Platinum Airways adds relief division to its operations

Platinum Airways, the very virtual Open Skies airline, announces that it has established a relief division. This new initiative will provide for emergency and humanitarian operations throughout the world. In order to enable its pilots to ferry relief supplies around the globe, Platinum Airways has added the C5 Galaxy and C130 Hercules to its fleet. Following the devastating earthquake in North Eastern Japan last month, Platinum Airways’ management started planning a relief operations division. In this way, Platinum Airways would like to express its support to innocent civilians who are suffering from the consequences of a natural disaster or war. Two aircraft that are often used in similar operations were added to the fleet: the C5 Galaxy and the C130 Hercules. Both cargo aircraft have proven their worth in relief operations and are very complementary. The Galaxy is ideally suited to transport huge amounts of supplies to emergency hubs. The Hercules is capable of bringing large supplies to the most remote areas. However, in line with Platinum Airways’ Open Skies policy, relief flights may be operated with any aircraft and at the pilots’ preferred time. Only the destination airport is set. Platinum Airways is encouraging relief operations by allocating to them the same bonus as Destinations of the Week missions. Platinum Airways’ relief operations will initially focus on victims of the Japan disaster and will include Sendai (RJSS) and Fukushima (RJSF). Both airports are used extensively to ship emergency supplies and specialists to the earthquake and tsunami affected areas. Additional destinations may be suggested by Platinum Airways’ pilots or may be added by management. Relief destinations will typically remain on the flight roster for as long as their real life emergency requires the attention of the international community. Launched in June 2010, Platinum Airways aims at attracting virtual pilots whose priority is to have fun. It combines an Open Skies policy, allowing its pilots to fly any mission of their choice with the aircraft of their choice at the time of their choice, with a strategic hub network consisting of Newark (KEWR), Dallas-Fort Worth (KDFW), Vancouver (CYVR), Perth (YPPH) and Brussels (EBBR). The airline runs a Destination of the Week feature that is usually based on a monthly theme (currently high altitude commercial airports). Applying the KISS principle (Keep It Straight and Simple), Platinum Airways aims to be low on rules and high in content. It hosts an active forum and a screenshot of the month competition, with the winner providing the main picture on its home page for the next month. For more information, please contact us.