(changes are marked according to the assumed effect they have on running your airline)[major, effective immediately, only in Game World #3] * Airport bases feature has been renewed completely.
- This update is effective in the new GW#3 and any subsequent new games. It may be expanded to existing games if there's demand for it, technically possible.
Rule changes - Each airline can now base at 10 different airports (HQ + 9 bases).
- Airline must be at least 12 months old and operate (own/lease) at least 10 planes before bases are "unlocked". Once bases are "unlocked" you can do anything with the bases (open/close/etc) even if the total num. of planes falls below 10 (for simplicity).
- There are no aircraft limits other than a companywide limit on aircraft scheduled outside your HQ (in bases). So no more limits on minimum number of planes in HQ or in bases.
- The max. number of aircraft outside HQ is relative to game year. In 1950 it's 100, in 1990 it's 350 and in 2015 it's 600. The growth is linear between these three 'step points' - so in year 2000 for example it's 450. After year 2015 the limit stays at 600. The limit number increases on 1st Jan every year and it's rounded to nearest 5 so it may not change every year. As before only scheduled aircraft count towards this limit, there are no limits on aircraft on order / aircraft unscheduled / aircraft for sale etc. Nor there are any limits for the count of aircraft in your HQ naturally.
- There is a major new component to the bases feature, which is the
base level. This determines the operation size and cost level of the base. There are 4 base levels corresponding to the aircraft size classes (small, medium, large, very large); 4 levels of bases. The base size equals the largest allowed aircraft size class for your operation in that base (= medium class base can support small/medium planes, and very large base can support all planes etc).
- The base levels can be up/downgraded, with the limitation that if the airport is small the base level cannot exceed the airport's allowed aircraft size class. So if the airport only allows 'small & medium' planes your maximum base level is 'medium' there. The cost of upgrades is in relation to the base opening cost, and it's recommended to open the proper sized base right away since upgrading costs a bit more. Downgrading costs also, but not very much. Note that when you downgrade a base the system will automatically unschedule any planes not suitable for that base level any more. The up/downgrade does not make any changes to your staffing, you must do the changes yourself - both actions will create changes to both HQ and base staff levels.
- Up/downgrade happens one step at a time to each direction. Downgrade and base closure can be done while money is negative (no limit).
- Base closure cost is the same as before consisting of contract ending costs (fuel contracts etc) and aircraft/staff relocation fees.
- The costs of opening the base depend on both base level and airport size class. There is no longer the possibility to transfer aircraft immediately to the new base, please do that from the aircraft pages afterwards. The base opening window shows the additional staff cost to the HQ as well as the base staff/office cost for the new base (but this cost is with the 'empty' base with no planes/routes).
- Costs are not linear between base levels. 1 & 2 are close to each others and so are 3 & 4. There is a considerable jump from 2->3. For example in game year 2000 opening your first base to ATL (class 5 airport) will cost $33.8mil if it's 'large' but only $6.0mil if it's base level 'medium' (very large would be $37.6mil and 'small' $2.2mil). This is because the operation is clearly divided into small and large planes in these four groups..
- There is a waiting period of 1 year between each base opening, like before. (base level or up/downgrades do not change this)
- No changes to traffic rights, so no basing in foreign countries (apart from EU etc.).
Interface - The whole Office -> Base airports page has been completely renewed.
- This includes a new general overview of all base restrictions, a 'tabbed' listing of all bases with details, stats and important links, and a section to open a new base. Added are also the menus for up/downgrading each base.
- The menu structure has been updated to work with multiple bases. If you have more than 4 bases (3+HQ) the menu structure changes to a compact format. The dropdown menus no longer list all of the base airports (since the list would be too long), but there is instead a link to expand the base listing at the dropdown menu. In similar fashion the airline status bar (where you have game clock, money etc) no longer displays the base list for over 4 bases - it's replaced by a "hover balloon" list that can be activated by hovering the mouse over the Bases text. The fuel management page's base selector is updated in a similar fashion with a dropdown selector if you have very many bases.
Manual- Manual has been updated to reflect the changes:
https://www.airwaysim.com/game/Manual/Office/Bases/ps. "Game World #3 (new)" will be renamed to "Game World #3" once the previous ends.
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