Flight Operations Manual (FOM)
Introduction
Hello, and welcome to vAAL, a virtual airline.
A virtual airline (VA) is a hobby organization that models the operations of an airline in one of several commercially available flight simulators including, but not limited to, Prepar3d by Lockheed Martin, X-Plane by Laminar Research, and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. VAs are typically meant to bring structure to flight simulation and provide a certain amount of gamification.
vAAL is not a real airline and has no affiliation with nor endorsement by American Airlines or any of its subsidiaries.
vAAL was founded in February 2021 by five aviation enthusiasts, several of whom have professional experience in the aviation industry. Our VA is modeled on the operations of the real-world American Airlines and its subsidiaries, both past and present. We strive to provide a relaxed atmosphere with as little corporate role-play as possible while taking the execution of the hobby seriously.
The information contained in this Flight Operations Manual (FOM) will outline how our organization operates, what we require of our members, and what guidelines they should follow while participating in the hobby as a part of our group.
All information in this document is intended for hobby use only. No information in this document should be used for real world flight operations. Instead, refer to the operational data and approved procedures for your aircraft provided by the relevant manufacturer, operator, and/or regulatory body.
The technical information and operating procedures in our resources have been compiled from publicly available documents found online and by compiling information collected from speaking to subject matter experts within the larger flight simulation community.
None of the information in this document has been vetted by regulatory officials, the relevant equipment manufacturers, any airline or air carrier, or engineers. Attempting to utilize any information found in our documentation for real world flight operations could be catastrophic, involving potential revocation of licensure, injury, or death.
The FOM is a living document and will be updated and expanded on an ongoing basis. Significant revisions will be announced, but members are required to comply with the information contained herein at all times.
vAAL Admin Team, December 2023