) can fly them because all equipment restrictions are removed for AAV bid flights. Pilots may fly any equipment at any time. We have added SEVEN new endorsement check flights: turboprops, regional jets, classic heavies, modern heavies, jumbos, and retro props, and retro jets.
These endorsements are NOT required to use the equipment on bid flights

[Michael Blakely]

It boils down to two things.
1. Flights are flown in any current or prior American Airlines (or partner) aircraft.
2. Business Jets for Senior Captains and Commanders

Commenting on some of the specific examples in this thread:

Why not include turboprops

You can fly turboprops. These were used by American Airlines

and even props

Cape Air, an American Airlines partner, flies some props (Cessna 402), so some props are OK

It would be nice to use a DC-6, B377, or King Air B350i or B200

DC-6 and B377 were once flown by American Airlines, so these are OK. I'm not sure if any of the partners fly the B350i or B200, so you might have to search some timetables or flightaware.com data to see if those are OK.

all equipment restrictions are removed for AAV bid flights. Pilots may fly any equipment at any time.

Not quite true. The equipment must be used now, or in the past, by American Airlines, or a partner.

if I had bid KPHL-KBOS on a319, I could fly it on the e170, a321, b738

Yes, because all those alternates have been used by American Airlines or their partners.

[Robert Simac]

Thanks Michael for maintaining and upgrading this site!

Regarding the equipment, I was not able to pull down my new shiny carbon fancy A350-900 from the equipment menu at 'submit frep'.

Not sure this is due to real-life fact(?) none of share-code partners are flying it, or it is just missing.

At any rate not a big deal I submitted my frep as 'other plane'.

[Michael Blakely]

Thanks Michael for maintaining and upgrading this site!

Regarding the equipment, I was not able to pull down my new shiny carbon fancy A350-900 from the equipment menu at 'submit frep'.

Not sure this is due to real-life fact(?) none of share-code partners are flying it, or it is just missing.

At any rate not a big deal I submitted my frep as 'other plane'.

Sorry, didn't get to that yet.
BUT
Did you realize you can edit the aircraft type name in your logbook by clicking on the aircraft name? That way you can keep your logbook nice and neat.

[Michael Blakely]

A350 and other new equipment added.