Chapter 10 of 10
Glossary and FAQ
The abbreviations decoded, and the questions people actually ask
Half of the confusion in virtual aviation comes from abbreviations. Here they are in plain words, followed by the questions that come up most often.
Glossary
- VA
- virtual airline: a crew of players with a shared account, fleet and schedule.
- PIREP
- the report of a completed flight, filed by the tracker or by you.
- Tracker
- a Windows app that records the flight from the simulator and files the report.
- Type rating
- permission to fly a specific type. Earned by training, kept alive by flying.
- WTC
- wake turbulence category by weight: light (L), medium (M), heavy (H), super (J). It sets the rank you need.
- XP
- pilot experience. Earned per flight, unlocks ranks.
- Hub
- an airline's home airport: cheaper handling and more passengers.
- Lease
- renting an airframe for a monthly payment instead of buying it.
- Ferry
- an empty repositioning flight to another airport, paid for by the airline.
- Charter
- a one-off flight on a personal hangar aircraft; the income goes to the pilot.
- Free flight
- a flight outside any schedule: personal hours and a little XP, clear of the economy.
- SimBrief
- an external flight planner; the flight is handed over with one button.
- Check (A/C/D)
- scheduled maintenance driven by hours: the aircraft sits for a few hours and comes back with its life restored.
- Defect
- a fault on the aircraft. A critical one grounds it until it is cleared.
- Season
- a calendar quarter of competition, ending in a podium with prizes for pilots and airlines.
Common questions
Do I need VATSIM or IVAO?
No. Fly offline or on any network — the platform does not mind. Network integration is planned, but nothing in the game depends on it today.
Which simulator do I need?
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 or 2024, or X-Plane 11/12 (still in beta). The tracker needs 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 and nothing else — everything it needs is bundled in.
Do I have to join an airline?
No, but that is where most of the game happens: schedules, money, salary, rankings. Without one you still have free flights and the personal hangar with charters.
Why won't the flight book?
There are only six reasons: rank too low; no rating on the type; the rating has lapsed; the airframe is busy or in maintenance; the airframe is parked at another airport; the airframe has a critical defect or condition below 25%. The error message names the one that applies.
Can I fly without the tracker?
Yes, file the report by hand from the flight page. The score then rests on the landing alone — no track, no stage breakdown.
I crashed the aircraft. Now what?
Heavy damage goes into the incident feed, the airframe goes in for repair or, at worst, is written off and its crew released. The airline loses money, not the game.
The airline is out of money. What now?
Check Finance: sell a spare airframe, return a leased one, take a bank loan. For a pilot it is simpler — keep flying, every flight pays a bonus.
Where do I ask if the answer isn't here?
On the forum, where the real pilots are. Bugs and wishes go to Suggestions, which the team reads.