Operations

CPAS Operations & Flight Planning

Complete guide to virtual charter operations, flight planning, and reporting

Fundamentals Aircraft Policy Flight Planning Flight Reporting Procedures

Fundamental Principles

Core Rules

Virtual First

This is simulation for enjoyment. Follow real-world principles but focus on fun and learning over perfection.

Community Spirit

Help fellow pilots, share knowledge, and maintain a supportive environment for all skill levels.

Realistic Boundaries

Fly within your skill level and aircraft capabilities. Progress through ranks for advanced operations.

VC Identification

Use ICAO airline code CPX in all flight planning, reporting, and communication.

Aircraft Use Policy

Rank-Based Access

Aircraft access is based on rank to ensure safe progression. Fly what you're comfortable with, not just the highest available.

Aircraft Type	Minimum Rank	Primary Use	Notes
Piper Tomahawk/Warrior	Pilot Under Training	Training, local flights	Entry-level trainer
R44, Piper Archer	Charter Pilot	Basic charter operations	VFR passenger charters
R66, Piper Arrow, H125	Senior Charter Pilot	Complex charters, mountain ops	Requires endorsements
Piper Seneca V	Senior Charter Pilot	Multi-engine, IFR charters	Requires Multi-Engine endorsement
H145	Lead Pilot	Advanced/Special operations	Turbine & mountain endorsements

Important Notes

Comfort First: Fly aircraft you're comfortable with, not just highest available rank
Training Required: Complete aircraft-specific training before first flight
Issue Reporting: Report persistent aircraft issues in Discord
Liveries: Custom liveries welcome but maintain professional appearance
Endorsements: Certain aircraft require specific endorsements (see Training page)

Flight Planning with SimBrief

Step-by-Step Guide

Create a SimBrief Account

If you don't already have one, sign up for a free account at SimBrief.com. This is essential for creating detailed flight plans.

Create Your Flight Plan

Navigate to the Dispatch page and enter your flight details:

Departure Airport: Your starting airport (e.g., NZCH)
Arrival Airport: Your destination airport
Aircraft: Select from our fleet (See our SimBrief Airframes on the Fleet Page)
Route: Enter your planned route or use "Direct"
Passengers: Set according to your charter mission
Options: Click "View PDF" for full OFP access

CPAS Airline Code:

When creating your flight plan in SimBrief, use the ICAO airline code: CPX for Coastal Peaks Air Service.

Find Your SimBrief Pilot ID

You'll need your numeric SimBrief Pilot ID (not your username):

                                1. Log in to SimBrief and open Account Settings.

                                2. In the Your SimBrief Data section, locate your Pilot
                                    ID.

                                3. This is a numeric value (e.g., 123456). You'll need it when
                                    submitting your flight on Discord.
                            

Fly Your Planned Route in MSFS

Once your flight plan is complete, it's time to fly it in Microsoft Flight Simulator:

Load Aircraft: Use the CPAS-approved add-on aircraft
Import Flight Plan: Use SimBrief's export feature or manually enter your route
Complete Flight: Fly from departure to destination following your plan
Document Your Flight: Take screenshots at key moments (see next step)

Pro Tip: MSFS has a built-in photo mode (Press P or use

Ctrl
                                    + Alt + P

for high-resolution screenshots)

CPAS Weather Requirement

LIVE WEATHER IS MANDATORY: All CPAS flights must be conducted using Live Weather in Microsoft Flight Simulator. This ensures realistic conditions matching the actual New Zealand environment and is essential for proper flight training and charter operations.

Using preset or clear weather defeats the purpose of realistic virtual charter operations.

Document Your Flight with Screenshots

Capture your flight experience with screenshots to share with the community:

Recommended Screenshots:

Pre-Flight

Aircraft at departure gate with engines off

Takeoff

Rotating or shortly after takeoff

Enroute Scenery

Scenic views, interesting terrain, or landmarks

Flight Progress

In-game map showing your position along the route

Approach/Landing

On final approach or during landing

Post-Flight

Aircraft parked at destination with engines off

Use the Discord Bot to Report Your Flight

Once your flight is complete, share it with the community using our custom Discord bot:

Command Format:

/pirep [Your SimBrief Pilot ID]

Example: /pirep 123456

Flight Reporting System

Discord Bot Commands

Use our Discord bot to submit flight reports and manage your operations:

`/pirep [pilot_id]`

Standard flight reporting using your latest SimBrief plan

For: Normal passenger/cargo charter flights
Posts to: #pirep-submission channel
Requires: Valid SimBrief Pilot ID

`/missionreport`

Special operations not covered by SimBrief

For: SAR, MEDEVAC, tours, training, firefighting
Supports: Custom mission parameters
Flexible: No SimBrief required

`/updateflight [flight_id] [status]`

Update status of existing flight records

Status options: completed, in-progress, scheduled, cancelled, diverted
Updates: Flight database and Discord channel
Note: Can only update your own flights

`/help`

Get assistance with all bot commands

Provides: Command list and usage information
Includes: Links to documentation

Standard Reporting Flow

Plan: Create flight plan in SimBrief (or plan mission)
Fly: Complete flight in MSFS
Report: Use appropriate Discord bot command
Share: Post screenshots in #screenshots

Operational Procedures

Flight Guidelines

Pre-Flight Requirements

Aircraft Selection

Choose aircraft appropriate for route and your current rank. Refer to aircraft policy above.

Live Weather Check

Mandatory: Review current conditions and do not fly in impossible or unsafe weather.

Route Planning

Know your route, alternates, and fuel requirements. Use SimBrief for complex flights.

Checklist Completion

Complete appropriate aircraft checklist before departure (available here).

In-Flight Standards

Communication

Use appropriate frequencies (see routes page)
No ATC? Use Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) concepts
Position reports on longer flights

Terrain & Weather

Maintain safe altitude above terrain
Turn back if weather deteriorates
Mountain flying: know valley directions and escape routes

Fuel Management

Land with at least 45 minutes fuel reserve
Monitor fuel consumption in mountains
Plan refueling stops on long routes

Passenger Consideration

Smooth takeoffs and landings
Gentle turns and altitude changes
Point out scenery (in your imagination!)

Charter-Specific Tips

Route Knowledge: Familiarize with terrain, airspace, and challenges
Alternates: Always have a backup plan (weather, mechanical)
Time Planning: Allow buffer for delays in passenger operations

Discord Bot Integration

Our custom bot creates an embed message with your latest SimBrief flight plan. Share your flight screenshots in Discord to complete your flight report!

Pilot#1234 Charter Pilot

📋 SimBrief PIREP - CPX123

✈️ Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-201 Arrow III (P28R)
ZK-ARR

📍 Route

NZCH → NZQN
Alt: NZMF

⏱️ Times

Flight: 1:45
Block: 2:15

🛣️ Route

CH V184 DUN V184 ZQN

📊 Performance

Fuel Burn: 123.5 kg
Cruise: FL080

⚖️ Weights

ZFW: 1200.0 kg
TOW: 1400.0 kg

💨 Wind

Avg Component: 15 kts

Pro Tips

Save Your Plans

SimBrief allows you to save flight plans for future use. Save your favorite CPAS routes!

Export to MSFS

Use the "Export" feature to send your flight plan directly to Microsoft Flight Simulator

Mobile Friendly

SimBrief works well on mobile devices, perfect for checking your plan during flight

Share with Others

Use the Discord bot to share your flight plans and get feedback from fellow pilots

Track Progress

Regular PIREP submissions help track your flight hours for rank progression

Build Your Gallery

Consistent screenshot documentation creates a visual log of your CPAS career. Share your best shots in Discord!