| Route | Pilots should file a flight plan appropriate to the aircraft being flown, and flight rules followed. This flight plan should be followed, except where reasonable short cuts are accepted (e.g. as directed by ATC), reroutes or weather deviation. Within the United Kingdom, the Standard Route Document (SRD) should be referenced: http://ukcp.VATSIM.uk/ |
| Fuel | Pilots should not tanker fuel, except where this is on the approved list of tankering destinations, or justified within the PIREP. Pilots should land with minimum aircraft fuel, unless this is justified within the PIREP; safety will be considered by the reviewer and acceptance or rejection determined on that basis. |
| Airframe Limitations | Pilots must not exceed the published limitations (e.g. speeds, weights and altitudes) for the aircraft they are flying. Supersonic flights over populated areas are prohibited. Pilots must not repeatedly exceed the maximum speed of 30 knots while taxiing an aircraft. |
| Stabilised Approach | Pilots who do not meet the Stable Approach Criteria should go around. |
| Terminal and stand use | All flights should be operated from stand to stand, i.e flights should depart and arrive from/at a reasonable location on the airfield. Where no stand is available due to simulator limitations this must be justified within the PIREP. When operating mainline flights pilots should be encouraged to depart from and (subject to ATC) park at the appropriate terminal location referenced in the briefing tab in Merlin. |
| A state of control | Pilots should fly an appropriate flight profile and remain in control of their aircraft. The following will be rejected if repeatedly occurring: Mid-cruise dives that are not justified (i.e. for safety reasons). Circling overhead the destination airfield at cruise level will lead to rejection. |
| Inappropriate diversion | Pilots must justify the reason for diversion within the PIREP. Staff will reject PIREPs where diversion to access to non-scheduled or rank limited airfields or to subvert activity requirements is suspected. |
| Crash | If the aircraft crashes (e.g. runway over-run, taxiway excursion) the PIREP will be rejected. |
| Follow-up | If flagged, pilots must comment on their PIREP using a format e.g. What happened and why? Was the outcome positive or otherwise? How do we repeat or avoid? Impact on safety. Were SOPs followed? This is to reduce time spent between a PIREP being filed and accepted/rejected. Pilots must submit comments if their PIREP flags within 24 hours. |