Curse's AWS Basic FAQ

[Curse]

Current Version of this FAQ: 1.1.5
Current Version of AirwaySim Game in this FAQ: 1.2


Welcome to my AWS Basic FAQ.

The audience for this are beginner, intermediate and everybody who is just interested in updating his knowledge in AWS mechanics.

You can read this FAQ at first, but I suggest you to read the Manual carefully one or two times. The FAQ will answer some questions the Manual does not answer or only give rough hints.

After reading the Manual and the FAQ you should read Swiftus' Guide for Newbs. The FAQ is in the middle of them, but it is also ok if you read this FAQ after you read the available guides.

Also this FAQ will not give you much precise information. It's main part of the game to gather experience and find your own way, not get some rule-your-game-world manual from me.

The FAQ has four parts, each part has it's own post. The words in the index exactly below this passage are links, so click them if you just search something specific.


Aircraft

Routes

Marketing

Alliances




Aircraft:

1) How much aircraft do I need to make profit?

At least one bigger aircraft like DC-6/Boeing 727-200/Boeing 737-400 on a route without much competition. If you choose smaller aircraft, make sure to get more of them, because the staffing, maintenance etc. costs will divided through all your aircraft.


2) Are there aircraft that can't make any money because of game mechanics?

Yes, there are. It's impossible to build an airline that makes profit with aircraft less than 20 seats and hard to build an airline with aircraft less than 30 seats.


3) Is it a good idea to configurate my aircraft with only first class and business class seats?

No, this is not a good idea. Due to some people who abused this in the past, business and first class load factors require some good company image - round about 50 for business class and round about 70 to 80 company image for first class. Better stick to Economy only or the manufacturer standard configuration for the first times.
Also this is one of the things that just needs experience in AWS, not exactly datas in a FAQ or Guide.


4) I heard something about launch customer discount. What's that? And what are the parameters for this?

If a new aircraft model (for example: Boeing 737-300) is announced, one person(airline) can get this discount. It is also available if a new version of an existing model is announced (for example: Boeing 737-400). This discount gives you an additional 10% of direct purchase or leasing costs when ordering a new aircraft. To get the discount you must order at least 5 of the specific aircraft (for example: 5x Boeing 737-400). The discount is only on this one order available, further orders have the normal prize.
The discount is also available if some airlines placed orders below 5 aircraft each (for example: X orders 2x Boeing 737-400, y orders 4x Boeing 737-400 - you can still get the discount for ordering 5x B737-400).


5) Is it a good idea to add a lot of different aircraft models to my fleet?

No, this is a very bad idea. Fleet commonality is very important in AirwaySim. Your airline will make no or less money if you use a lot of different models (Boeing 737-400 and Boeing 737-800 for example), while it is totally ok to use different variants of the same model (for example: Boeing 737 Next Generation - this inclused B737-600, B737-700(ER), B737-800 and B737-900(ER)).
Better stick to two or three different models. Later you can experimentice how much fleet categories can be used and still making profit, this is mainly based on what aircraft models you will operate and, mainly, how big your airline is (= how much aircraft of every model you have).


6) Can one use Russian/Soviet build aircraft and make profit?

Yes, it is possible to make good profit even with high fuel consuming and expensive to maintenance aircraft from Russia/Soviet Union.


7) Are these still making profit when fuel prices increase?

Yes, they can still make profit even with higher fuel prices. But this has much to do with the exact fuel price and which aircraft you fly. Generally Russian/Soviet aircraft lose their profitability (much) earlier than (newer) Western models.


8) Is there a difference between High-Density, Standard and Premium seating?

Yes, there is. It's just like in real life, but this is another feature one has to experimentice with. Don't believe people that say you must not use high-density on longer routes or you must use Premium configuration on long international flights. Both is half true, but half wrong. To experience and manage this is one thing that will you generate lots of profit.


9) Can I increase the rate I get new aircraft?

Only by ordering from different production lines. There is absolutely no possiblity to get more aircraft out of a production line than the system will show you.


10) What exactly is this MTOW thing and does it effect me/my airline?

MTOW is the maximum weight your aircraft is allowed to have to take off. The weight of your aircraft affects directly your navigation and take off/landing costs as well as fuel consumption.


11) Can I refuel my aircraft at cheaper fuel airports?

No, you can't.


12) Is it possible to buy some fuel tank and fuel for times when fuel becomes really expensive?

No, this is not possible. You always buy your fuel for the world market price which you can see at your dashboard.

TEST

[Curse]

Routes:

1) Can I set B-Check and regular flight at the same time?

Yes, you can set the B-Check on every single place at the schedule. It takes always 24hours and you can't part it.


2) What happens with the flight(s) I set at the same time with the B-Check?

They are automatically ignored, what means you will not earn money for this flights, but there are also no expenses like fuel or navigation fees. Instead you must pay maintenance costs, the exact amount for your specific aircraft can be seen in the aircraft page if you click the crossed tools at the very right.
For example (Screenshot below): Place a B-Check for Monday 6am to Tuesday 6am and two regular flights between Monday 5am and Tuesday 13pm.



3) Is it a good idea to serve some routes not every day?

No, that's not a good idea. Potentially customers don't like airlines which do not serve a route every day. On the other hand you can serve a route seven days a week with an aircraft and serve the same route a second (or third or fourth ...) time, but this time only some days. So for example you will have 10 flights a week, every day at least one and three on friday and two on monday. This would be ok for customers.


4) Is there a limited amount of mechanics to do A- or B-Checks?

No, there are unlimited mechanics for every day and every time of a day. If you want to maintain all of your 150 aircraft from Saturday 12am to Sunday 12am, feel free to do so.


5) Slot and runway fees are extremely expensive. How can I survive this?

Buying slots is a one time thing. You buy them and if you fly them in a route, you will never lose them. Also you never have to rebuy them, even an airport is moved to a newer one (for example Dallas Love Field to Dallas-Fort Worth).


6) What happens when I base at an airport that is closed or replaced by some other airport later in the game?

That's no problem. The system will automatically move all of your aircraft and routes to the new airport. You just login as normal and can do your normal AWS tasks, but you are at another airport - normally with much more demand everywhere and more slots, sometimes even extended opening hours.

An exception from this is Tokyo Haneda. If Tokyo Narita is opened, you will be automatically moved and you will lose nearly all of your domestic demand, while your international demand increases extremely. Due to the fact I don't would suggest some beginners or intermediates to base at Tokyo Haneda, there will be no further hints on this.


7) Is it possible to open routes from another airport than mine and fly to an airport that's also not mine?

No, this is not possible. You might maybe open up to three base airports later in the game, these would be handled as your base airport (see Manual on this), but normally it is not possible.


8) Can I fly from my base airport to another airport and pick up some people and fly them to a third airport?

No, this is not possible in version 1.2. It was possible in previous versions and it will be possible with some restrictions somehow later, but at the beginning of playing AirwaySim you can stick to routes out of your base airport.


9) I'm using an aircraft that requires more runway length than my airport can afford. What to do?

At first, don't panic. The required runway is the one the aircraft needs to fly it's maximum range with the maximum on passengers. So if you plan to use some alternate seating, maybe with standard economy instead of high-density economy, or alternative if you fly to an airport that is near enough to your base to make your aircraft consume less fuel, you are fine.

If you absolutely must use an aircraft that requires a too long runway and if you absolutely must fly to some far away destination with as much passengers as possible, you can do the following thing:
Just build in some tech-stop in your route. It makes sence to use an airport on the shown flight path and make sure your tech-stop airport has a long enough runway.


10) Does passenger demand on routes increase over time?

Yes, it does. And it only decreases after some very rare but world wide known events.


11) Can I make a second or third tech-stop?

No, this is not possible at the moment.


12) How do I create a tech-stop?

For this example we will take the route Los Angeles International Airport to London-Heathrow.
Log in to AirwaySim and in your specific game, so you can see the Dashboard in front of you. Then click;
a) Routes (top AWS navigation menu)
b) Open new route (left AWS navigation menu)
c) You should be now here (remind this is an example from Los Angeles to London! It should show your airport instead of Los Angeles!)


d) We now must search an airport to make a tech-stop, because our aircraft - in this example a Douglas DC-6 - can't make the way without a stop
e) You should already know how a simple route should be created (Manual!), so you can use Google Maps or the AWS integrated airport map to locate some good tech stop
f) Our tech stop will be at Gander airport, Canada, North America. Build up a normal route to your tech-stop destination (in this example: World area 'North America', Country 'Canada', Range filter '2500' '3500')
g) You should now see this screen in front of you. Notice, I already have set up the right data to find London-Heathrow in the next step


h) In the lower 'Optional - Select second destination" part you now fill in the data of your main destination airport. In our example this is London-Heathrow
i) Click view airport list and select your destination airport by pressing the green check mark
j) In the 'Select routing' box at the lower end of this screen select the possiblity with 5 airport names, in our example this is "KLAX - CYQX - EGLL - CYQX - KLAX" and press 'Next page' then
k) Build up a normal route. Ignore take-off and landing times at your tech-stop airport, but make sure it is open at the specific times!




13) Can I make some profit with ultra-long-haul (UHL) routes? Routes over around 7000nm I mean?

Hardly. You could make a bit profit if you own the aircraft, fuel prices aren't too high and if you can get a good amount of first class und business pax in there.

Normally, like in reality, UHL is more prestige for airlines with too much money and not a cash cow.

[Curse]

Marketing:

1) Are there differences between the types of marketing and which area should be affected?

No, the only difference is the price. If you spent $5 Million per week in world wide television or $5 Million per week in local newspapers - there's absolutely no difference. The only thing that counts is the total amount of money you spent for marketing.

2) Does both types of marketing - 'General campaign' and 'Route specific Campaing' - have effects?

Yes, both types have their specific effects and could be useful. However you should definitely have at least one General campaign.

[Curse]

Alliances:

1) Do I have any countable ingame advantages of being in an alliance?

Yes, depending on how successful your alliance is, you will get a small boost on the amount of tickets you sale.
Note: The boost is small, it is not necessary to be a member of a successful alliance to succeed.
Admin statement on this

Also specific alliances may have specific rules that will give you advantages, like sharing routes half/half between alliance members, but this is no general rule.


2) Do I have any countable disadvantages being in an alliance?

Alliances can charge up to 1% of your income. This results in less money for your airline.


3) Why should I join an alliance?

There are some advantages at the moment - alliance internal rules (like route-sharing, cheap used aircraft, help in strategy and playing questions) and a community with a own forums section. Also the small boost for your load factor is a good point.  
Advantages and/or disadvantages may vary from alliance to alliance, game world to game world.

If you have a small(er) airline, you also will earn more money due earning more money due to increased ticket salaries than you have to spend for alliance fee. You should also not make your decision of joining an alliance or not because of (up to) 1% alliance fee vs. small boost of load factors.

However, please always remind Browsergames like AirwaySim is one are based on community and alliances are a big part of the community.





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If you have any questions about the FAQ, improvements in language or still not able to gain some profit, please PM me.


I please all of you - don't start some discussion or argumenting about individual points of this FAQ. I also know there is a very good Manual, a forums search and two existing guides, but I get so many PM about people need help and I see lots of posts in the General forum and game specific forums I think this FAQ will really help people.


Also I have an enhanced guide, but some thinkings stopped me from releasing it for month. Maybe I will do this later, if some experienced player (which really can add something to it) wants to take a look at, please PM me.


(c) Curse, King Airways
V1.0      13.04.2011   04/13/2011
V1.1      13.04.2011   04/13/2011 'Alliances' 1) and 3) revised
V1.1.5    15.04.2011  04/15/2011 'Routes' 13) added

[Ilyushin]

Nicely written! Very helpful. You sure put some effort in that. This will decrease the number of (common) questions drastically.

[swiftus27]

Sticky!

[slither360]

Being a member of an alliance gives you a LF boost proportional to the alliance rating. Usually with an alliance rating over ~75%, this boost is sufficient to make up the 1% income you lose.

[Curse]

One thing I often heared but never noticed by myself and never found a note sami has approved this.

Same as this "Alliances boost your CI"-thing.


For further (approved) information on this I would be very thankful. Like a link to a statement sami made on this.

Edit: Did again some research on this and found only one exact information on the "Alliances increase LF", but made by user RushmoreAir and not by sami.

Edit2: Thanks for this clear statement, sami. I will change it in the FAQ. Also lots of thanks for making this thread sticky!

[Sami]

Being a member of an alliance gives you a LF boost proportional to the alliance rating. Usually with an alliance rating over ~75%, this boost is sufficient to make up the 1% income you lose.

Being a member of an successful alliance will give you a small boost to your "passenger preference score" (in-game technical value used to determine the pax ticket sales..), which in turn should increase your sales, and your load factor. But this is factored so that alliance membership will not be "mandatory" in order to succeed.

[slither360]

One thing I often heared but never noticed by myself and never found a note sami has approved this.

Same as this "Alliances boost your CI"-thing.


For further (approved) information on this I would be very thankful. Like a link to a statement sami made on this.

Edit: Did again some research on this and found only one exact information on the "Alliances increase LF", but made by user RushmoreAir and not by sami.

Edit2: Thanks for this clear statement, sami. I will change it in the FAQ. Also lots of thanks for making this thread sticky!

Glad it got sorted out. I don't want to lose prospective members because of something they read in a newbie guide!
Also, you might want to change your answer on the second question in "Alliances" so that it matches with the first one.

[Ilyushin]

Congratulations, the thread is stickied.

It deserves to be!

[wapp11]

12) Is it possible to buy some fuel tank and fuel for times when fuel becomes really expensive?

No, this is not possible. You always buy your fuel for the world market price which you can see at your dashboard.

What about buying it on paper?    If hedging costs were incorporated I may never leave the computer! Southwest took over the skies of the US by hedging fuel costs.

[slither360]

What about buying it on paper?    If hedging costs were incorporated I may never leave the computer! Southwest took over the skies of the US by hedging fuel costs.

V1.3 IIRC.
If not, probably V1.4

[lugvonfalk]

Very comprehensive, thanks!

[Curse]

General game and forum settings

1) How do I upload a livery or a logo to my airline?

This option can be found in the settings page. Just join the game world you want to add the airline livery and/or airline logo to and use this link or alternatively navigate manually via Dashboard -> Settings.


Please keep in mind it's mandatory to use JPG format. The airline logo must be 150x50 pixels and the airline livery 800x230 pixels.



2) I'm not very good at Photoshop or GIMP or any other graphics program. Is there another way to get a logo and/or livery?

There are three ways. Maybe the best one is to ask a friend of you that is familiar with these programmes to help you.

The second way is to ask in this general forum thread if someone could help you: LOGO AND LIVERY

And the last way is to wait till AirwaySim version 1.3. Sami has included an ingame logo designer, for further informations check out the announcement on this here.



3) Some people have those ultra cool forum banner with details about their airlines. I want this, too. How can I create it?

It's a bit complex. At first you have to go to the settings page - the same page where you can upload your logo and livery (see screenshot 1) in this category).

Click the button like it's shown in the screenshot:


Copy or note down the link that appears, in this example https://www.airwaysim.com/game/Banner/92/35/ . That's the URL to your banner.


Now we have to put this URL into the forums signature.

Click "profile" like it's marked in the screenshot under this line.





Click now "Forum Profile Information". It's marked in the screenshot beneath this line, at the end of the long arrow.

Insert the earlier copied URL in the signature box exactly like it is done in the screenshot (obviously you have to insert your numbers).





4) Some people have up to three different game worlds in their signature. But I'm only able to insert two! How do they do this?

You have to cut out the "http://" from every URL.









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(c) Curse, King Airways
V1.0      13.04.2011   04/13/2011
V1.1      13.04.2011   04/13/2011 'Alliances' 1) and 3) revised
V1.1.5    15.04.2011  04/15/2011 'Routes' 13) added
V1.2      19.06.2011  06/19/2011 'General Settings' added




Old version of FAQ

New version is sticky in the general forums. If you found this thread via the forums search, this is the next new thread about:
https://www.airwaysim.com/forum/index.php/topic,31706.0.html