Your First Flight

You’ve created your account, confirmed your email, and logged in. Now it’s time to fly. This guide walks you through your first complete flight.

Step 1: Find an Airport with Aircraft

1. Click Airports in the sidebar.
2. Search for your current airport (where you started), or browse nearby airports.
3. Open an airport page. You’ll see available aircraft, assignments, fuel prices, and more.

Your current location is shown on your dashboard. You need to be at the same airport as the aircraft you want to rent.

Step 2: Rent an Aircraft

1. On the airport page, look at the Available Aircraft section.
2. Find an aircraft you’re rated to fly. As a new pilot, you have the Commercial Single rating, so look for single-engine aircraft.
3. Click on the aircraft and choose Reserve to rent it.

You can only have one active rental at a time.

Step 3: Claim Assignments

1. On the same airport page, scroll to the Assignments section.
2. You’ll see available jobs, each listing a destination, cargo weight or passenger count, and payout.
3. Click on an assignment to claim it. It’s now yours to fly.

You can claim multiple assignments if they’re going to the same destination (or along the way) and your aircraft can handle the weight.

Step 4: Check the Loading Area

1. Click Loading Area in the sidebar.
2. Here you’ll see your rented aircraft, your claimed assignments, and payload totals.
3. If your pilot and aircraft are at different airports, you’ll see a location mismatch warning. You need to be co-located to fly.
4. This is also where you can refuel your aircraft before departure.

Step 5: Fly

1. Open your flight simulator and set up at the departure airport.
2. Launch the FS Reality Flight Tracker (download it from the link in the navigation bar if you haven’t already).
3. Start your flight through the tracker. It verifies your location and aircraft readiness.
4. Fly your route in the simulator. The tracker sends position updates during your flight.

Step 6: Land and Get Paid

1. Land at your destination airport.
2. The tracker completes your flight. It finalizes your assignments, pays your earnings, updates fuel and aircraft wear, and ends your rental.
3. If you have a hangar at the destination, your aircraft is automatically parked.

You’ve completed your first flight! Check your dashboard to see your updated balance and flight stats.

What’s Next?

• Claim more assignments and keep flying to build your balance
• Purchase new ratings to unlock more aircraft types
• Save up to buy your own aircraft
• Join an operator to fly with a team