Now that we have a bit more airspace to play with a large number of users have brought out their heavy metal and done their simulated airline pilot routines.
With that in mind I decided to create a series of flights that mimic a "maximum legal duty day" for an airline pilot (using current FAR 121 rules).
So here are the "duty rules" I'm using:
Maximum Total Flight Time (aircraft moves after engine start to engine shutdown): 9:00
Maximum Duty Day: 12:00 (this is correct for the number of legs in the trip)
So here is your schedule for the day:
Show Time: 11:00 PST
Flight 1: KEKO-KSLC
Depart: 1130
Arrive: 1330 MST
Flight 2: KSLC-KDEN
Depart: 1400
Arrive: 1520
Flight 3: KDEN-KMTJ
Depart: 1550
Arrive: 1650
Flight 4: KMTJ-KPHX
Depart: 1720
Arrive: 1850
Flight 5: KPHX-KSAN
Depart: 1920
Arrive: 1930 PST
Flight 6: KSAN-KSEA
Depart: 2000
Arrive: 2300
So, that's a maximum duty day (for real life airline pilots, I'm aware this schedule has 0 room for error and as a result would never actually be scheduled
). All flights exist in the real world and are operated by at least 1 airline.So for those who are interested here are the rules:
1. This is a 1 day, 1 sitting, real time simulation of an airline pilot day. There's no pausing the clock or coming back tomorrow. Need a lunch break? Sure you have 30 minutes, just make sure you preflight in that time as well.
Exception: If you have a sim crash you may "rewind the clock" back to either a save point you have made or the start of the flight leg.
2. You must depart each airport, land at each airport, and spend at least 30 minutes at the gate between each flight (boarding and deboarding time). You are not required to strictly stay to the schedule.
3. For checking purposes you must log each flight on peaware to get credit.
4. There are no restrictions on the airplane you use, but it must be an airplane that could do this schedule in 9 hours of flight time and must be able to safely operate at each airport. The schedules were created using transport category jet schedules. You may swap airplanes along the way.
5. The actual start time doesn't matter (simply adjust the times on the schedule above).
6. While the part 121 duty day limit in this scenario is 12 hours it can be extended by 2 hours (to a limit of 14) due to issues along the way. You must complete the sequence in 14 hours. The sequence starts when you start to "pre flight the plane" and ends when you engage the parking brake at the gate in SEA.
7. Due to the length and time constraints people have there is no requirement to do all flights during PE operating hours, however at least 4 must be 100% completed during PE operating hours.
8. Weather is not defined but should be realistic to a weather pattern that could happen (no 100 knot tailwinds every leg).
9. The in game time you use does not matter, but once set should not be changed and allowed to normally progress.
Successful pilots get a reward of value yet to be determined (but likely to be in the 0-0$ range)
Optional Hard Code Mode:
For those who want a little more realism add the following rules:
1. You must complete the sequence in 9 hours of flight time with the following exception (the 9 hour flight limit is a hard limit, you can't extend it like the duty day with the limited exception below).
- Exception: If at KSAN the total flight time to that point + your reasonably scheduled flight time to KSEA is under 9 hours you may depart. If you end up flying over 9 hours due to enroute delays to KSEA this does not count as a violation of this rule.
2. You may not depart early. You must depart at the times listed (adjusted to your start time).
3. Real world weather must be used
-Exception: If the weather is below minimums you may raise the weather to be at minimums.
Optional Iron Man Mode:
1 last mode for those who want 100% realism. This mode just adds a couple more rules:
1. You must start your preflight between 0700-1259 local time. FAA duty limits depend on when your day starts. The duty rules listed above assume you start between these times, so start between these times.
2. Complete the entire sequence during operating hours.
Note: Functionally this means you must start between 0730-1100 Pacific.
Exception: If due to your location you cannot comply with rules 1 and 2, rule 2 takes priority and you can ignore rule 1.
3. Only use 1 type of airplane. Note airplanes that are covered under 1 type rating may be swapped into (for example fly a CRJ2 and CRJ7, or a B757 and B767)
4. At KMTJ you must "swap airplanes". This means you need to make the airplane cold and dark and then preflight it again. For those of you using rule 3 to use 2 different models of aircraft you must swap into model 2 at KMTJ.
5. Run your simulator time to match real world time.
To get credit reply to this post with the following:
1. Peaware links to your flights.
2. Total duty day
3. Departure and arrival times for each flight.
4. Total flight time (this is not required to be under 9 hours)
5. Anything else you want to note
6. What mode you accomplished (Regular, Hard Core, or Iron Man).
That's it.
Enjoy!
