Welcome to Austrian.Virtual! Just like most Virtual Airlines, we at Austrian.Virtual have our own set of rules, which we have compiled in this Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) document.

This SOP establishes the rules, procedures, and standards for the safe, realistic, and professional operation of our Virtual Airline. All pilots and staff must adhere to these procedures to ensure our simulated operations mirror real-world standards while remaining accessible and enjoyable.

2.1 Chain of Command

3.1 Minimum Flight Requirements & Activity

• New Pilot Requirement: Complete your first flight and submit an approved PIREP within 14 days of joining.

• Active Status: Pilots must log at least one (1) flight every 60 days. (Off Days can be entered in your settings)

• Whitelist Provision: Activity requirements may be waived for Senior Captains or upon management discretion.

• Registration Compliance: Repeated pilot registrations submitted without a corresponding, approved PIREP are non-compliant. A pilot may submit a maximum of four (4) subsequent registrations without an approved PIREP; any additional attempts will result in application rejection.

3.2 Flight Dispatch, PIREP Submission, Fuel Planning & Diversions

• Dispatch: All flights must be booked via the dispatch system, with simulator time synchronized to the booked departure time.

• PIREP Submission: Pilots must submit flight reports immediately after landing using the ACARS system—known as Pegasus.

• Manual PIREPs (Claims): Manual submissions are accepted only when accompanied by verifiable proof. Pilots must attach screenshots from their tracking tool that clearly display the relevant flight data. Links to external trackers (e.g., Volanta, IVAO, or VATSIM) are not acceptable.

• Fuel Planning: Use approved tools (e.g., SimBrief) to ensure accurate fuel calculations; please check the output against our sop before fuelling your aircraft. any deviation beyond approved limits will incur penalties.

• Diversions & Abnormalities: Any diversions, non-normal events, or deviations must be thoroughly documented in the PIREP comments.

3.3 No-Fly Areas

• Definition: Specific airspaces, restricted for security or operational reasons, are strictly off-limits.

• Procedure: Always consult the current no-fly list before flight planning. Unauthorized entries will invalidate your PIREP and result in penalty points. This also includes directs offered by ATC which enter No-Fly Areas!

3.4 Duty Time Limits

• Maximum Duty Times: All flights must conform to EASA duty time limits. Major violations (e.g., exceeding daily limits) will be sanctioned according to airline policy.

3.5 Approach & Landing Standards

• Stabilized Approaches: Approaches must be stabilized at 1000 ft AGL; failure to stabilize by this altitude requires a go-around.

• Senior Captain Exception: Pilots holding the Senior Captain rank (or higher) may, under VMC conditions only, execute an approach that stabilizes latest at 500 ft AGL. In such cases, a detailed PIREP comment explaining the deviation is mandatory.

• General Requirement: All approaches must adhere to these stability requirements to ensure safe and controlled landings.

4.1 Approved Aircraft, Livery & Add-On Standards

• Fleet Consistency: Only aircraft from the approved fleet may be used - You have to fly the aircraft you've booked.

• Livery Requirements: The aircraft must display the correct livery corresponding to the operator. Fictional liveries are not accepted.

• Add-On Standards: Modified or customized add-ons that violate the End User License Agreement (EULA) of the respective developer are strictly prohibited.

  For example, the use of the Toliss A320ceo mod that contravenes the developer’s EULA will not be accepted.

4.2 Aircraft Substitution Guidelines

• General Rule: No aircraft substitutions are allowed unless prior management approval is obtained.
  A general Substitution List is available within the respective Appendix below - Any substitutions listed there, does not require a PIREP Comment.

Procedure:

1. Pilots must book the designated aircraft.

2. If the designated aircraft is unavailable, contact management for approval before substituting.

3. Any unapproved substitution will result in PIREP invalidation.

4. Documentation: If an adhoc substitution is approved, include a brief explanation in your PIREP (e.g., “Substituted A330-300 for A330-200 with prior management approval due to simulator limitations”).

5.1 Operational Conduct, Standard Behavior & Netiquette

• Company Language: Our company Language is english. This allows the participation of a wider community. Specific Areas are in German and marked as such.

• Professionalism: All pilots and staff must exhibit professional, respectful, and courteous behavior at all times.

• Netiquette: All online communications (Discord, online networks, etc.) must follow proper netiquette standards. Disruptive, inflammatory, or offensive language is strictly prohibited and will result in disciplinary action. Rule of thumb: What ever you wouldn't do at the dinnertable with your parents, is a nogo here too.

5.2 Safety, Speed, Weight & Simulation Parameters

• No simulation rate adjustments are allowed. All flights must be conducted at a 1× simulation rate.

• No excessive pausing is permitted during any phase of flight. If a pause is unavoidable, it must be pre-approved and documented in the PIREP.

• The maximum taxi speed is 30 knots during all taxi operations.

• Ensure aircraft loading is within certified limits.

• Follow all operational procedures without resorting to non-standard practices such as slew mode or accelerated simulation rates.

5.3 Penalties and PIREP Scoring

• Points System: PIREPs are automatically scored based on factors such as fuel planning, landing rates, proper aircraft and livery usage, and adherence to no-fly zones.

• Infractions: Violations—including unauthorized simulation rate adjustments, excessive pausing, unapproved aircraft substitutions, use of incorrect liveries, unstable approaches, or exceeding taxi speed limits—will incur point deductions/invalidation as detailed in the vAMSYS Points Manual and the appendix below.

• Review Process: Repeated or significant violations may result in suspension or termination from the virtual airline.

The following list shows the approved substitutions, which do not require a comment - Any deviation from this list, is not allowed, except having a management approval which does require a PIREP Comment (All management approvals are centrally stored).

Additional legal information and rules can be found on our website. Including the Association bylaws.