Airports

Airports define the locations your pilots fly to and from. vAMSYS pulls airport data from OurAirports, so you only add the airports you actually use rather than working with 83,000+ global entries.

Adding Airports

In Orwell, go to Operations → Airports → Airports.

When you create an airport, enter the ICAO or IATA code. vAMSYS looks up the coordinates, elevation, and other data from OurAirports automatically.

Airport Data & OurAirports

vAMSYS sources airport data from OurAirports, an open database of global airports. When you enter an ICAO or IATA code, vAMSYS looks up coordinates, elevation, and other details automatically.

If an airport is missing or has incorrect data:

1. Go to OurAirports.com

2. Search for the airport and submit a correction, or add a new entry

3. Wait for your change to be approved by OurAirports moderators

4. vAMSYS syncs OurAirports data daily -your correction will appear automatically

This applies to missing airports, wrong coordinates, incorrect ICAO/IATA codes, and wrong elevation or other metadata.

Airport Settings

Field	Description
Name	Display name (e.g., "London Stansted" or just "Stansted" -your choice)
Category	Optional grouping (informational only, no restrictions)
Base	Marks airport on Book Flight and Destination maps; interacts with Jumpseat to Base
Suitable Alternate	Include in the Alternate Finder during flight dispatch
Airport Briefing URL	External link that replaces internal briefing content

Airport Briefing

You can provide pilots with airport information in two ways:

1. Internal content: Use the Briefing and Information fields (rich text)

2. External link: Set Airport Briefing URL to redirect all "Airport Information" buttons to your own documentation (e.g., Hangar PDFs, external knowledgebase)

When the URL is set, internal fields are hidden and all buttons link to your external content.

Taxi Times

Set expected taxi-in and taxi-out times for AutoReject validation. vAMSYS also calculates averages from actual PIREP data, displayed alongside your configured values.

Airport Managers

Restrict which staff can edit routes for specific airports. Staff without "Can Manage All Routes" permission only see routes to/from airports they manage.

Each manager assignment has an Inbound toggle:

• Enabled: Manager can only edit routes arriving at this airport

• Disabled: Manager can edit both departing and arriving routes

Alternate Management

Configure how SimBrief selects alternates for flights to this airport.

Search Parameters

Parameter	Default	Description
Radius	447 nm	Maximum distance for alternate search
Ceiling	3000m	Minimum ceiling at alternate
Runway Length	7000 ft	Minimum runway length
Avoid Bad Weather	Off	Skip weather-affected airports
Exclude Airports	-	ICAO codes to never use as alternates

Fixed Alternates

Override SimBrief's selection with specific airports:

• Takeoff Alternate (for departures)

• 4 arrival alternates (primary through quaternary)

Preferred Alternates

List ICAO codes that should be highlighted in the Alternate Finder. These aren't forced, just featured more prominently.

Note: Fleet-level Alternate Management settings override these airport-level settings.

Load Management

Set default Load Factor profiles and available Containers for routes terminating at this airport. Routes can override these defaults.

Where Airports Appear

Location	What's Shown
Phoenix → Airports	Full list with favorites, route counts
Phoenix → Airport Detail	Briefing, information, scenery, METAR
Booking Page	Airport info button, METAR link, favorite toggle
Live Flight Map	Airport markers
Orwell → Routes	Departure/arrival selection

Tips

• Start small - Only add airports you'll actually use. You can always add more later.

• Use categories - Group airports by region, operation type, or any classification useful for your VA.

• External briefings - If you maintain detailed airport documentation elsewhere, use Airport Briefing URL rather than duplicating content.

Related

• Hub Management - Group airports into pilot starting locations

• Scenery Management - Recommend add-ons for your airports