Stijn

Hi all, The Platinum Airways video has undergone a major update, to incorporate new functionality and services to our pilots. It is available at our home page, on YouTube and Facebook. Enjoy!

Platinum Airways, the Open Skies virtual airline, has entered its summer routine with Delayed. The Destination of the Week series will be visiting nine airports with an exceptional track record as far as punctuality is concerned. Millions of tourists will be boarding aircraft again over the next two months, and many of them are bound to be frustrated by delayed departures. Delayed presents a heads-up of the world’s best and worst performing airports. Based on the most recent annual flight data statistics by Flightstats, the series will take off with the worst representatives of five continents. The absolute worst airport of them all in terms of departure punctuality is Soekarno-Hatta (WIII) with a dismal 35.22% of flights departing on time. Europe’s poorest performer is Manchester (EGCC) with 55.98%. Next, we have Abu Dhabi (OMAA) with a score of 60.51%. South America brings us Simon Bolivar (SVMI) in Venezuela at 61.76%. And Africa concludes the list of bad performers, with Cairo (HECA) at 69.05%. However, there are some really good airports as well, as the final four airports demonstrate. Cape Town (FACT) has an on-time departure record of 91.4%. Helsinki’s (EFHK) score is 92.22%. Delayed’s eighth destination is Tocumen (MPTO) with 93.23%. And we end the series with the best performing airport of them all, Itami-Osaka (RJOO) with a whopping 94.74% of all flights departing on time. Each DOTW comes with charts to be downloaded and links to scenery files. A selection of YouTube videos usually contains flight deck and ground views with landings and departures. About Platinum Airways: Keen to deliver on its mission to keep the fun in the hobby, Platinum Airways is probably the only virtual airline to combine 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. The carefully selected hubs, Newark (KEWR), Dallas-Fort Worth (KDFW), Vancouver (CYVR), Perth (YPPH) and Brussels (EBBR), should be attractive to a global membership. In addition, Platinum Airways offers its pilots an often cheeky Destination of the Week, Military and Cargo. Sticking to the KISS principle (Keep It Straight and Simple), Platinum Airways hosts an active forum and a screenshot of the week competition, with the winner providing the main picture on its home page for the next week. For more information, please visit www.platinumairways.org or mail info [at] platinumairways.org.

Hi Lena, Have a look at Platinum Airways. We apply the Open Skies principle: you can fly the mission of your choice with the aircraft of your choice at the time of your choice. Our liveries are FS only, but we have several X-Plane pilots and don't have any restrictions on aircraft and livery use. Although we have 5 hubs (KEWR, KDFW, CYVR, YPPH and EBBR), you're not required to use them or their flight suggestions, and if you do, you can switch between them without having to ask our permission. We offer a Destination of the Week (this week, it is Skardu - OPSD in our Skating on Thick Ice theme), current and vintage Military Missions, a Cargo Division, etc. We are offline by default, but as our PIREPS are filed via a webform, online missions can also be filed. We have 3 requirements: 1. minimum 18 years of age, 2. first PIREP within 14 days after joining and at least one PIREP per month thereafter (or request leave) and 3. have fun. We believe that VAs should be there for its pilots, and not the other way around. Stijn

Always welcome at Platinum Airways. We apply the Open Skies principle: you fly the mission of choice with the aircraft of choice at the time of choice. We are an offline VA, but as PIREPs are filed via a webform, online flights also qualify. In addition, we have a Destination of the Week, Military (both current and vintage) and Cargo missions, extended (voluntary) flight suggestions out of our hubs (KEWR, KDFW, CYVR, YPPH and EBBR), etc. We have a large fleet, but if we don't have your preferred AC in our livery, feel free to use yours. Only requirements: minimum 18 years of age, first PIREP within 14 days after joining and at least 1 PIREP per month thereafter. Stijn

Platinum Airways goes Skating on Thick IcePlatinum Airways, the Open Skies virtual airline, is starting 2016 with a slippery Destination of the Week series. Skating on Thin Ice will visit four large glaciers on as many continents. It has become a tradition at Platinum Airways to dedicate each year’s first destination of the Week series to a wintery theme. 2016 is no exception, as the very virtual Open Skies airline is off to four airports that are close to four significant glaciers. Skating on Thick Ice kicks off with a visit to Antarctica, home of the world’s largest Lambert Glacier, and of the Wilkins Runway (YWKS), an ice runway in the East. From there, we move on to the Hubbard Glacier in Alaska, and its main access airport of Yakutat (PAYA). Our third Skating on Thick Ice DOTW is Skardu Airport (OPSD), the closest airport to the Siachen Glacier in disputed territory between India and Pakistan in the Himalaya – OPSD was selected only on the basis of proximity. We conclude Skating on Thick Ice with a glacier in Patagonia: the Perito Moreno, and its feeder airport, Armando Tola (SAWL). Each DOTW comes with charts to be downloaded and links to scenery files. A selection of YouTube videos usually contains flight deck and ground views with landings and departures. About Platinum Airways: Keen to deliver on its mission to keep the fun in the hobby, Platinum Airways is probably the only virtual airline to combine 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. The carefully selected hubs, Newark (KEWR), Dallas-Fort Worth (KDFW), Vancouver (CYVR), Perth (YPPH) and Brussels (EBBR), should be attractive to a global membership. In addition, Platinum Airways offers its pilots an often cheeky Destination of the Week, Military and Cargo. Sticking to the KISS principle (Keep It Straight and Simple), Platinum Airways hosts an active forum and a screenshot of the week competition, with the winner providing the main picture on its home page for the next week. For more information, please visit www.platinumairways.org or mail info [at] platinumairways.org.

Platinum Airways, the Open Skies virtual airline, will pay tribute to the world’s most successful film series, James Bond aka 007. Live And Let Fly, the December 2015 Destination of the Week theme, will visit five airports that are linked with key Bond personalities. Early November saw the release of Spectre, the 24th Bond movie, and what better way to enter the Christmas holiday season than an evening out with the kids for the ultimate toys-for-boys big screen release. Live And Let Fly visits five airports that are linked with as many key James Bond personalities. The series starts with a visit to Edinburgh (EGPH), the birthplace of the first Bond ever, Sean Connery. Our second Bond destination takes us to an airport that is close to one of the three homes of another Bond actor, Roger Moore, who spends a lot of time in Crans-Montana, Switzerland – an ideal opportunity to tackle the great approach into Sion (LSGS). Live And Let Fly number 3 brings us to Dublin (EIDW), the closest airport to Navan, Co Meath, and Pierce Brosnan. The two final Live And Let Fly DOTWs are on the western side of the Atlantic. The Bond theme owes much of its success to its initial producer, Albert R Broccoli, who was born in Queens, NY – hence our visit to LaGuardia (KLGA). And we end our tribute to 007 with the Jamaican airport that was named after his inventor, Bond writer Ian Fleming (MKBS). Each DOTW comes with charts to be downloaded and links to scenery files. A selection of YouTube videos usually contains flight deck and ground views with landings and departures. About Platinum Airways: Keen to deliver on its mission to keep the fun in the hobby, Platinum Airways is probably the only virtual airline to combine 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. The carefully selected hubs, Newark (KEWR), Dallas-Fort Worth (KDFW), Vancouver (CYVR), Perth (YPPH) and Brussels (EBBR), should be attractive to a global membership. In addition, Platinum Airways offers its pilots an often cheeky Destination of the Week, Military and Cargo. Sticking to the KISS principle (Keep It Straight and Simple), Platinum Airways hosts an active forum and a screenshot of the week competition, with the winner providing the main picture on its home page for the next week. For more information, please visit www.platinumairways.org or mail info [at] platinumairways.org.

Depends what you would like to have. If filing PIREPs via a webform is sufficient, pay a visit to Platinum Airways. We follow the Open Skies principle, which means that you can fly the mission of choice with the aircraft of choice at the time of choice. We have a Destination of the Week, current and vintage Military missions, a cargo division and much much more. Only requirements: minimum 18 years of age and at least one PIREP per month.

Platinum Airways visits nature’s best Special FX Platinum Airways, the Open Skies virtual airline, has announced yet another Destination of the Week theme. In November, Platinum Airways will visit Mother Nature’s best Special FX show on earth: the northern and southern lights. With the long polar night setting in on the northern hemisphere, the area close to the magnetic North Pole is preparing for one of the most spectacular shows on Earth: aurora borealis or the northern lights. This natural phenomenon of breath-taking magnitude attracts thousands of people, and Platinum Airways will transport them to four airports that are close to where the action is. Special FX kicks off with Svalbard, the Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. Our second destination is Yellowknife (CYZF) in Canada’s Northwest Territories. Special FX number three takes us to Ivalo Airport (EFIV), near the Kakslauttanen Arctic resort in northern Finland. And we end Special FX with a visit to Hobart International (YMHB), in anticipation of next year’s aurora australis or southern lights. Special FX will try to explain what causes this natural phenomenon. Each DOTW comes with charts to be downloaded and links to scenery files. A selection of YouTube videos usually contains flight deck and ground views with landings and departures. About Platinum Airways: Keen to deliver on its mission to keep the fun in the hobby, Platinum Airways is probably the only virtual airline to combine 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. The carefully selected hubs, Newark (KEWR), Dallas-Fort Worth (KDFW), Vancouver (CYVR), Perth (YPPH) and Brussels (EBBR), should be attractive to a global membership. In addition, Platinum Airways offers its pilots an often cheeky Destination of the Week, Military and Cargo. Sticking to the KISS principle (Keep It Straight and Simple), Platinum Airways hosts an active forum and a screenshot of the week competition, with the winner providing the main picture on its home page for the next week. For more information, please visit www.platinumairways.org or mail info [at] platinumairways.org.

How important is the VA alliance requirement for you? If not, have a look at Platinum Airways. We apply Open Skies, which means that you can fly any mission of choice with the aircraft of choice at the time of choice. Our only conditions: min 18 years of age, first PIREP within 2 weeks and at least one flight a month (or request LOA). So if you want, you can fly a full Delta schedule, with AC in Delta livery if that is important to you. And you can fly a 777 immediately, without having to take a test or a flight hours requirement. In addition, we offer current and vintage Military missions, cargo flight suggestions and an often cheeky Destination of the Week that usually takes you to airports you would not visit. We are offline by default, but are a VATSIM partner airline. PIREPs are done on the basis of trust through a webform as you would only fool yourself by claiming flights you didn't fly. We have an extensive fleet with freeware and payware AC, custom AI traffic packages, etc. In short: we are a VA that focuses on its pilots, and not the other way around.

Forums are backed, thanks. Topic can be locked.

I noticed this morning that several forums, including virtual airlines, have disappeared. Is this a technical issue or is this intended? Thanks, Stijn

Hi all, Platinum Airways has started a new Destination of the Week theme: Retired. We'll be visiting four boneyards: Davis-Monthan AFB (KDMA), Mojave Air & Space Port (KMHV), Pinal Airpark (KMZJ) and Alice Springs (YBAS). DOTW is part of our public site, so non-members can also enjoy these missions. Stijn

Platinum Airways, the Open Skies virtual airline, is entering the northern hemisphere’s summer with a brand new Destination of the Week series. Ticket to Ride will visit eight airports that are located near just as many theme parks. The northern summer holidays are well upon us and what better way for young and old to enjoy than visiting eight major theme parks around the world. The first Ticket to Ride takes us to Orange County Airport (KSNA), not far from California’s Disneyland. The second Ticket to Ride takes visitors to the Legoland Discovery Center and Chicago Executive Airport (KPWK). From there, we’re on a rollercoaster at Six Flags Arlington, Texas, via Arlington Municipal (KGKY). We then cross the Atlantic, to Phantasialand in Brühl, not too far from Köln-Bonn Airport (EDDK). Shenzhen Happy Valley is our fifth Ticket to Ride, with Shenzhen Boan (ZGSZ) as our DOTW. We then travel to Aussie World and Sunshine Coast Airport (YBSU) in Queensland, Australia. Brazil has some great theme parks too, such as Beto Carrero World close to Florianopolis-Hercilio Luz International Airport (SBFL). Our last Ticket to Ride is a treat for the older youngsters among us: Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi (OMAA). All Tickets to ride are accompanied with charts to be downloaded and links to scenery files. A selection of YouTube videos usually contains flight deck and ground views with landings and departures. About Platinum Airways: Keen to deliver on its mission to keep the fun in the hobby, Platinum Airways is probably the only virtual airline to combine 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. The carefully selected hubs, Newark (KEWR), Dallas-Fort Worth (KDFW), Vancouver (CYVR), Perth (YPPH) and Brussels (EBBR), should be attractive to a global membership. In addition, Platinum Airways offers its pilots an often cheeky Destination of the Week, Military and Cargo. Sticking to the KISS principle (Keep It Straight and Simple), Platinum Airways hosts an active forum and a screenshot of the week competition, with the winner providing the main picture on its home page for the next week. For more information, please visit www.platinumairways.org or mail info [at] platinumairways.org.

Platinum Airways, the Open Skies virtual airline, is celebrating its 250th Destination of the Week with a special series that was compiled by its own pilots. Runway 250 will visit past and future of this popular feature by the Open Skies virtual airline. As Destination of the Week #250 was approaching, Platinum Airways asked its pilots how this milestone had to be celebrated. 25 posts in the Platinum Airways Pilot Lounge forum later, the new series was born. Runway 250 kicks off with Entebbe Airport (HUEN) on the Equator, symbolizing Platinum Airways’ policy to cater for virtual pilots in the northern and southern hemisphere. Although DOTW tries to visit new airports, some airports have featured twice. The second RWY250 destination is the first airport to have reached that status: Innsbruck’s Kranebitten Airport (LOWI) that first appeared in the Conquest of the Snowy Mountains theme and again in the Thin Air series, as the highest European airport with a scheduled service. The third RWY250 destination was the common denominator of several requests: an airport capable of accommodating heavies, a challenging approach and an icon. The result was the Checkerboard approach of Kai Tak (VHHH). The final RWY250 corresponds with Platinum Airways’ most basic philosophy of the Open Skies virtual airline: our pilots fly the mission of choice with the aircraft of choice at the time of choice. Therefore, our pilots will be free to select their DOTW on one condition: that they motivate their choice in the Pilot Lounge forum. As usual, DOTW offers charts to be downloaded and links to scenery files. A selection of YouTube videos usually contains flight deck and ground views with landings and departures. About Platinum Airways: Keen to deliver on its mission to keep the fun in the hobby, Platinum Airways is probably the only virtual airline to combine 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. The carefully selected hubs, Newark (KEWR), Dallas-Fort Worth (KDFW), Vancouver (CYVR), Perth (YPPH) and Brussels (EBBR), should be attractive to a global membership. In addition, Platinum Airways offers its pilots an often cheeky Destination of the Week, Military and Cargo. Sticking to the KISS principle (Keep It Straight and Simple), Platinum Airways hosts an active forum and a screenshot of the week competition, with the winner providing the main picture on its home page for the next week. For more information, please visit www.platinumairways.org or mail info [at] platinumairways.org.

It is the time compression. If you fly for a VA that allows time compression, you wouldn't have to set an alarm.

I can't answer your technical question. Each airline is entitled to its own policy. The question I keep asking myself when I read your and similar comments, is how the policy of not allopwing time compression can be enjoyable. After all, simming is a hobby.

Hi all, Platinum Airways' Destination of the Week series currently stands at #247. That means that 250 is just arund the corner, and we intend to do something special. We have a discussion running in our members-only forum, but we know that non-members visit this page frequently. After all, FlightSim publishes our theme announcements every second month (thanks Nels). Therefore, we would like to extend an invitation to everyone to send us their suggestion via our contact webform. Thanks, Stijn

Tom, This is devastating. May we wish you and yours strength, courage and time. Don't worry about Avsim. Although you will obviously be missed current management will cary it forward. All the best, Stijn

Platinum Airways, the Open Skies virtual airline, has revealed its new Destination of the Week theme: Lower. It is visiting five airports that are located below sea level. Lower has already started with the lowest airport in the world with scheduled civilian flights: Atyrau Airport (UATG) in Kazakhstan. The second Lower destination is the airport that holds the global below MSL record: Bar Yehuda (LLMZ). From there, Lower takes us to Furnace Creek (L06). The fourth Lower destination is in line with the saying that God created Earth and the Dutch created the Netherlands: Lelystad (EHLE). Lower ends with El Centro (KNJK) on the California-Mexico border. As usual, DOTW offers charts to be downloaded and links to scenery files. A selection of YouTube videos usually contains flight deck and ground views with landings and departures. About Platinum Airways: Keen to deliver on its mission to keep the fun in the hobby, Platinum Airways is probably the only virtual airline to combine 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. The carefully selected hubs, Newark (KEWR), Dallas-Fort Worth (KDFW), Vancouver (CYVR), Perth (YPPH) and Brussels (EBBR), should be attractive to a global membership. In addition, Platinum Airways offers its pilots an often cheeky Destination of the Week, Military and Cargo. Sticking to the KISS principle (Keep It Straight and Simple), Platinum Airways hosts an active forum and a screenshot of the week competition, with the winner providing the main picture on its home page for the next week. For more information, please visit www.platinumairways.org or mail info [at] platinumairways.org.

Philipp, If it doesn't have to be a real-world airline clone, you're more than welcome to join Platinum Airways. We apply the Open Skies principle, which means that you fly the mission of your choice with the aircraft of your choice at the time of your choice. We are offline by default, but are also affiliated with VATSIM. Our only requirements: minimum 18 years of age, one flight per month (or request absence) and have fun. Stijn

If flexibility and pilot-focused is important to you, have a look at Platinum Airways. You fly the mission of choice with the aircraft of choice at your time of choice. We call this Open Skies. So you can start off with your PMDG B777, in fact we have many PMDG 777 pilots. We are offline by default, but are also associated with Vatsim if you want. The only thing missing in your list is ACARS, as we use a webform for PIREPs. Our only two rules: 1. minimum 18 years, and 2. have fun when flying.

Platinum Airways, the Open Skies virtual airline, will start the 2015 Destination of the Week series with a challenging theme. White Magic takes its pilots to four extremely difficult approaches of ski resort airports. It has become a Platinum Airways custom to visit ski related airports in January. 2015 is no different, and the Open Skies virtual airline announces its new DOTW theme: White Magic. The series revisits four extremely challenging airports that are a gateway to prime mountain ski resorts on both sides of the Atlantic. White Magic kicks off with Sion (LSGS) – the Swiss Cat C airport that includes a 6 degree approach. The second destination is Aspen, CO (KASE): a one-way in and one-way out airport with difficult terrain and wind conditions. Magic White destination number 3 is Courchevel (LFLJ) in the French Alps with its short and sloped runway. We end White Magic at Glenwood Springs, CO (KGWS), another Rocky Mountains airport with high altitude, difficult terrain and short runway issues. As usual, DOTW offers charts to be downloaded and links to scenery files. A selection of YouTube videos usually contains flight deck and ground views with landings and departures. About Platinum Airways: Keen to deliver on its mission to keep the fun in the hobby, Platinum Airways is probably the only virtual airline to combine 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. The carefully selected hubs, Newark (KEWR), Dallas-Fort Worth (KDFW), Vancouver (CYVR), Perth (YPPH) and Brussels (EBBR), should be attractive to a global membership. In addition, Platinum Airways offers its pilots an often cheeky Destination of the Week, Military and Cargo. Sticking to the KISS principle (Keep It Straight and Simple), Platinum Airways hosts an active forum and a screenshot of the week competition, with the winner providing the main picture on its home page for the next week. For more information, please visit www.platinumairways.org or mail info [at] platinumairways.org.

We don't have the Flight1 Super King 200 in our hangar, but as Platinum Airways applies the Open Skies principle, you may fly any aircraft of your choice - even in non-Platinum Airways livery.

Jens, You're more than welcome to join us at Platinum Airways. We apply the Open Skies principle, which means that you fly the mission of your choice with the aircraft of your choice at the time of your choice. We are by default an offline VA, but we also partner with an online network. We believe that VAs should serve their pilots, and not the other way around. We don't have flight rosters, but expect our pilots to file their first mission within 14 days after joining and to file at least one flight per month (unless you require extended leave). We have five hubs, but you're free to move around from hub to hub without our approval or to totally ignore them and create your own flights / fly a real-world schedule if you so like. We have Military and Cargo missions. As you are at university, our age restriction (min 18 years) should be no problem. External flight hours are credited if we can verify them. Regards, Stijn

On 10 November 2009, Platinum Airways, the very virtual Open Skies airline, registered its website domain, www.platinumairways.org. Happy Birthday to Us, the new Destination of the Week series, visits Platinum Airways’ five unique features and five hubs. Devising, implementing and maintaining a virtual airline is not as easy as many would think. There are literally hundreds of VAs that vie for the attention of flight simmers around the globe. For a VA to be successful, it needs to position itself carefully and to keep on reinventing itself. Happy Birthday to Us will take you through Platinum Airways’ planning and implementation phases from scratch, when its founders defined the airline’s positioning, right up to its final major policy addition, to add online flying to its default offline offering. Other subjects that will be visited, include the DOTW series the airline has hosted over the past years and Cargo and Military flights. Happy Birthday to Us will visit the airline’s five hubs: KDFW, CYVR, YPPH, EBBR and KEWR. As usual, DOTW offers charts to be downloaded and links to scenery files. A selection of YouTube videos usually contains flight deck and ground views with landings and departures. About Platinum Airways: Keen to deliver on its mission to keep the fun in the hobby, Platinum Airways is probably the only virtual airline to combine 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. The carefully selected hubs, Newark (KEWR), Dallas-Fort Worth (KDFW), Vancouver (CYVR), Perth (YPPH) and Brussels (EBBR), should be attractive to a global membership. In addition, Platinum Airways offers its pilots an often cheeky Destination of the Week, Military and Cargo. Sticking to the KISS principle (Keep It Straight and Simple), Platinum Airways hosts an active forum and a screenshot of the week competition, with the winner providing the main picture on its home page for the next week. For more information, please visit www.platinumairways.org or mail info [at] platinumairways.org.